Meetings

BOLSOVER LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

 

EXECUTIVE SUPPORT GROUP

 

Minutes of a meeting of the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership Executive Support Group held on Thursday, 13th October, 2005, at 9.30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover.

PRESENT

 

Councillor E. Watts               -           Bolsover District Council

Mr. J. Ford                             -           Housing & the Environment Action Group

Ms. J. Ryalls                           -           Health & Wellbeing Action Group

Councillor K. Reid                 -           Parish/Town Councils

Mr. J. Young                           -           Education & Training Action Group

Ms. T. Glover             -           INVOLVE

Mr. T. Whatton                       -           INVOLVE

Mrs. T. Wilkinson                   -           INVOLVE

Mrs. C. Hopwood                  -           INVOLVE

Councillor B. Murray-Carr    -           Bolsover Community Safety Partnership

Mr. K. Hollingworth                -           Employment & Transport Action Group

Mr. B. Strutt                            -           Derbyshire County Council

Mrs. L. Khella             -           Chief Executives & Partnership Team

Mrs. P. Brown                        -           Chief Executives & Partnership Team

Councillor E. Watts in the Chair

ESG41/05      APOLOGIES

 

                        Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

                        Mr. W. Lumley            -           Bolsover District Council

                        Mrs. M. Chambers    -           Health & Wellbeing Action Group

                        Miss D. Row              -           Education & Training Action Group

                        Mr. P. Gamble           -           Government Office for the East

                                                                        Midlands

                        Mr. J. Perry                -           Government Office for the East

                                                                        Midlands

                        Mr. T. Trafford            -           Housing & the Environment Action

                                                                        Group

                        Insp. I. Palfreyman     -           Bolsover Community Safety

                                                                        Partnership

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked that Agenda Item No. 7 be deferred until the last item for discussion.

ESG42/05      MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SUPPORT GROUP HELD ON 8TH SEPTEMBER, 2005

 

AGREED       that the Minutes of the meeting held on 8th September, 2005 , be accepted as a true and correct record.

ESG43/05      MATTERS ARISING

 

                        ESG35/05 – Performance – Monitoring and Evaluation Feedback (Action Groups/INVOLVE) – Employment and Transport – Councillor Murray-Carr reported that he had spoken to Mr. A. Rhodes and resolved the problems associated with “cold calling”.

                        ESG34/05 – ESG28/05 – Neighbourhood Renewal Fund – Evaluation and Forward Strategy – Mrs. Khella reminded those present that discussion had taken place at the last Executive Support Group meeting with regard to the NRF Evaluation and she queried what information the Evaluation would need to include, bearing in mind that the End of Year report recently produced detailed the milestone, outputs and outcomes.  The Partnership Performance Management Assistant would also be monitoring the impact against floor targets.  Mrs. Khella queried whether the Evaluation should focus on the effectiveness of the restructure and the commissioning process together with linkages to the Local Area Agreement. 

                        After a brief discussion, it was suggested that a report be prepared, detailing various options, to be submitted to a future meeting of the Executive Support Group for consideration.

                       

AGREED       that a report detailing various options for the Evaluation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund be submitted to a future meeting of the Executive Support Group.

ESG37/05 – Single Regeneration Budget – Mrs. Khella provided an update on progress with the Initiate project.  A revised draft application had been received from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and was awaiting to be re-appraised.  Mr. Young raised his concern at the number of training places available and the associated cost, e.g. value for money.  Mrs. Khella advised that she had requested a copy of the tender brief before it went out as she felt it should be need driven rather than budget driven.  A copy of the tender brief would also be forwarded to the Education and Training/Employment and Transport Action Groups.  Councillor Murray-Carr commented that he was mindful of the press launch with Taylor Woodrow to start building 830 houses and the potential job opportunities that this would create.  Mr. Ford queried whether the scheme fitted in with the Social Outcomes Concordat.  Ms. Glover asked whether a dialogue could be agreed with Taylor Woodrow to link in with the Concordat.  Councillor Murray-Carr was asked to make an informal approach on behalf of the Local Strategic Partnership.

Mr. Strutt queried whether there was a need for the training, e.g. was there sufficient interest for HGV driver/construction jobs.  Mrs. Wilkinson queried whether this information could be acquired via the Employment and Transport Action Group.

Mr. Whatton queried whether it would be feasible for the Local Strategic Partnership to sponsor some jobs.

Mrs. Khella reminded those present that the funding available would need to be spent by the end of March 2006.

ESG44/05      PERFORMANCE – MONITORING AND EVALUATION FEEDBACK (ACTION GROUPS/INVOLVE)

                        Education and Training

 

                        AGREED       that the report be received.

