To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2008.

In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Trevor Holden assumed the Chair.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2008 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Clarke, Andrew Egerton-Smith, Jan Godfrey, John Gretton, Shirley Matthews, William Nunn, David Ovenden, Neil Stott, Lucy Walker and Caroline Williams.

To note whether the Chairman proposes to accept any items of urgent business.

Rob Walker asked the Board to consider, as a matter of urgency, a request from Dave Seaton of Peddars Way Housing Association (PWHA).  He had asked for a place on the Board.

The Board could have a maximum of 25 members; there were currently 18.  According to the Constitution, a change could be made as long as at least two-thirds of the membership present agreed.

It was AGREED to invite Dave Seaton to become a Member of the Board on the understanding that he would feed back information to other Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in the district.

To receive a presentation by David Spencer, Senior Planning Policy Officer.

David Spencer gave a PowerPoint presentation to the Group (copy attached).

He explained that the Local Development Framework (LDF) was the planning strategy for the future of the area over the next 16 years. 

The Core Strategy of this document had been presented to full Council on 20 November 2008 and would be distributed around the district after Christmas.  It set out all the objectives and detailed individual policies.

Following a six week publication period the document and approval by full Council it would be submitted to the Secretary of State.  An Examination in Public would take place in the summer of 2009 with the Inspector’s decision due in November 2009.

The Strategy provided for up to 6,000 jobs and 11,000 homes mainly focussed along the A11 corridor although other market towns were also earmarked for modest increases in houses and jobs.

14 Local Service Centre villages had been identified and four of these would have positive growth.  Strong policies would protect existing services and facilities at these villages, together with positive policies to enhance service provision.  Villages and other remote rural areas also had provision for occasional development.

Thetford and Attleborough were particularly marked for significant growth and Snetterton had been identified as a strategic employment area.  Area Action Plans would be developed for these locations.

The LDF needed to demonstrate strong links to the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS).  Detailed policies were included to address priorities.

Infrastructure was a key component of future plans and was needed to accompany growth.  Now was the time to look at delivery of a policy framework and to put together a ‘shopping list’ of infrastructure requirements.  Funding was also being investigated, and a list of potential sources was shown.  Monies received would need to be allocated to specific areas and carefully co-ordinated.

The possibility of the Partnership being involved in setting tariff levels and identifying priorities was discussed. 

The Chairman mentioned that the planners in Breckland were doing very well – especially in relation to the Thetford Growth Point which was being used as a model of Best Practice and had received an increase in allocation of almost £2 million over the next two years.

To receive a presentation by Sarah Bruton, Environmental Services Manager.

Sarah Bruton gave a brief update on the Climate Change Agenda. 

She provided a summary of the new national indicators for climate change and also asked how the LSP could work to achieve the aims and objectives.

She felt that the LSP should have their own Environment Strategy and suggested that a Working Group should be set up to deliver a project such as an Eco House, Eco Garden, Eco Make-over of a Community Building or even an entire Eco Village.

A member felt that this needed to be treated with real urgency.  There was a lot of goodwill and support available in the community. 

The Chairman agreed with the suggestion that this was an issue for a sub-group.  He asked for one to be set up and for an outline report on their proposals to be presented to the next meeting.

To receive the attached report by Mark Fretwell, Breckland Partnership Officer.

It had been mentioned at a previous meeting that funding had been made available for projects to make LAA targets deliverable. 

No nominations had been received from external partners.  Mark Feltwell (LSP Officer) had submitted the ‘3D project’ which was targeted at nine to 19 year olds and comprised three separate projects (YBYz – about making the right choices; Beyond Image Productions – addressing anti-social behaviour issues; and Prison Me No Way – steering young people away from crime and its consequences).

54 applications had been made and the ‘3D project’ had been shortlisted and presented at a Decision Day event on 6 December, along with 15 others.  Unfortunately it had not been successful.

Originally the hope had been to reach 3,000 children with the ‘3D project’ however it could be scaled down.  Mark hoped that funding might be available from the group for this project.

Having checked that money was available in the LSP budget, the Chairman suggested that a project paper be presented to the next meeting.

