To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2008.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Rob Walker introduced Mark Fretwell the new LSP Officer who would start work at Breckland Council on 3 November 2008.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2008 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Sylvia Armes, Ian Clarke, Debbie Bartlett, Andrew Egerton-Smith, Paul Elliott, Jan Godfrey, Brian Horner,Trevor Holden, Valerie Jenkins and David Ovenden.

To receive a presentation by Sue Jewkes, Audit Commission.

Sue Jewkes told members that she had been tasked with leading the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) for Norfolk. 

A whole range of regulatory bodies were involved in the consultation exercise to produce a new way of working which would reflect the changes in local government.  The aim was to provide joined up assessment for joined up local services.  People were not concerned in how services were delivered they just wanted that delivery done well.

Previously this had not been achieved because so many different organisations had been doing the same thing in different ways.  This was not good value for money and efforts needed to be managed strategically across the whole area.

Assessment was difficult because so many organisations were involved.  Currently there were ten trials running.  A lot of information was being gathered with the emphasis on outcomes.

The organisational assessment would be fed into the overall annual report to be published in November 2009 which would cover the period 2008 – 2009, so the CAA year had already started.

A reporting map system had been developed which would provide information down to town level.  It was not the intention to ‘score’ progress, but to red-flag issues that needed addressing and to green-flag exceptionally good prospects and promising innovation.

The old assessment framework was winding-up and the final report would be published in February 2009.  Comments on the CAA consultation would be accepted until 20 October 2008.

In response to questions, Sue confirmed that:

·                    local resources would be used wherever possible as a source for information;

·                    the LSP role was incredibly important and would contribute towards the overall LAA outcomes.  Local priorities in the SCS closely matched those in the Local Development Framework and the County Strategy (Norfolk Ambition) but some LAA outcomes were ambitious and there was a need to look at the mainstream budget to see if things could be done differently;

·                    the CAA was more forward looking than previous assessments and was aiming to facilitate partnerships and to work with them to get improvements.

The Chairman thanked Sue for her presentation.

a)     To receive a presentation by Caroline Money, Norfolk County Strategic Partnership.

b)     To receive the attached reports by Rob Walker, Sustainable Communities Manager.

(a)       Caroline Money from Norfolk County Strategic Partnership gave members an update on the progress of the Local Area Agreement (LAA).

She explained that thematic partnerships and LSPs had identified their priorities from the National Indicator Set.  After negotiation the top 35 priorities were agreed.  These had been organised into eight cross-cutting outcomes to support innovative and joined up delivery.

Since June work had been carried out on action planning, identifying risks, analysing resources and strengthening governance.

An example was given using Indicator 1.1 (NI 152) Working age people on out of work benefits.

·                    The target was to reduce the average rate of benefit claimants

·                    County activity included creating a seamless service between organisations and those on benefits; implementing the Welfare to Workforce changes and co-ordinating support to employers.

·                    Breckland’s activity was in the BELA 2 Economic Prosperity project.

·                    Risks such as external factors, local factors, challenging targets and the funding gap had been considered. 

·                    Resources – no new money was available but NCSP’s second homes monies had been allocated on a 70% to Area Based Grants and 30% to Participating Budget Route (Your Norfolk, Your Decision).  Analysis had been carried out on current and future spending.  RIEP had a pot of money to support LAA delivery.

·                    Governance – to strengthen the accountability for delivery it had been agreed that there would be identified Indicator Leads, Lead Partnerships and Outcome Champions.  The Norfolk Action Team would co-ordinate the action; the NCSP Management Group would monitor performance and solve problems and the NCSP Board would have overall responsibility and a performance management role.

The next steps included developing a Risk Register; focussing on the 14 indicators which had been identified as ‘at risk of delivery’ and allocating second homes monies.

(b)       Rob Walker said that the development of the LAA was a very inclusive process.  The challenge was to develop the SCS for Breckland at the same time.  All documents are aligned and reflect the priorities of different areas.

It was important to focus approach.  He had highlighted those indicators most important to Breckland in his report and apologised for omitting Indicator 7: Voluntary Sector Involvement. 

He felt that the LAA should work from community level upwards and reflect the priorities for local people.