                        Employment and Transport

 

                        AGREED       that the report be received.

                        INVOLVE

 

                        Mrs. Wilkinson mentioned that there had recently been some confusion in relation to funding from INVOLVE to the Older Peoples Forum through Voluntary Action Bolsover.  In the past funding had been given to Voluntary Action Bolsover in advance.  INVOLVE had changed the financial process to pay Voluntary Action Bolsover in arrears.  Receipts and reports were currently awaited from Voluntary Action Bolsover before release of the funding.

                        Councillor Murray-Carr referred to the need for cycle routes that link villages and towns and suggested that Mrs. Wilkinson and himself discuss this matter further after the meeting.

                        Mr. B. Strutt raised his concern in relation to Item No. 6 of the report, e.g. the Community Empowerment Networks shortfall in funding for 2006/07.  Mrs. Wilkinson confirmed that Derbyshire Rural Community Council had advised that there would be a shortfall of £120,000 for the next financial year and that £68,000 would be awarded through Government Office for the East Midlands.  Mr. J. Dugdale was currently actively seeking funding on behalf of INVOLVE.

                        Ms. Glover expressed her concerns with regard to the future of Voluntary Action Bolsover, as well as INVOLVE, and the effect that this would have in relation to community and voluntary sector support in the Bolsover District area.  Mr. Whatton also raised concern in relation to the future of the Community Houses.  Councillor Watts suggested that a meeting be convened as soon as possible, with all interested parties, to discuss community and voluntary sector support.

                        Mr. Strutt reported that the Community Economic Development Team had recently been issued with redundancy notices due to lack of funding, and this was another support mechanism for local communities that would be coming to an end.

                        Mrs. Hopwood advised that consultants were currently undertaking a mapping exercise which would be looking at the long-term sustainability of community and voluntary support in the District.  An interim report would be available by the end of November, 2005, with the final report being published at the end of March 2006.

                        Mrs. Brown reminded everyone that discussions had previously taken place with representatives from Government Office for the East Midlands regarding the problem with sustainability of community and voluntary sector support.  Unfortunately, no solutions to the problem had been forthcoming other than the use of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding to undertake the mapping exercise.

                        Mrs. Wilkinson reported that Mr. J. Dugdale, Derbyshire Rural Community Council, was currently organising a community event.  Mrs. Brown requested that Mr. R. Colgrave, Partnership Communication and Information Assistant, be informed of the event.

                        AGREED       that the report be received.

                        Housing and the Environment

 

                        Councillor Reid raised his concerns with the Hotspots/Grotspots project, particularly in relation to raising the aspirations of local communities.  He queried whether, when identifying problem areas, possible solutions would be identified.  Mr. Ford briefly explained the concept of the scheme.

                        Mrs. Wilkinson commented that this project would allow communities to identify successes and achievements and to also suggest possible solutions for problem areas.  Parish/Town Councils had been corresponded with, however, to date, no response had been received.  Councillor Reid requested a copy of the letter.

                        Mrs. Brown stated that this initiative would identify problem areas for possible collaborative working and, of course, the potential use of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

AGREED       that (1) a copy of the letter from INVOLVE TO Parish/Town Councils be forwarded to Councillor Reid, and

                              (2) the report be received.

ESG45/05      ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

                        Update on Performance Management Progress

 

                        Mrs. Brown reported that Natalie Price had recently been appointed as Partnership Performance Management Assistant and she would be commencing employment on Monday, 17th October, 2005. 

                        Mrs. Brown reported that following submission of the Self Assessment to Government Office for the East Midlands, the Local Strategic Partnership had achieved “Amber Green” and the Improvement Plan had been assessed as “Green”.

                        Mr. Young raised his concern in relation to the “Education” element of the letter received from Government Office for the East Midlands, in particular the statement that “there was an alarming fall in pass rates at Tibshelf”.  He requested that the word “alarming” be deleted.  Mrs. Brown advised that, unfortunately, a representative from the Education and Training Action Group had not been available to attend the meeting, therefore, any queries could not be clarified.

                        Mr. Young informed those present that where Neighbourhood Renewal Funding had been utilised in schools to address the education floor targets, generally there had been significant improvements.

                        Changes to the Partnership Team Structure

 

                        Councillor Watts reported that Bolsover District Council had recognised the importance of partnership working and this was reflected in the recent restructure.

                        Mrs. Brown confirmed that PACCT would now be referred to as the “Partnership Team” and would be directly responsible to the Chief Executive Officer.

                        General

 

                        The Chairman reported that the Partnership Newsletter (Connect) and Local Development Framework - Feedback from Action Groups had been provided for information purposes only.