To receive an update from Rob Walker, Sustainable Communities Manager.

Rob Walker gave a verbal update on this Pilot which was looking into Best Practice and had been carrying out a review since September.  Various groups had been interviewed and a document review of all Cabinet papers for the past year had been carried out.  This had taken longer than expected and work would continue until the end of January.

The Neighbourhood Community Advisers were new to rural areas and had found the work challenging.  They had not found any evidence of real racial tensions or big problems, but it was felt that the end product of their efforts would be useful to all Partners.

A report would be written identifying Best Practice and also the gaps that existed and how to address them.  Rob would bring this item back to the February meeting, following which it would be launched at the Regional Community Cohesion Conference in Norwich in March.

To receive an update from Mark Fretwell, Breckland Partnership Officer.

Mark Feltwell told the group that the scripts that they had provided were now being broadcast on Wayland Radio.  He handed out a flyer advertising the programmes being aired from 28 November to 24 December 2008. 

A tape was played of one of the information point broadcasts and Partners were encouraged to provide more scripts as this was a service that had already been paid for and should be put to full use.

Rob Walker said that the Station was looking for more content and was willing to do interviews with agencies.  They were also looking for future funding and were interested in contract arrangements to fund permanent broadcasts.  This was a very good resource and offered real opportunities.  When the Station received their 12 month license their range would be extended.

The Chairman asked that all items for the radio should be sent in through Mark Feltwell for audit purposes.

To receive the attached report by Rob Walker, Sustainable Communities Manager.

Rob Walker said that the flyer in the agenda was a summary of the main document which was linked to the Pride Campaign.  The full charter would be circulated to all Partners when it was available.

The flyer clearly set out the level of service and expectations and gave a good description of which agency was responsible for what.

The Chairman said that it was important to make the process clear to enable individuals to take responsibility for reporting things rather than assuming someone else would do it.

To receive the attached report by Rob Walker, Sustainable Communities Manager.

Rob Walker told the Partnership that Breckland Council and the PCT had made an application for Healthy Town Status.

Of 150 applicants at Stage One, they had been among the 24 shortlisted to Stage Two.  This had involved travelling to London to give a presentation to the Key Directors of the Department of Health. 

The amount applied for had been £700,000 to be focussed on reducing obesity and increasing physical activity.  The application was one of only nine to succeed and was actually awarded £900,000.

This had involved a lot of work in a short period of time to meet the required timescales, which had meant that there had not been an opportunity to consult as widely as Rob would have liked. 

The award had to be Match Funded and this £1.8m project would provide an opportunity for all Partners to get involved.  However, a full programme plan was required by the end of January 2009.  A project manager was needed as soon as possible.

It was explained that the Match Funding could be partly in kind, that is officer time, effort, etc.  Individual matches did not have to be demonstrated and funding could be matched against money already received from elsewhere.

All projects needed to be related to food, health, obesity, etc.  The challenge was to get things up and running as soon as possible as the project was due to run for three years and the end of the first year was already approaching and the money had only just been received.

Martin Seymour said this provided a unique opportunity to promote behaviour change in individuals and to also address factors that influence, such as environment.  The money would be held by a PCT Programme Board and suggestions should be made to them.  The preferred option was for money to go to the Moving Thetford Forward Board to take the project forward.  The project officer would give regular updates.

The Chairman asked that the Project Initiation Document be circulated to LSP members and that the project be added to the Performance Reporting on the agenda.

To receive a presentation by Mike Green, Norfolk Constabulary.

Mike Green gave a short presentation to explain the role of the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme which had been set up to reduce crime and disorder.  It enabled specifically chosen powers to be given to people to enhance their normal working life. 

Powers were only passed to individuals who had received training and been thoroughly checked.  This process usually took three to six months.  Once this had been completed individuals were required to display the nationally recognised accredited person badge and have the logo on their ID cards. 

Powers were only to be used as a tool after two attempts at education (to change behaviour) had failed.

The main organisations that had benefitted from these powers were those with housing officers and wardens and private sector security companies.   Accreditation gave the individual increased effectiveness and also improved the flow of information between organisations and Norfolk Constabulary.

