Board
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 19th October 2006 at Committee Room No. 1
BOLSOVER LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
BOARD
Minutes of the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership Board meeting held on Thursday, 19th October, 2006, at 9.30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover.
PRESENT
Mrs. Mandy Chambers - Derbyshire County PCT (Chair)
Mr. Andrew Marsh - Learning and Skills Council
Councillor Geoff Carlile - Derbyshire County Council
Mr. Bernard Strutt - Derbyshire County Council
Mrs. Laura Khella - Partnership Team
Miss Natalie Price - Partnership Team
Ms. Liz Downes - Chesterfield College
Mrs. Marie Cox - INVOLVE
Mr. Wes Lumley - Bolsover District Council
Councillor Eion Watts - Bolsover District Council (Vice Chair)
Mr. Andrew Street - Alliance SSP
Mrs. Clare Munks - Parish/Town Councils
Mrs. Pam Brown - Partnership Team
IN ATTENDANCE
Mrs. Judy Derricott - Derbyshire County PCT
Mrs. Jane Foley (part) - Bolsover District Council
Mandy Chambers in the Chair
LSPB24/06 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:
Mr. Joe Dugdale - Derbyshire Rural Community Council
Mr. Ian Murray - Chesterfield College
Chief Supt. Debbie Kelly - Derbyshire Constabulary
Mr. Ali Baig - Government Office for the East
Midlands
Mr. Paul Gamble - Government Office for the East
Midlands
Mr. Andrew Campbell - Derbyshire Chamber & Business Link
LSPB25/06 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Declarations of Interest were received as follows:-
Mrs. Cox in respect of Agenda Item No. 6 – Community and Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Review
Councillor Carlile in respect of Agenda Item No. 6 – Community and Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Review – personal interest in recommendation one and a prejudicial interest in recommendation two as Director of Derbyshire Rural Community Council.
LSPB26/06 MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON 20TH JULY, 2006
AGREED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 20th July, 2006 , be accepted as a true and correct record.
LSPB27/06 MATTERS ARISING
Page 3 – LSPB15/06 – Market Towns Regeneration Alliance Programme - Mrs. Khella reported that one of the two initiatives – A Master Plan for Shirebrook – will not now require funding from the Market Towns Regeneration Alliance Programme as Emda and English Partnerships would be providing the funding. The Bolsover CCTV application had been sent to the Alliance SSP for consideration. It was hoped to roll over the funding allocated to the Shirebrook Master Plan into the next financial year, however, this now seemed unlikely. An e-mail, therefore, had been sent to Action Group Chairs requesting further projects – these to be capital projects, match funded and spent by March 2007.
Mr. Street advised that it was hoped that the Sustainable Transport Initiative would commence during December/January.
Page 3 – LSPB16/06 – Local Enterprise Growth Initiative – Mrs. Brown mentioned that a copy of Mr. Eccles’ presentation had been circulated with the Minutes.
LSPB28/06 urgent items for consideration by the chair of the local strategic partnership BOARD
Mrs. Brown reported that Mr. Colgrave, Partnership Communication and Information Officer had tendered his resignation on 8th September, 2006, and had now left the Partnership Team. This matter had been reported to the Executive Support Group meeting held on 12th October. It would, therefore, be necessary to consider various options in order to fill the vacancy. Options included:
1. Recruitment
2. Secondment
3. Consultants
However, due to the timescales involved with recruitment and the remainder of the term of the Contract (March 2008) the secondment opportunity would appear more favourable. It was intended, therefore, to offer the post as a secondment opportunity until March 2008 and an e-mail would be sent to partners, attaching the personal specification and Job Description.
AGREED that a secondment opportunity be e-mailed out to key agencies.
Mrs. Cox left the meeting at 9.35 a.m.
Mrs. Monks joined the meeting at 9.35 a.m.
LSPB29/06 COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE REVIEW
The Chair introduced Mrs J. Derricott, Transition Co-ordinator.
Mrs. Derricott referred to the update report and stated that the original aim of the Steering Group was to carry out the recommendations contained within the Peter Stone report, i.e. to join the functions of the current infrastructure organisations in the District (Voluntary Action Bolsover/INVOLVE).
It was apparent very early on in the process that Voluntary Action Bolsover’s commitment was not as positive as INVOLVE. Although Voluntary Action Bolsover stated that they were committed to the process, their actions were negative. A letter was received from Voluntary Action Bolsover in August stating that they did not wish to be involved in the process at this moment in time, but would like to maintain an interest.
The Steering Group was established in February and, unfortunately, progress had been slow. It was agreed in July to widen membership of the Steering Group to other community/voluntary representatives. Following receipt of the letter from Voluntary Action Bolsover and further discussion at Executive Support Group , it was agreed that this organisation would not be represented on the Steering Group.
A NRF Proposal Form had been prepared and submitted to the Local Strategic Partnership for an 18 month funding period to March 2008.
Members of INVOLVE were currently reviewing current work processes and enhancing those already provided. Consideration was being given to future sustainability of the organisation, an element of this would need some strategic management. Derbyshire Rural Community Council had recently advertised for the post of Manager and 20 application packs had been posted out. Interviews were scheduled to be held towards the end of October.
Future funding would be sought from the Big Lottery, this to run for a five year period from the end of March 2008.
The INVOLVE Team had been put forward as Compact Champions for the area.
Mrs. Munks asked for clarification of Voluntary Action Bolsover’s involvement. Mrs. Derricott confirmed that Voluntary Action Bolsover had stated that they no longer wished to be part of the process to establish one community and voluntary sector organisation for the Bolsover district.
