Meetings

BOLSOVER LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

 

BOARD

 

Minutes of the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership Board meeting held on Thursday, 21st July, 2005, at 9.30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover.

PRESENT

 

Mr. Wes Lumley                    -           Bolsover District Council

Supt. Paul Evans                   -           Derbyshire Constabulary

Inspector Ian Palfreyman      -           Derbyshire Constabulary

Mr. Bernard Strutt                  -           Derbyshire County Council

Councillor Geoff Carlile        -           Derbyshire County Council

Mr. Andrew Marsh                 -           Learning & Skills Council Derbyshire

Mr. Andrew Street                 -           Alliance SSP

Ms. Kerry Belfield                  -           Jobcentre Plus

Mr. P. Gamble                       -           Government Office for the East Midlands

Councillor Eion Watts           -           Bolsover District Council

Mrs. Mandy Chambers         -           North Eastern Derbyshire Primary Care Trust

Mrs. Clare Munks                  -           Parish/Town Councils

Mr. Richard Colgrave           -           Partnership Team

Mrs. Laura Khella                  -           Phoenix Regeneration

IN ATTENDANCE

 

Ms. Jo-Anne Ireland              -           Bolsover District Council

Mr. Richard Bennett              -           Bolsover District Council

Mrs. M. Chambers in the Chair

LSPB14/05   APOLOGIES

 

                        Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

                        Mrs. Pam Brown                   -           Bolsover District Council

                        Dr. Martin McShane              -           North Eastern Derbyshire PCT

                        Mr. Andrew Pidluznyj            -           Jobcentre Plus

                        Mr. Joe Dugdale                   -           Derbyshire Rural Community

                                                                                    Council

                        Chief Supt. Debbie Kelly      -           Derbyshire Constabulary

LSPB15/05   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

                        Declarations of Interest were received from:

                        Councillor Carlile in relation to matters associated with Derbyshire County Council and the Alliance SSP.

                        Mr. Street in relation to matters associated with the Alliance SSP.

                        Councillor Watts in relation to matters associated with Bolsover District Council/Alliance SSP.

LSPB16/05   EFFICIENCIES – GERSHON REPORT

                        The Chair welcomed Ms. Ireland, Bolsover District Council, to the meeting and invited her to undertake a presentation.

                        Ms. Ireland explained that following a review of public sector efficiency, all Local Government offices would have to make 21/2% savings per annum for the next few financial years.  The efficiency savings were not about service cuts or reductions in quality of service, but should be achieved through initiatives that maintained the same level of service with fewer resources and would improve the quality and/or quantity   of the service with the same resources.  Half of the savings would need to be cashable, (direct financial savings where resources can be redirected) and half would be non cashable (no real evidence of lower costs, but do lead to improved performance).

                        Bolsover District Council would need to find the following savings, these being from the 2004/05 base line calculation:

                        2005/06                      2006/07                      2007/08

                        £441,000                   £882,000                   £1,323.00

                        Examples of efficiency savings used are streamlining and standardisation of processes, movement from manual to electronic processing, more efficient procurement and collaborative working.  Greater emphasis was going to be placed on working with partners and any collaborative working would require a proven business case and would need to highlight clear benefits to the District Council.

                        The Audit Commission had recently released guidance in relation to the ensuing second phase of Comprehensive Performance Assessment, i.e. “CPA - The Harder Test”.  Bolsover District Council was previously awarded a “good” assessment,  however, in order to retain the same rating it would be necessary to attain a higher standard of service.

                        Ms. Ireland explained the framework for the Comprehensive Performance Assessment, in particular the ‘Use of Resources’ and ‘Direction of Travel Statements’.  She added that the District Council would also be assessed on ‘Value For Money’, i.e. Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness.  It would be impossible to achieve a score of “excellent” without a good scoring on Value For Money.

                        Ms. Ireland concluded that:

§           Value For Money Self Assessment and evidenced based work for Use of Resources was to be completed by the end of September 2005

§           Direction of Travel Self Assessment was to be completed by the end of October 2005, and a

§           Mid year update on the Annual Efficiency Statement was due by 17th November 2005

Councillor Watts raised his frustration that although the District Council had made several changes, not least a major restructure, even if improvements had been made, the Authority would most likely not increase the scoring due to the rule changes in the guidance issued by the Audit Commission.

