To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 31 January 2008.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2008 were confirmed as a correct record subject to Mrs Sylvia Armes being added to the list of those present.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs D Bartlett, Mr A Heginbotham, Mr M Hickey, Mrs C Williams, Mrs L Walker and Mrs T Studholme-Lyons.

To receive a presentation from Stephanie Butcher, LSP Officer.

Stephanie Butcher and Rob Walker, the LSP Officers for Breckland Council, provided Members with a presentation and a brief overview of the Joint Evidence Base (attached for information).  The LSP Team had considered the idea of producing an interactive Joint Evidence Base DVD which would be linked to the partnerships.  This DVD could be distributed to people across the district at a cost of approximately 5p each.  Links to the data could then be easily updated electronically.  The Chairman was in favour of a DVD being produced.

It was explained that the Joint Evidence Base had been produced to support the Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Development Framework. Stephanie Butcher informed the Board that the production of the ‘evidence base’ had commenced in the summer of 2007 following which the draft information had been produced.  The evidence portfolio would be published as a supporting document to the Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Development Framework and as a stand alone information resource.

The evidence base contained a wide range of economic, social and environmental information on Breckland and its surrounding areas.  There was a huge amount of data and analysis in the evidence base which had been broken down into seven detailed thematic themes:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Safer Communities
• Community Cohesion
• Children and Young People
• Economy and Skills
• Environment
• Access to Services

Members’ comments were welcomed and the following matters were highlighted:

Ø            Health and Wellbeing

         The Board was informed that in general the health of Breckland residents was good but unfortunately it had the second highest road injury and death rates in the County.  Further information and data would be gathered to find out why this had increased.

Ø            Safer Communities

         The highest proportion of criminal activity in Breckland was in Thetford, plans to bring the crime rates down in that area were being developed. 

         Sylvia Armes challenged the crime rates for Thetford.  She felt that it was unfair that the town should be continually blamed for criminal activity.  According to the local press, Dereham was considered to be one of the most disruptive areas.  Dave Buckley agreed with the aforementioned comment.

Ø            Community Cohesion

         Breckland had the second highest proportion of residents from Black (not British as stated in the presentation) Minority Ethnic Groups.  The impact this would have on health, jobs etc in the area would be explored.

         Val Jenkins, who was also a Member of the Community Cohesion Group, pointed out that it was a well known fact that the public assumed that migrant workers received more assistance/benefits than other workers and felt that it was time to re-educate the population stating that there was not any unfairness going on.

Ø            Children and Young People

         Breckland had performed well at the lower grades of GCSE with passes being higher than the Norfolk and England average; however, English and Math achievement at Key Stage 2 level 4 and above in Breckland was below the Norfolk, Eastern and England average.  This issue would also be investigated.

         Sylvia  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To receive the attached report by Rob Walker, LSP Officer.

Members of the Board were asked to adopt and/or make comments on the content of the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS).

Kevin Ambrose of Ambrose Consultants Ltd was in attendance and had been given the task of collating and producing the SCS for Breckland. He explained that Breckland Council together with the Breckland Local Strategic Partnership had undertaken a programme of consultation to inform the development of a SCS.  Following the consultation period six priorities had been identified which had now been endorsed.  He thanked everyone for their assistance in helping him to produce the fastest SCS.

Rob Walker highlighted the comments that had been received.  He then asked Members to adopt the SCS which would be the overarching strategy  for the LSP over the next three years.  In response to a question with regard to when the delivery plan would be issued, the Board was informed that he would be looking to have an annual delivery plan in place, incorporating clear targets that could be measured, by the end of April 2008.

RESOLVED that the Sustainable Community Strategy for Breckland be adopted.

To receive a presentation from Lindon Parriss.

Rob Walker explained that he had asked a number of companies to come up with a suitable design for the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) and a clear identity for the Local Strategic Partnership with a much more suitable logo.

Brian Lindon and Olly Constable of Lindon Parriss were in attendance for this item.  Brian had been involved with Breckland Council for many years and his company had been chosen to develop a design plan involving all LSP partners.

The logo had to work with many various mediums. 

The design cover for the SCS had to have a bright and fresh feel. 

A number of samples of both the logo and the design cover were circulated and the Board was asked to consider the imagery and text.

It was agreed that:

1)           The logo print should be made clearer and the text should be of a clearer print at the top and the top background should be altered to blue sky. 

2)           The cover for the SCS should be made clearer, green trees against a blue sky background and the visibility of the prints should be made clearer;

3)           A much happier person should be chosen to be included on the front cover of the SCS.

The Board thanked Lindon Parriss for their work on the design brief and the quality of the product produced.

To receive a report by Rob Walker, LSP Officer.

Papers were circulated on this item.

Rob Walker advised that a half day workshop had been planned for 25^th April at 9.30am.  The workshop would offer an opportunity to have an open debate on how to move the LSP forward.  Members were encouraged to attend.

National research had identified the following issues as key challenges for the LSPs:

• Ensuring accountability to public and local partners.
• Making certain that appropriate performance management and governance structures were in place.
• Delivering ‘added value’ and achieving measurable outcomes.
• Aligning partner organisation priorities with Sustainable Community Strategy outcomes.