                        Mr. Strutt queried how responses could be made in relation to the Local Development Framework information.  Mrs. Brown advised that contact should be made with Richard Bennett, Planning Services.

ESG46/05      NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL FUND

 

                        Allocation to Action Groups

 

                        Mrs. Khella reported that last year the Partnership had agreed to   Action Groups being awarded £3,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to assist in delivery of activities and tasks in achieving impact against relevant targets.  However, not all action Groups had utilised the funding.

AGREED       that (1) Action Groups be offered the opportunity of being awarded £3,000 to assist and support ongoing and future activities in delivering against relevant Floor Targets,

                                 (2) Action Groups be requested to confirm their intention of take-up and proposed activity to the Partnership Team by 31st December, 2005 , and

                                  (3) the report be received.

Commissioning Proposals

 

Mrs. Khella reported that at the last Executive Support Group meeting, it had been agreed to over-commit the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund programme by £250,000, leaving a total of £450,000 unallocated for the current financial year.  A number of Action Group meetings had taken place to consider new projects, or additional activity of existing projects, to contribute towards addressing the floor targets.

Commissioning Briefs had been prepared and submitted to the value of £545,000 which was significantly more than was available.  Executive Support Group was requested to discuss and agree projects to be commissioned within the timescale as detailed.  It would also be beneficial to agree a “reserve” list of projects which would deliver quickly.

Mrs. Khella reminded everyone that the Partnership had agreed its priorities as Education and Liveability.

Education

Mr. Young briefly explained the Commissioning Briefs as presented.

AGREED       that the following Education projects be commissioned for the current financial year:

·                    Building Schools for the Future

·                    Aim Higher

·                    KS3 Literacy – Tackling Under Achievement

·                    Travellers

·                    Shirebrook Project – Surestart (extension to a current project

Crime

Councillor Murray-Carr briefly explained the Commissioning Briefs as presented.  Mr. Strutt commented that work was due to recommence at Langwith Bridge on 7th November and suggested that should the “Reclamation” project be supported, that Derbyshire County Council be contacted.

AGREED       that the following Crime projects be commissioned for the current financial year:

·                    Reclamation

·                    Target Hardening

·                    Bramley Vale – Phase 2

Health & Wellbeing

Mr. Whatton declared an interest in the Youth Initiatives project.  Mrs. Khella reported that this project was a revenue project which would employ two full-time young people.  She raised concerns regarding the timescale of the project bearing in mind recruitment of staff.  However, the project did meet the priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Action Group.  Ms. Glover commented that this was a classic example of a good project underpinned by the community and local partners.  It could, however, become a larger project by encompassing wider youth issues.

AGREED       that the Youth Initiatives project be deferred until next year and that links be made with Education and Crime.

Mrs. J. Ryalls left the meeting at 11.15 a.m.

                        Housing and the Environment

                        Mr. Ford briefly explained the Commissioning Briefs as presented.

                        Mr. Ford suggested that the Housing Strategy be deferred until next year as this could be undertaken during the spring/summer months.

                        Councillor Watts and Councillor Murray-Carr declared an interest in the Street Cleaning project.

                        Mrs. Khella advised that the Street Cleaning initiative could be linked into the Grot Spots Hot Spots project.

                        Mrs. Wilkinson commented that the Health and Wellbeing Action Group had supported the Living with Teenagers initiative and queried whether the Mansfield Mediation project would be duplicating work already undertaken.  Mr. Ford advised that some young people were reluctant to visit the Council to discuss their problems and would be more willing to visit the Community Houses.  Concern was yet again expressed regarding the future sustainability of the Community Houses.

AGREED       that (1) the following Housing and Environment projects be commissioned for the current financial year:

·                    Greenway Routes

·                    Grot Spots Hot Spots (Requested a new name for the project)

·                    Street Cleaning

       (2) the following projects be deferred until next year:

·                    Housing Strategy

·                    Mansfield Mediation

Employment and Transport

Mrs. Khella briefly explained the Commissioning Briefs as tabled.

Mrs. Khella reported that the Wheels to Work project had not been received and the Clowne Enterprise scheme could be a reserve project as detailed plans and costings were currently being prepared.

AGREED       that the following Employment and Transport project be extended for the current financial year:

·                    HGV Training (Extension to existing project)

Mr. J. Young left the meeting at 12 noon.

                        The total of all activity to be commissioned was agreed at £430,530 Neighbourhood Renewal Funding.

ESG47/05      DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

                        Thursday, 24th November, 2005, at 9.30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover

The meeting concluded at 12.12 p.m.