Housing and the Environment
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 22nd September 2005 at Groundwork Creswell, Clowne
NOTES OF THE LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP
GROUNDWORK CRESWELL OFFICES, CLOWNE
22nd SEPTEMBER 2005
PRESENT
Tony Trafford (TT) AHEAG
Katherine Mayhew (KM) Groundwork Creswell
John Sherwood (JS) Bolsover District Council
Steve Roberts (SR) Fire Service
John Ford (JR) Bolsover District Council
Jim Neeve (JN) Involve CEN
Graham Clarke (GC) Bolsover District Council
Hazel Ward (HW) Bolsover District Council
Glenice Stokes (GS) Shirebrook Model Village Residents Assoc
Andy Heath (AH) Bolsover Countryside Partnership
Judy Dermott (JD) North East Derbyshire PCT
Laura Khella (LK) Phoenix Regeneration
Tracie Oliver (TO) Bolsover District Council
Richard Colgrave (RC) PACCT Bolsover District Council
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Val Kripp Groundwork Creswell
Dennis Kelly Pinxton & South Normanton Devt Group
Marie Cox Involve CEN
Diane Finch Housing 21
Anna Evans Derbyshire WT
Vanessa Roberts North East Derbyshire PCT
Neil Wilson McArthurGlen Mansfield
Julie Lewis Bolsover District Council
Cassa Townsend National Trust
Kath Sharpe Langwith Society
Ros Sowerby PCT
Debbie Court Derbyshire County Council
Janine Atkinson Involve CEN
2. NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 11 AUGUST 2005
Agreed as a true and accurate record.
3. MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising.
4. ESG REPORT BACK
Report back made on a presentation by Derbyshire County Council regarding local area agreement funding. Neighbourhood Renewal Funds will continue direct to Bolsover until end 2005-6, after that via LAA. The money will be divided out under four headings of which environment is one. TT advised that it is still in the early stages and he will keep the group updated.
Expenditure of NRF money for this financial year is anticipated to have 10% underspend. The ESG has called for new commissions realisable by April 2006. The ESG has agreed that liveability and environment will be priority as expenditure in this area has been small in the past.
5. CALL FOR POTENTIAL NRF COMMISSIONS AGAINST UNDERSPEND
The question was asked how much money is available, £430k in total. £180k has been identified as an underspend. We are therefore looking to over commit at the end of the financial year.
JS expressed concern whether or not we can deliver grot spots project in time available. JM said we are not able to hold the money but DRCC could.
It has been agreed that some projects could be supported and piloted before the end of the financial year.
The question was asked whether or not Bolsover Countryside Partnership would feed into this – the work programme has been re-profiled and future funding is being sought, but extra capacity i.e. greenways could be identified quite quickly.
The commissioning briefs need to be in by the end of September. The money would need to be spent before the end of March 2006. Approval to go ahead could be given quickly. The ESG meeting would consider them by mid October. Panels will then need to meet to consider them and money could be available by the end of November.
Only a 5% underspend will be allowed to be carried forward for all NRF projects, which would amount to approximately £125k.
6. HOT SPOTS/GROT SPOTS INITIATIVE
The project could be low spend however it will be difficult to deliver and coordinate people to do the work in the time given. The question was asked if we would need to commission someone to push forward as a short term appointment. JS asked if Groundwork and the Countryside Partnership would consider a partnership. They both agreed this may be possible.
We need to be bold about what we do, how it is done and improvement for public ownership to work.
It was agreed the project is a good but would be difficult to do on a large scale quickly so a pilot project would be undertaken. Communities are already identified. HS/GS could probably run with.
Difficulties will be identified and written into the bid. Photographs could be put in as part of a pilot project.
It was agreed that a pilot commission has a lot to sort out for next week Involve, Countryside Agency and Groundwork Creswell will aim to form a working group next week. TT advised that he will be away all next week and can be contacted via email
The question was asked if schools could be involved in the tidying of hot spots this may be useful to reduce the risk of further vandalism.
Bolsover District Council have picked ten grot spots this week.
TT asked if there are any other partnerships within liveability . AH suggested “Greenways”. The Countryside Agency have a programme ready to involve others and the finished project could be done in a short time span.
TO informed that an empty property register would be helpful but someone will need to be commissioned to establish the register. There has also never been a rough sleepers head count in the district. A stock study has been carried out for older people. JN said that the number of bungalows are inadequate and there are no three bedroom bungalows.
TT asked whether or not the empty homes register or the rough sleepers would be the most viable and would we be able to use external consultants. JS confirmed that there would be £170k available in the budget NRF money available for housing and empty properties.
It was confirmed that approximately 1500 properties will be empty at any one time.
[ 3.20pm Janet Bradbury arrived and was welcomed to the group.]
JN circulated a questionnaire for everyone to look at.
7. BOLSOVER COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP REPORT
AH confirmed that the Ranger, Ben Arnold is now in post and that staffing issues have now been resolved. 16-17 year olds have been helping with the archaeological way. It has been decided that they would stay in Clay Cross for the time being, because of a lack of affordable premises. There is little money available to move and there is a shortfall of £60K for next year. There is a possibility of looking at the Old School at Langwith in the future.
8. PRESENTATION
Janet Bradbury from Meden Valley Making Places gave a presentation.
Any questions were invited;
JN asked how many local people were employed in the project?
9 in total
The builders involved are Brocklehurst in Pleasley, Tudor House in Warsop and Henry Boot in Creswell.
JB confirmed that they are hoping to look at local supply chains.
JB left the meeting at 4.10pm.
TT thanked JS for arranging the presentation. A copy of the slides will be distributed with the minutes.
9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Nothing to report.
10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
3rd November 2005 at 2.30pm at the Council Chamber, Bolsover District Council.