A member was concerned that the focus would turn to indicator monitoring at the expense of innovation.

Another asked how the LSP could evidence its contributions and Caroline agreed that a way to do this would have to be worked out.

Rob referred to the £200,000 available for community projects under the eight indicators.  Flyers were available and he encouraged members to publicise this.

Caroline explained that a panel of 12 people was being assembled to help allocate this funding against LAA indicators at risk.  Those partnerships involved could bid for the money.  The bid had to be made through the LSP.  Suggestions should be put forward at the next meeting.

An information event on the process was being held on Monday 13 October.  Steering Group Application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To receive a presentation by the Specialist Cohesion Team.

Reuben Ayavoo and Partick Loftman from GO-East gave a quick presentation on the Specialist Cohesion Pilot.

The aim was to recognise good practice and identify gaps while reviewing Breckland Council’s progress, with its partners, towards building stronger and more cohesive communities.

The Terms of Reference for the Pilot set out the following aims and outputs:

·                    Agreed way forward

·                    Multi-stakeholder buy-in

·                    Focus on migration and its effects on cohesion and building stronger communities

·                    Develop IDeA benchmark

The benefit of this would be to develop services and enhance skills.

Support was available for local media handling, statistical analysis and hate crime, and training offered on communications and leadership. 

This was not an audit or an assessment.  The intention was to share good practice, not just amongst local partners but nationally and to identify challenges.

There would be engagement with key stakeholders at Breckland and at County level to get views and opinions.  There would also be interviews with community groups.  These would take place in the last week of October and the first week of November.

The information gathered would be used to develop a migrant worker Action Plan which would be published in January.

Rob Walker reiterated that accurate information was needed with regard to migrant worker communities and urged partners to book an interview.  It was important that best practice was recognised and problem areas identified.  The key role was delivering outcomes of this review and action planning work.

Limited resources were available and therefore the focus of the pilot would be on three towns (Dereham, Thetford and Swaffham) but it was hoped to involve rural areas as well.

The Chairman asked if there was any way the LSP Board could assist and again partners were asked to be available for interviews as the time-frame was short.

To receive a presentation by Norfolk Constabulary (Dereham SNT).

Terry Scott from the Norfolk Constabulary acknowledged that often the Council did not receive recognition for the work it did in partnership with the Constabulary.  He wanted to highlight the good work done by the Breckland Against Crime Partnership.

At the recent Tilley Awards, they had been runners-up out of 120 entries for the efforts made in relation to the Cherry Tree Car Park in Dereham. 

A Local Residents Group had raised concerns that their quality of life was deteriorating because the car park was being used as a race track.  The Constabulary were receiving about 25 complaints a month.

A door-to-door survey of residents was carried out to discover what the problems were and these were general anti-social behaviour mainly involving young males aged 17-21, cars and loud music. 

Residents were asked to assist the police by providing registration numbers of the cars involved and the majority were willing to do so.   A large tree in a local resident’s garden, which was obscuring the view of CCTV cameras, was lopped.  Signs were erected in the car park to warn that registration numbers were being recorded.

100 drivers were identified, 20 were sent warning letters and five cars were seized.  The letters made clear the consequences of continued anti-social behaviour.  The youths were spoken to and most were unaware of the effects of their behaviour.  To try to overcome this, ‘Respect Zones’ have been introduced in the car park.  These areas are marked in green paint and have notices explaining their meaning.  Their effect will be monitored.

Residents were kept regularly updated on what the police were doing and their expectations were managed.  They were happy that the police were responding to their concerns.

A member thought this was excellent work and was keen for it to be promoted in all rural communities to encourage people to come forward with projects. 

a)     TEN Performance Management (Breckland Council’s Performance Team).

b)     Pride in Breckland Project (Rob Walker, Sustainable Communities Manager)

c)      Health and Wellbeing Project – verbal update (Martin Seymour, Project Lead)

d)     Economic Prosperity Project (Mark Stanton, Project Lead)

a)         TEN Performance Management

Two members from Breckland Council’s Policy and Performance Team gave a demonstration of the TEN computer system which was already used to monitor the Council’s performance and had been developed to enable the management of LSP performance.