The Chair reiterated that negotiations had been taking place since February 2006, however, a number of delays had been experienced due to queries/concerns of Voluntary Action Bolsover’s Board of Trustees which in turn had an effect on decision making. The letter sent by Voluntary Action Bolsover in August, clearly stated that they no longer wished to be involved in the new organisation, but would, at some time in the future consider their relationship with it. The Executive Support Group (8th September, 2006) agreed that progress needed to be made with the new organisation and that following receipt of the letter, Voluntary Action Bolsover would not be part of the process at this moment in time.
Councillor Carlile commented that he had grave concerns about the decision and that he did not think the new organisation met the needs of the voluntary sector in its entirety. It did not meet the requirements of Derbyshire County Council. He felt that the District would still have two organisations which would be requesting funding at some point in the future and the Local Strategic Partnership had missed the opportunity to have one organisation which met those needs. He also raised concerns about the long term sustainability of the new organisation after March 2008.
Councillor Watts advised that the new organisation would be seeking funding from the Big Lottery for a five year period. The offer to become involved in the new organisation was given to Voluntary Action Bolsover, alongside INVOLVE and the Community Economic Development Team, and Voluntary Action Bolsover had declined the offer. Prior to the process for establishing a new organisation commencing, he had met with Voluntary Action Bolsover as a Bolsover District Council representative and queried their future.
The Chair reiterated that the decision not to be part of the process had been Voluntary Action Bolsover’s. The Local Strategic Partnership has a duty to support the Community Empowerment Network and was duly performance managed against this element. Discussions had taken place with other external funding bodies in an effort to establish future requirements for funding the community and voluntary sector. It was becoming apparent that external funding streams would be looking for joint working and integration of services. The way forward would seem to be one organisation serving the needs of Bolsover communities.
Councillor Carlile stated that the new organisation did not meet the requirements of Derbyshire County Council. The Chair commented that the new organisation (once formed) would have the potential to fill the needs by building upon the voluntary sector element.
Mrs. Derricott advised that she was currently preparing a Forward Strategy which would include the voluntary sector and meet the Local Area Agreement targets. The final version of the document would be forwarded onto Board members.
AGREED that (1) the NRF funding proposal be endorsed, and
(2) the report and comments be noted.
Mrs. Cox rejoined the meeting at 9.51 a.m.
LSPB30/06 LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT
Mr. Lumley reported that no major issues had been raised following the six monthly performance review. A report entitled “Local Area Agreement Update” ( 29th September, 2006, from Derbyshire Partnership Forum) was circulated for information.
AGREED that the report be received.
LSPB31/06 LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER – CLOSER TO NEIGHBOURHOODS
Mr. Lumley briefly explained the report. He advised that consideration was currently being given to establishing Community Forums with County, Parish/Town Councils, Community Associations and other Local Strategic Partnership partners. It was also intended to develop Charters between Bolsover District Council /Parish/ Town Councils and Community Associations.
AGREED that the report and comments be received.
LSPB32/06 NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL FUND
2005/06 Audit Report
Mrs. Khella advised that the report provided a summary of audits which had been undertaken on projects operational during 2005/06. The level of “satisfactory” audits had increased, however there were still a number of audits classified as “incomplete”. Partners were asked to take appropriate action within their own organisations to ensure projects had sufficient audit trails in place.
AGREED that (1) Board members take appropriate action within their own organisations to ensure projects had sufficient audit trails in place, and,
(2) the report be received.
NRF Commissioning Update
Mrs. Khella briefly explained the report and projects which had been identified as a consequence of a cross-cutting workshop which had taken place during August 2006.
Mr. Strutt mentioned that he worked with the Staveley Neighbourhood Management project and it was hoped that additional funding would be allocated to enable the West Notts College and Groundwork Creswell projects to be extended into the Staveley area.
The Chair advised that it would be necessary to look more in-depth at procurement.
AGREED that the report and comments be received.
Mrs. J. Foley joined the meeting at 9.57 a.m.
LSPB33/06 SINGLE REGENERATION BUDGET
2005/06 Audit Report
AGREED that the report be received.
LSPB34/06 DISABILITY EQUALITY SCHEME
The Chair introduced Mrs. J. Foley, Head of Customer Services and Performance Department, Bolsover District Council.
Mrs. Foley explained that she had attended the Executive Support Group meeting last week to discuss preparations being made by Bolsover District Council to implement a Disability Equality Scheme. All local authorities had a duty to publish a Disability Equality Scheme by early December 2006.
An event had been held which brought together disabled people and carers in order to identify areas of concern. The feedback received not only highlighted issues relative to Bolsover District Council, but also other issues such as health and transport. A copy of the feedback was circulated for information.
Mrs. Foley requested contact details of relevant Officers within other partner organisations in order that information collated could be shared.
Mrs. Munks commented that although Parish/Town Councils were exempt from preparing a Disability Equality Scheme, she felt it would be useful to receive any information.
AGREED that the report and comments be received.
LSPB35/06 MEETING DATES – 2007/08
AGREED that the schedule of meeting dates be approved.
LSPB36/06 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Miss Price reported that the TEN Performance Management System was now accessible through the Local Strategic Partnership website.
The Chair queried whether any training provision had been arranged. Miss Price advised that it was intended to organise training sessions, throughout the District, towards the end of the year.
Any queries to be referred to Miss Price, Partnership Team.
AGREED that the comments be noted.
LSPB37/06 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday, 18th January, 2007, at 9.30 a.m., Committee Room No. 1, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover.
The meeting concluded at 10.10 a.m.