Meetings

  NOTES OF THE LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP

 

GROUNDWORK CRESWELL OFFICES, CLOWNE

9TH FEBRUARY 2006

PRESENT

            T Trafford                   (TT)     AHEAG

            J Neeve                      (JN)     Involve CEN

            M Cox                         (MC)   Involve CEN

            T Oliver                       (TO)    BDC

            R Colgrave                (RC)    CEPT

            D Betts                       (DB)    New Houghton Community Assoc

            A Lowery                    ( AL)     BDC

S Budden                   (SB)    Env Agency

D Kelly                        (DK)    Pinxton Dev. Gp

J Derricott                  (JD)     NED PCT

S Roberts                   (SB)    Fire Service

M Connley                  (MC)   BDC

A Heath                      (AH)    BCP

K Mayhew                  (KM)    Groundwork Creswell

            G Stokes                    (GS)    SMVRA

           

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

           

            C Townsend              National Trust                                               

V Roberts                   PCT

            D Finch                       Housing 21

            J Sherwood               BDC

            J Ford                         BDC

            C Cooke                    DCC

            H Ward                       BDC

           

2.         NOTES OF MEETING HELD 15TH DECEMBER 2005

 

These were agreed for accuracy.

NOTES OF MEETING HELD 12TH JANUARY 2006

To be amended as follows:

Page 2, Para 1 – ‘ESG had looked at the 2006/2015 Community Strategy’ 

Page 4, Para 11 – ‘Greenwatch awards are a Derbyshire initiative’ 

3.         MATTERS ARISING

TT advised that Tellus 42’s contract had been terminated and all material and consultation documents which had been undertaken will be delivered back to LSP .  Another consultant has been appointed and there will be a further ESG meeting in due course.

At the ESG meeting held earlier in the day the Greenway bid had been approved in principal.

It had been reported at the meeting that spend of NRF monies throughout the LSP is on target which is essential for next years funding.

All action groups draft action plans had been considered and in principle approved.  The Housing and Environment Action Group had received complimentary marks about their cross cutting initiatives. 

            Amendments to the action plan which were as a result of the     action group’s meeting on the 12th January 2006 were discussed as   follows:

            Page 1 By 2010 bring all social housing etc …….  

The group was confident they were meeting the target in respect of public sector and were also working in partnership with the RSLs.  JF will report back at a later date on the outcome of the RSL Sub Meetings.  It was agreed that private sector landlords needed to be engaged to help meet this target.

TT spoke about a partnership initiative with Chesterfield Borough and North East Derbyshire District Councils LSP which would have a collective view of best practice in engaging social landlords across all 3 districts.  TT and the Chair from Chart would take part in a Steering Group and will report back to this meeting.

Discussion had taken place on landlords and RSLs who did not take up Group Repair Grants within BDC’s declared Renewal Areas.  It was explained that Housing Associations would not receive grant aid as they have to take part as unassisted participants.  HA’s have their own programme of refurbishments and joining in with group repair schemes is not compulsory.  It was noted that some owner occupiers did not wish to participate in group repair schemes.

TT It was suggested that there could be a Kite Mark scheme for good landlords.

TO asked that the Group and Community Groups act as the eyes and ears and let herself or JWS know if properties are in disrepair. 

A homelessness forum was discussed as it was agreed that the biggest barrier for young people seeking to rent private sector accommodation is raising the bond and the documents necessary to rent properties.  It was noted by Councillor Kelly that there were also owner occupiers that have dilapidated premises and further discussion took place on Home Repair Assistance Grants.

Page 1  No local fire and rescue authority etc…

SB is to report back on national averages for deaths from accidental fires in the home.  SB confirmed that installations of smoke alarms in new build is required as part of the Building Regulations. 

SB further confirmed that home fire safety checks were ongoing and had had a good take up.  A 10 year life battery alarm was fitted free of charge by the Fire Service.  It was noted that the PCT also have smoke alarms available but there was a small charge initially, however, these were fitted free by the CAN Rangers.

Smoke alarms which had been adapted for the hard of hearing are also provided by the Fire Service.

The Fire Service is introducing a scheme whereby old chip pans will be replaced to reduce cooking related fires.  Residents apply to the Fire Service and if they meet the criteria, i.e. young people or elderly their old chip pan will be replaced by a deep fat fryer.  It was noted that the Fire Service have only limited supplies of deep fat fryer to give away. 

The Fire Lighting scheme which had been previously funded by the Health and Wellbeing Action Group will not be in their action plan for the forthcoming year.  There was some mainstream funding coming forward to support this scheme. It was agreed that the scheme was meeting targets by way of reducing pollution, reducing fire deaths etc. and it was felt that this initiative should be continued although the difficulties met in launching the scheme initially were recognised, take up of the scheme had improved.  TT had requested at the ESG meeting that should the mainstream funding not be in place this would be revisited in the second round of funding.

Page 1 Lead the delivery of a cleaner, safer, greener etc…

The bid was approved in principal at the ESG subject to the usual caveats, scoring, submission of full bid etc. 

It had been flagged up that the ESG meeting that the Hsg and Env Action Group wished the Grot to Green scheme to continue after the pilot project.  Further commitment by BDC to enforce Section 215 if the land owners can be identified to make them clear the land was in place. 

Involve had received funding from the Government Office as their organisation had been deemed to be fit for purpose, however, that funding would only cover a third of all that would be required.

There had been discussion at the ESG about Involve’s bid, it had been decided that further information was required and approval had been deferred, however, a special meeting will be held if necessary.  It was recognised that there should be community empowerment to run alongside the LSP .