The LSP version could be accessed from a link on the Breckland Council Homepage and was expected to ‘go live’ by the end of the year. 

Members were advised that the information would be available to the general public to view.

Details of projects, lead officers, etc would be included and could be updated regularly.  More information would be added as it became available.  The system was easy to navigate and contained a search facility and reference guide.  It also had the facility to produce reports from the information stored.

This system was a big step forward and reflected the LSP’s commitment to performance management.

b)         Pride in Breckland Project

Rob Walker introduced Mike Onassis, the new Pride Co-ordinator, recently appointed and previously with the Fire and Rescue Service.

Laura Apps-Green drew attention to the Pride in Breckland Award Scheme nomination forms included in the agenda and asked members for their help in promoting this event which would take the same form as Pride in Britain and would celebrate unsung heroes in the community.

The award ceremony would be held at Lynford Hall on 28 March 2009.

The Pride in Breckland Project had been launched in the five towns and the Pride Line was up and running.  Now that the new Co-ordinator was in post the project should gather momentum.  It was hoped to expand the Community Ranger scheme and possibly introduce Youth Rangers.

The challenge was not just about improving service but providing the community with the ability to make improvements itself.

c)         Health and Wellbeing Project

Martin Seymour told members that a project plan had been developed in conjunction with Dereham and North Elmham GP Partnership.  A PCT colleague had been appointed to take this forward.

Money was being sourced to ensure that the work done in Breckland would be continued elsewhere to give better long term delivery.

They were liaising with various partners, including the Pension Service, looking at falls as the trigger for more involvement to ensure that people were receiving the right benefits, etc.

Work was proceeding slowly, but a good outcome was expected.

Rob Walker told members that a bid for £900,000 of Department of Health funding for Health Town Status for Thetford had gone through Stage 2 and looked likely to be successful at Stage 3.

d)         Economic Prosperity

Breckland’s Economic Development Officer told members that BELA 1 had finished in September after running successfully for 18 months.  The grant target had been achieved and about 40 businesses had been assisted.

BELA 2 was aimed at providing website set-up and support and with ESOL, pre-ESOL and training for community workers.  Train the trainer courses would enable migrant communities to more effectively help themselves.

The new scheme launch would be publicised in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

To discuss funding contributions to Partnership projects.

The Chairman reminded members that Breckland had committed £200,000 to the Pride in Breckland project on the understanding that other partners would come forward with support.

The Fire and Rescue Service had committed three local risk managers for the lifespan of the project and also £15,000.  This comprised a £5,000 lump sum with the rest as an incentive for projects.  This commitment would be reviewed after 12 months and it was hoped it would be on-going.

A message had been received from Debbie Bartlett who had been unable to attend the meeting.  She said that Norfolk County Council spent a significant amount of money on highway works.  There was £100,000 set aside for maintenance projects in Breckland and this could be aligned to Pride projects.  Paul Elliott would sit on the project board.  Such things as lighting, drainage and sign cleaning could be included.

Norfolk County Council was also prepared for its libraries to be used as a shop front for Pride projects.

Katie Elliott said that all SNTs were already working towards Pride in Breckland objectives.  She had a small budget for problem solving of anti social behaviour, etc and would be willing to consider making money available on a case by case basis.

Martin Seymour said the PCT had no money available but they would like to be involved in the Pride and projects and could offer officer time.

The Chairman thanked everyone.  He said that previously everyone had set budgets individually and that delivery of this project depended on being willing to be flexible.

To receive an update on Partnership finances.

£110,000 had been carried forward from last year and about £77,000 was expected from second homes council tax.

£90,000 would go on the salary for the new LSP officer and money had been committed to other projects.  About £43,000 remained uncommitted.

Previously about £77,000 had been received year on year, from second homes council tax but this amount could not be relied on for next year.

To note that the next meeting of the LSP Board will be held on Thursday 11 December 2008 at 2.00 pm in the Bowls Club Room, Watton Sports Centre, Watton.

The next meeting of the LSP Board would be on Thursday 11 December 2008 at 2pm in the Bowls Club Room, Watton Sports Centre, Watton.