Accredited persons were allowed to direct traffic and this led to improvements in traffic flow and reduced road rage incidents.

A member asked if this could be relevant to Town and Parish Councils but it was pointed out that all accredited persons had to have an employment contract.

The Chairman suggested that Mike should be invited to attend the next Breckland Council Town and Parish Council Forum.

Report by Rob Walker, Project Lead.

Rob Walker reported that he hoped to have a demo of the TEN performance system up-and-running by the time of the next meeting.  There was still a long way to go and progress had been slow.

-          The Community Rangers Scheme:  New life was being breathed into this.  There were now 65 Rangers and meetings had been re-convened to discuss future programmes of work.  The Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service had put in £15,000 to have Rangers check on isolated older people; helping with the installation of smoke detectors etc.   A training programme would be rolled out over the coming months.

-          Clean up Programmes:  These were being undertaken in the Watton/Griston/Yaxham area and there was a “Breckland Blitz Spring Clean” planned for next year.  The idea was to build up momentum, with plenty of marketing and positive PR, which would then help generate more enthusiasm for this sort of project.

The Pride in Breckland Project Board would hold a meeting early in 2009.  There was a need to build up momentum and to generate more positive PR.  A series of community-organised events would take place in the New Year.  The Council had the resources and the equipment, but the key question was how to make things happen.  There was a lot more to be done by community groups; town and parish councils; schools, etc.   

The Chairman challenged the Partners to feed back projects and said there was a need to make things happen.  He would invite the Pride Coordinator to address the next LSP meeting to report on what had happened and what was planned.

It was noted that nominations for the Pride in Breckland awards were particularly needed for the ‘Child of Courage’ and ‘Safer Breckland’ categories.

Report by Martin Seymour, Project Lead.

Martin Seymour said that the key feature had been the Thetford Healthy Town status, but now attention was turning to the falls prevention project.  This had been delayed due to discussions with the PCT concerning merging the falls project with another more general project.  This had taken time – but would result in a better outcome.  The Falls Co-ordinator was now in post and was being trained.  He would recruit six volunteers who would act as Health Connectors and visit people in their homes or at places where they gathered, to give advice about issues affecting falls, such as medicine management and footwear.

The Chairman asked for a report for the next meeting.

On a positive note, Martin reported that the Breckland Experience at Work project had been shortlisted and highly commended in the Social Marketing Category at the Health Service Journal 2008 awards.

Report by Mark Stanton, Project Lead.

Rob Walker explained that this project had three elements:

Grants – Launched at the end of September - there had been 16 enquiries to date and four grants awarded totalling £2,000.  PR would be arranged once more grants had been made.

Training – Poultec would carry out this training which would be IT related to small businesses.  A package of one-to-one sessions and short courses had been arranged starting early in 2009.

ESOL – This English language training for migrant workers would be managed by (WHO???).  Rob was writing a very basic tender to provide transparency.  This training would commence early 2009.

To receive an update on Partnership finances.

There was £40,000 uncommitted in the LSP budget. 

Traditionally about £70,000 in second homes Council Tax was received each year.  It remained unclear whether this would be available next year and it was considered prudent to assume that it would not be forthcoming.

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

Reports on the following were required for the next meeting:

·                    Pride in Breckland

·                    Health & Wellbeing

·                    Economic Prosperity

·                    ‘3D’ project paper

·                    Cohesion Pilot

·                    Outline report from Climate Change sub-group

Thetford Healthy Town updates to be included under Performance Reporting.

A member asked that at the February or May meeting a report on counter-terrorism should be made to the group.

To note the following proposed dates for meetings next year:

19 February 2009

14 May 2009

16 July 2009

10 September 2009

5 November 2009

All meetings to commence at 2.00pm in the Anglia Room, The Committee Suite, Elizabeth House, Dereham unless otherwise stated on the Agenda.

The next meeting would be on Thursday 19 February 2009 at 2.00pm in the Anglia Room, Committee Suite, Elizabeth House, Dereham.

Dates for future meetings were noted.