Mr. Lumley advised that County-wide initiatives were taking place.  Arrangements had been made for a Gershon Away Day and seven areas had been identified for consideration, e.g. Fleet Management, Procurement, Human Resources, Building Control, Sport and Leisure Management, Adult and Children Services.  He added that a meeting had been convened recently with representatives from Building Control across the County and that the Local Authority was currently working very closely with Chesterfield Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and North Eastern Derbyshire Primary Care Trust.

The Chair thanked Ms. Ireland for undertaking the presentation.

AGREED       that the comments be noted.

Ms. J. Ireland left the meeting at 10.00 a.m.

LSPB17/05   MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON 13TH MAY, 2005

 

AGREED       that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13th May, 2005 , be accepted as a true and correct record.

LSPB18/05   MATTERS ARISING

 

                        LSPB05/05 – Local Strategic Partnership Forum – Mrs. Munks requested an update.  The Chair reported that a response was awaited.

                        LSPB10/05 – Core Cost Contributions – The Chair mentioned that some responses were still awaited from key service agencies.  The Partnership Team to follow-up.

                        AGREED       that the comments be noted.

LSPB19/05   URGENT ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CHAIR OF THE LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BOARD

 

                        Local Development Framework

 

                        Mr. Bennett, Bolsover District Council (Planning Services), briefly explained the background to the Local Development Plan.  He reported that the District Council was currently in the process of preparing a replacement Local Plan and that the Local Strategic Partnership’s Action Groups would be the consultation link.    The changes to the planning legislation placed greater emphasis on sustainable development and required that the Local Development Framework and the Community Strategy be very closely related.

                        Representatives from Planning Services have been attending Action Group meetings and undertaking presentations which gave details of the process for the Local Development Framework .  More emphasis was being placed on community engagement earlier in the process in order to reduce conflict.

                        Feedback from the Action Groups to date had highlighted that the system was considered to be extremely complicated, with far too much detail to understand.  A summary of the comments received was circulated for information, together with a copy of the following leaflets:  “A Guide to the New Local Development Framework” and “A Guide to the Statement of Community Involvement”.

                        Mr. Bennett requested that the Local Strategic Partnership recognise that the Local Development Framework was being prepared and that there was a need for greater cognisance with this framework in the Community Strategy Review process.

                        Mrs. Munks voiced her concern at the difficulty of understanding the Local Development Framework process, particularly as the Parish/Town Councils had little knowledge of the system and members of the community would expect the Parish Councillors to relay the information in an understandable format.  Mr. Bennett offered to supply Parish/Town Councils with copies of the leaflets.

                        Inspector Palfreyman queried the next stage for Action Groups.  Mr. Bennett advised that a period of public participation was about to be launched and that this would continue throughout the summer months.  Representatives of Planning Services would be attending meetings of Action Groups throughout August/September to undertake presentations.  The consultation process would continue during the draft stages of the document until its submission to the Secretary of State programmed for October 2006.

                        The Chair requested that the Local Strategic Partnership be kept up-to-date with progress and thanked Mr. Bennett for attending the meeting.

Mr. Bennett left the meeting at 10.20 a.m.

                        Social Outcomes Concordat – Additional Board Member

 

                        The Chair stated that a report had been submitted to the Executive Support Group requesting that consideration be given to the Principal of Chesterfield College becoming a Board member in order to progress the above initiative.

AGREED       that the Principal of Chesterfield   College be offered a seat on the Local Strategic Partnership Board.

LSPB20/05   ITEMS REFERRED FROM EXECUTIVE SUPPORT GROUP

 

                        There were no items referred from Executive Support Group .

LSPB21/05   LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT

 

                        The report as submitted to the Executive Support Group was circulated for information.  Mr. Lumley explained that the information contained within the report had been discussed at the Derbyshire Partnership Forum and he specifically referred to Appendix ‘A’ which detailed the governance arrangements. 

                        Mr. Lumley advised that the four “blocks” would be the decision making bodies in terms of allocating funding and that these decisions would be outcome based.  Discussion was currently ongoing in relation to whether the funding process would be bidding or commissioning based.

                        Members of the Derbyshire Partnership Forum felt that there should be a much stronger role in the structure for Local Strategic Partnerships.  This had been agreed in principle with a view to progressing any ideas at the next meeting which is scheduled to take place in September.

                        A query had been raised in relation to the role of the Local Area Agreement Board; this would be developed over time.  However, it was thought that if any of the four “blocks” were unable to spend the funding by due date, the Board could have a role in viring monies from one block to another.

