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To approve a shortened version of the template
partnership agreement with green space volunteer groups, which was
approved at Cabinet on 18 February 2025 as part of the updated
volunteering policy. 
 

Reasons for the decision

The template partnership agreement was introduced in
February 2025 for use with the constituted green space volunteer
groups that volunteer regularly on council land under their own
insurance. 

The aim of the agreement is to set out clearly the
responsibilities on both sides to enable constituted groups to
volunteer more autonomously and flexibly through a clear, safe and
supportive process.  It will also reduce
the capacity demands on the Green Space Development team from the
growing number of groups operating and enable a fair distribution
of support and time to support potential new groups.  

Following feedback from the groups, the template
agreement has been shortened and simplified to make it more
workable for the groups, while still retaining the key
points.  The document has also been
renamed ‘partnership pledge’ rather than
‘partnership agreement’ following feedback and in
recognition that groups are volunteering from good will and that
the document is not intended to be a legally binding
contract.
 

Alternative options considered

The council could continue with the previously
approved template partnership agreement but the risk is that many
of the green space volunteer groups would not be willing to sign up
to it as it is too long and daunting. 

The council could also revert to not having an
agreement in place with the green space volunteer groups, but that
leaves the responsibilities on both sides less clearly demarcated,
which increases capacity demands on the green space development
team and leaves groups in confusion about what their commitments
are.