AH had also received funding up until the end of the financial year and this would mean there will be no redundancies provided the NRF funds were forthcoming. 

Page 2 Achieve a better balance between hsg availability and the demand for housing etc…

The amendments made by Planning Services were circulated at the meeting and some discussion on these took place.  It was agreed to incorporate these into the draft Action Plan and subject to approval TT will file as official Action Plan. 

Pg 2 – Eliminate fuel poverty etc…

SB had provided some references in respect of air quality issues and group members have been directed to the information on the web site. 

            Pg 3 – Increase significantly take up of cultural etc…

It was noted that there was a significant opportunity to influence DCC Future build project.

            Pg 4 – Reduce the waste we produce etc…

This bid has been considered at the ESG and it was agreed that they wanted to fund this project in 2 phases.  The second half to be reviewed after the Community Strategy was completed.  AL said that the first part of expansion will be more costly than the second part and may not be a 50/50 split.  It was therefore agreed that AL would do a proposal indicating the funding required for both phases.

4.         REVIEW OF EXISTING NRF COMMISSIONS 2005/06

AH confirmed that in terms of expenditure for 2005/06 BCP were on target.  £53,000 had been brought forward out of 2004/05 money.  All targets will be delivered.   Twelve footpath schemes had been commissioned, 5 were remaining to be completed and BCP were working with partners to that end. 

Two hundred contact days are on target, initiatives for partnership working with BDC and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on educational projects ongoing.  Volunteer days are progressing and will meet targets.

TT had received feedback on the cross cutting initiatives of the BCP bid.  It was felt that this scheme could also be linked into the health and wellbeing group and it would be necessary for a representative from the Countryside Partnership to attend the Health and Wellbeing Action Group meetings.  It was suggested that AH get in touch with Paul Blakemore from that group.  It might also be useful to keep in touch with John Young’s Education Action group as this would also link in. 

TT reminded the group that that where initiatives have received funding from LSP /NRF, advertising and publicity should include all appropriate logos.  The logo would be sent out electronically with the funds. 

Grot to Green pilot – a report was circulated at the meeting and JN spoke about the information contained within that report.  The report to be attached with the minutes.

It was noted that there was a good take up and at the ESG meeting it had been suggested that community and voluntary groups may want to join in. 

JN said that they would like to see a more diverse range of targets and if funding were received they could work in partnership with Groundwork Creswell, Bolsover Countryside Partnership and BDC. 

Involve had received an expression of interest from Councillor Brian Murray-Carr in regard to “the payback scheme”.  It was emphasised that the workers on the scheme would be properly supervised and would not work in areas where they are known.  It was felt that this was a worthwhile programme. 

It was agreed that because the scheme had established momentum Involve should develop a community bid for next year and TT proposed that funds should be ring fenced to assist take this forward. 

Take up of Empty Property Grants was discussed and a request for JWS to attend the next meeting to provide further information was noted.   

AH spoke about Green Ways . Two projects have been taken forward and combined.

£23,000 worth of works around the Creswell area have gone out to tender.  The longer term vision is to connect to the Silverhill Line which will then connect to the Five Pits Trail.  The overall aim is to have a loop for weekend tourists and cyclists.  The scheme is well advanced and on target. 

5.         COMMISSIONING BIDS 2006/07

Discussed previously.  Funds would be in place for phase 2 once the community strategy has been published and the group may have some schemes to be approved later on to use any underspend.

6.         ANY OTHER BUSINESS

DK reported on a presentation given at a meeting with the Friends of Cromford Canal (FoCC).  A scheme to open up the Pinxton   Canal had been discussed and it was intended that (FoCC) would submit planning applications in to that effect, however, this will be costly because they would have to put planning applications in to three Authorities.  It was agreed that this was a good environmental project which may need to look for some backing, an additional bid is to be made to the Lottery Fund. TT thought that the group could consider ceding small amounts of money to kick start schemes which may have some leverage in other funding streams.

TO spoke about a training day at which some of the £3,000 “admin” funds would be used.  The previous years £3,000 has been held in trust by Groundwork Creswell, this had not been used and would now be returned.  Some minor expense would be incurred in recompensing TT for his expenses in attending the Regional Housing Steering Meeting. 

TO told the group that some LSP s in other areas do not have the benefit of NRF money as it only applies to deprived areas.  As our schemes come to an end our funding will be reduced.  It was important that the group know how to support schemes without NRF monies and encourage community involvement.  TO invited group members to attend a training day on the 22nd March 2006 .  Neighbourhood Renewal advisors will be supplying the training.  The NRA’s are very experienced in working with LSP s who have no NRF funding.  They would give examples of action plans and give some steer whilst giving community and voluntary groups ideas on how to promote schemes and source other funding.  The training day to be held at the Arkwright Centre. 

25 attendees would the maximum and so as not to preclude anyone from the Group it was decided to invite the Chairs from other groups if there were available spaces.  Priority to be given to regular attendees.  TO would need confirmation on numbers as soon as possible. 

TO reported that The Older Persons Housing Strategy is about to reach fruition, this was the county wide document and would be sent to elected members for their comments on the 20th February 2006 .  It had already been out to other consultation groups and group members were encouraged to let TO know if they wanted a copy.

RC stated that the Education Action Group were spending their £3,000 on a DVD celebrating their achievements over the past year.

7.         FUTURE MEETING DATES

TT will circulate the dates as soon as possible. 

It was agreed that the next meeting would be incorporated into the training day on the 22nd March 2006 .