Meetings

  NOTES OF THE LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP

 

BOLSOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICES, BOLSOVER

3RD NOVEMBER 2005

PRESENT

            Tony Trafford  (TT)     AHEAG

            John Sherwood         (JWS)  BDC

            Graham Clarke          (GK)    BDC

            Dennis Kelly               (DK)    BDC

            Tracie Oliver              (TO)    BDC

            Richard Colgrave      (RC)    BDC

            Marie Cox                  (MC)   Involve CEN

            Jim Neeve                  (JN)     Involve CEN

            Kath Sharpe              (KS)    Langwith Society

            Derrick Betts             (DB)    New Houghton Comm Association

            Steve Roberts           (SR)    Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service                     Laura Khella              (LK)     B LSP

            Natalie Price              (NP)    B LSP

            Glenice Stokes          (GS)    MVRA

            Cathy Cooke             (CC)    DCC

            Andy Heath                (AH)    DCC

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

            Ross Sowerby                       PCT

            Vanessa Roberts                  PCT

            Ian Wall                                   Creswell Heritage Trust

            Julie Lewis                             BDC

            Hazel Ward                            BDC

            Catherine Napier     

            Val Kripps                              Groundwork Creswell

            John Ford                               BDC

            David Williams                      Tellus 42

            Andrew Richardson              Tellus 42

            Tellus 42 did a review of the Community Strategy and addressed the group briefly.  They were seeking to identify strategic themes and to help the Action Group focus and move forward.  The following themes were discussed:- 

Housing	Decent Homes
	Affordability
	Neighbourhood Management
Built Environment	Conservation Appraisals and Management Plans
	HERS Scheme
	Urban Capacity Studies
Nature Conservation	Biodiversity Plans
	Agricultural Policy
	Large Estate Management
Village Life	Parish Plans and Appraisals
	Shop, Surgery and Pub Support
	Rural Employment
Sustainable Development	Greenways
	Planning
	Energy Efficiency
	Environmental Control (Air, Water, Land)
Culture	Local Sports Facilities
	Performing Arts (incl. dual use of schools)
	Visual Arts (eg Junction)

The floor was open for discussion.  TT spoke about the Liveability Agenda as this was a serious concern for the Action Group. 

Nature conservation, village appraisals and integration with Community Groups were discussed.   An urban green print plan was well on its way to being established in integration with the Countryside Partnership Group.  The Cultural remit needed to be addressed as it was unclear where that area fitted into each group. 

Tellus 42 were meeting with other Tenant and Community Groups.  JWS commented that some areas such as Neighbourhood Management were already well advanced and that Tellus 42 should speak to District Council staff.  GC noted that the Urban Capacity Study was updated annually but only deals with major sites in planning terms.   GC commented that the HERS Scheme was finished at the present time and there was no successor to this scheme in place at the moment.  No bids have gone in for Urban Planning.

TT thanked Tellus 42 for helping the Group to focus for future meetings and Tellus 42 stated that they would feed back after Christmas to the groups.  It would be expected by the end of March that the Community Strategy would be in place. 

2.         NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 22ND SEPTEMBER 2005

 

            Page 3 – Item 6 – Hot Spots/Grot Spots Initiative

            GC queried where the grot spots had been located within the district.  JWS would pass that information back to GC.

3.         MATTERS ARISING

            None.

4.         COMMISSIONING BRIEFS AND FORWARD ACTION PLANS

 

            Grot Spots Pilot

 

            On the Brief that went forward the ESG had asked that the “Grot” be changed to “Green” Spots.

            Countryside Partnership Greenway

 

            The Countryside Partnership Greenway extension had also been approved.

            Street Cleaning

            The purchase of two additional street cleaning vehicles had been proposed.  As this proposal had not come through the Action Group the ESG wanted to give the Action Group the opportunity to discuss this at the meeting.  TT thought that the Group would give their support as any added capacity would be welcome.  The ESG took the view that the machines must be available for community use should there be extra cleaning to be done on any particular patch as part of community initiatives.  The cost would be £134,000 for two machines and specialist weed spraying equipment for the machines had also   been requested.  This figure was for the initial capital purchase and would be mainstreamed for maintenance thereafter.  LH stated that there was a commitment to replace the equipment as necessary and an additional revenue cost and revenue bid had been put in to the Council.  This would fulfil the mainstreaming brief. 

            NRF Proposal

            The NRF Proposals should be submitted to the Partnership Office and the Action Group for approval, and monies awarded would have to be spent within this financial year.  An enquiry was made about the process of approval and the timescales left to spend any funds. 

            The Initial Commissioning Brief went in to the ESG, following which   Briefs have to be worked up into a more considered bid.  Proposed bids are to come before the Action Group for approval before they can proceed further. 

            TT was hoping to review bids quickly and thought it might be possible to have a small Sub Committee to check any briefs before our next full meeting, as these could then be progressed so that monies could be spent before the end of the financial year.  Tracie Oliver and Marie Cox volunteered for the Sub-group. 

            It was noted that the Housing project could be rolled into the next year’s Commissioning Bid. 

5.         ESG REPORT BACK

 

            John Ford had attended that meeting but was not available for today’s meeting and TT had not seen the minutes.  LK reported that Pam Brown had reported on LSP activity to GOEM and an amber/green score had been awarded.  The Housing and Environment Action Group had received a green rating.  GOEM had raised the need to look at liveability issues.

6.         ACTION PLAN REVISIONS 2006 - 2008

It was noted that as NRF is available for 2006 to 2008 the group

should look at the Action Plan and Community Plan.  TT had a copy of the existing plans and discussion took place on what should be changed.  It was decided to agenda this for the next meeting and see what the priorities are.  LK said in terms of NRF commitment no projects have been committed for the next financial year.  The Group needed to think about priorities for the next year to see which projects can be delivered from April 2006.  It was noted that responsibility and ownership of NRF would remain specifically with Bolsover but funds would be passported through Derbyshire County Council.

7.         COMMISSIONING PLANS 2006 - 2008

The group acknowledged the need to bring some bids forward so that there would be no delay in delivering projects from April 2006.  AH from the Derbyshire Countryside Partnership had started to put together a Commissioning Brief which needed to be submitted now if work was to be commenced in the new financial year.  This would be circulated to Members and comments invited.    LK stated that as the Countryside Partnership is already receiving NRF funds some mainstreaming was required.  TT said that as we were in the Pilot Grot to Green Spot we should write a Community Brief on how we want it to be taken forward and for a positive result.  Preparatory work had been done, the group should look at results and take this forward as an initiative.  The next steps for commissioning bids for the forthcoming year should be considered as soon as possible.  Statutory national targets and local targets were discussed.  It was noted that there was a national target now for liveability issues.

LK commented that NRF had been approved for next year but 2007/08 funds will only be released if the LSP shows improvement in targets.  CC had a copy of the 2004/06 Action Plan and asked if this was up to date.  There had been some amendments but these would need to be compared.  TT will email a copy of the action plan to members for comparison purposes.  TT will also send liveability targets to AH.    TT will email floor targets for SAS to send out to group members.

8.         ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

DK spoke about the review of the East Midlands Regional Plan and options for this area and queried whether the Group should be considering this and giving comments.  The consultation process will be ongoing until 16th January 2006.  GC will do a summary for the Group.

9.         DATE OF NEXT MEETING

            Please note the amended date - 15th December 2005 at 2.30pm at Groundwork Creswell.