Trevor Holden, the Chief Executive of Breckland Council reminded the Group that the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) would soon come into force.  The CAA would provide assurance about how well run local public services were and how effectively they used tax payers’ money.  It also aimed to be more relevant to local people by focussing on issues that were important to their community.  The kind of model that the LSP Officer had produced would sit nicely with the CAA and with the Local Area Agreement (LAA) and would provide real attraction, and would be something that the LSP Board could be proud of.

The LSP Improvement Plan was otherwise noted.

To receive an update on Local Government Review.

The Chief Executive updated Members on this item.  The current review was now different to the review that had commenced at the end of 2007.  It was now in relation to the Boundary Committee producing solutions for the whole of Norfolk.  One important difference to note was that Suffolk was now being reviewed at the same time.  The implications of any “marriage” between Waveney and Gt Yarmouth could have an impact on the rest of the County.

LSP partners would be consulted on the process.  The solution that the Boundary Committee would be looking for would be a Rolls Royce set up for the whole County.

So far, the advice that had been given to Breckland Council was to observe some of the recent decisions that had been made by the Boundary Committee.  The three unitary model was still the preferred option for Breckland Council.  Phase 1 of the Review would finish on 11 April 2008 and any comments from the LSP Board would be welcomed.

Members were made aware that a letter had been received from Mr Archie Gall, Director of the Boundary Committee and the LSP Board would be invited to make comment during the consultation period.

To receive an update on Local Area Agreement negotiations in Norfolk.

A document highlighting the National Indicator selection was circulated.  Rob Walker explained that the document showed the position of the 35 indicators as at 3^rd March 2008.  This had been a very inclusive process and Breckland Council had been actively involved. 

The following persons had been nominated to represent Breckland on target setting:

• Mark Stanton – Economy
• Lindy Warmer – Skills and Learning
• Housing – Anita Brennan
• Environment - vacant
• Stronger Communities – Mark Stokes
• Safer Communities – Mark Sewell
• Support and Independence – Anita Brennan
• Health – Martin Seymour

The Chief Executive advised that some authorities had included no more than six indicators, for Norfolk it had gone much wider.  All of these targets would not have the same resonance for all the LSPs across Norfolk.

Referring to the vacancy in the aforementioned nominations, the Chief Executive stated that he would be seeking support from the University of East Anglia (UEA) or make use of someone from the Breckland Council Environment Group who could then be led by the UEA.

The document was otherwise noted.

To receive an update on Thematic Partnerships.

Martin Seymour stated that the Health Improvement Forum had met once since the last LSP Board meeting to consider the health improvement action plan.  A further meeting had been planned for 29^th April and invitations and agendas would be sent out to partners.

The PCT meeting later this month would consider a report on the allocation of ‘Choosing Health’ funding (funding received from the Department of Health to deliver against the priorities in the Choosing Health Public Health White Paper).  It was anticipated that funding would be made available to support a range of health improvement activity much of which would be delivered in partnership with other agencies and organisations.

David Buckley advised that Thetford had originally been classed as one of the biggest problem areas in Breckland.  However, with a great amount of resources being put into key neighbourhood schemes, the anti-social behaviour problems had been reduced by 70% and there had been a reduction in criminal damage by 75%.  Norfolk Constabulary was looking to use Thetford as a best practice example to impact and tackle other towns.

The Safer Neighbourhood Teams were now fully in place and the information was being fed into local action groups.  The public who were attending these action groups were encouraged to inform the Safer Neighbourhood Teams of any problems that they had been experiencing in their area.

Norfolk Constabulary had organised a ‘Respect’ week either during the second or third week of April.  If this proved successful, the event would be repeated on a regular basis.

Norfolk Constabulary was now looking at a change programme; in future, there would be one superintendant that would be responsible for Breckland district as a whole.

A lottery grant of £230K had been awarded for play areas in Breckland.   Six projects had been chosen and three of those would be completed by the end of 2008/09. The timescale for all projects to be completed was three years.

There were a further 13 applications and the Partnership would be assisting them on how to obtain funding.

Significant work had been undertaken by the Economic Development Team to support employees from a large business in Breckland that had ceased trading.

The Group was informed that a ‘celebration day’ had been held at Wayland to discuss ongoing projects.  It had been agreed that £5k would be spent on training for small businesses.  The first of these training days would be held in Dereham.

Wayland had received funding from the LSP for English lessons for migrant workers.  The course had been running for a number of weeks.  Although regular attendees had made good progress, attendance overall had been erratic; no participants had achieved 100%.

To receive and note the attached financial report.

Rob Walker presented the payment schedule which incorporated the figures for the entire County.

Breckland LSP would be receiving £77,547 for this financial year which equated to a 9% increase.

To agree items for inclusion on the next or future agenda.

A workshop would be held between now and the next meeting to discuss the Annual Delivery Plan.

To note that the next meeting of the LSP Board will be held on Thursday, 29 May 2008 at 2.00 pm in the Anglia Room, Elizabeth House, Breckland Council.

To note that the next meeting of the LSP Board would be held on Thursday, 29 Mat 2008 at 2.00pm in the Anglia Room, Elizabeth House, Dereham.