                        Councillor Carlile commented that all funding for the County should now be via the Local Area Agreement, this included European Structural Funds.

                        The Chair reported that the Executive Support Group had agreed to discuss this matter further at the next meeting in order that  appropriate representations could be made to the Derbyshire Partnership Forum.

                        Mr. Street mentioned that discussions were currently taking place between all SSP’s and Emda in relation to the single pot

                        Mr. Lumley suggested that any comments in relation to the governance arrangements for the Local Area Agreement should be submitted to the Partnership Team before the next meeting of the Executive Support Group .

                        Mr. Lumley congratulated Mr. D Lowe, Derbyshire County Council, on his efforts in putting together the Local Area Agreement.

AGREED       that (1) the Board recognised the importance of Local Strategic Partnerships being involved in the Local Area Agreement structure,

                                (2) any comments on the governance arrangements be submitted to the Partnership Team before the next meeting of the Executive Support Group , scheduled for 8th September, 2005,

                                (3) the comments be noted.

LSPB22/05   NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL FUND/SINGLE REGENERATION BUDGET – END OF YEAR REPORT

                        The report had been provided for information purposes only.

                        Mr. Lumley congratulated the Partnership Team for producing the document.

                        AGREED       that the report and comments be received.   

LSPB23/05   NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL FUND

 

                        2004-5 Commissioning

 

                        The Chair briefly explained the report.  Councillor Watts requested that the Executive Support Group be made aware of any concerns in relation to funding at its meeting on 8th September, 2005.

                        The Chair commented that it had been suggested that current projects consider the possibility of requesting additional funding in order to address the floor targets more speedily.

                        Ms. Khella reported that a number of proposals had been invited and that if all were returned and approved there would be approximately £150,000 unallocated funding.

                        The Chair requested that a list of reserve projects be submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Support Group .

                        AGREED       that the report and comments be noted.

                        Update – Action Plans/Commissioning Briefs

 

                        The Chair requested that consideration be given to endorse the Employment and Transport Action Plan.

AGREED       that the Employment and Transport Action Plan be endorsed.

Mr. Gamble reported that the Government had recently announced that the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership would be in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding for the next two years.  The funding, which had been based on Super Output Areas, being as follows:

2006/07          -           £2.25 million

2007/08          -           £2 million       

                        Mr. Lumley queried whether any other area in Derbyshire had been granted Neighbourhood Renewal Funding.  Mr. Gamble advised that a small amount of Safer Communities funding had been allocated to Ilkeston North Ward.

                        Mr. Lumley asked whether the Neighbourhood Renewal Funding would go through the Local Area Agreement.  Mr. Gamble commented that the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund could only be spent in the Bolsover District Council area.  Councillor Carlile commented that as the funding was specific to the Bolsover area, that it made sense for it to be administered as previously.

                        Mr. Gamble advised that a letter would be sent to the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership this afternoon.

                        AGREED       that the comments be noted.

LSPB24/05   COMMUNITY STRATEGY REVIEW – INTRODUCTION OF CONSULTANTS – TELLUS 42

 

                        The Chair introduced Mr. David Williams and Mr. Andrew Richardson, Tellus 42, to the meeting.  Tellus 42 had been appointed to undertake the Community Strategy Review.

                        Mr. Williams circulated information in relation to the proposed timetable and structure for the review.  He commented that it was intended to work from the bottom up and meetings would, therefore, take place in individual villages and with targeted groups.  The difficulty would, however, be marrying up the requirements of local communities to the floor targets set by the Government.

                        The revised Community Strategy would be for a five year period, however, the structure would allow for a further review in set areas within a three – five year period.

                        Mr. Strutt advised that a review of the County-wide Community Strategy was also taking place, together with the Local Development Framework and he queried how this would link into the review.    Mr. Williams reported that meetings had already taken place with Mr. Bennett of Planning Services, and it was intended to meet with representatives of Derbyshire County Council within the next month.

                        Mr. Lumley commented that the consultation exercise for the Community Strategy may also provide a link with the Local Area Forums.

                        Mr. Williams offered to visit all Parish/Town Councils as part of the consultation process.

                        The Chair thanked Mr. Williams and Mr. Richardson for providing an update in relation to the process for the Community Strategy Review.

                        AGREED       that the comments be noted.

LSPB25/05   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

                        Thursday, 20th October, 2005, at 9.30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover.

The meeting concluded at 11.02 a.m.