In view of the number of new faces present, the Chairman asked those in attendance to introduce themselves. He also suggested that the composition of the Board be reviewed, bearing in mind those partners not represented.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2010 .

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2010 were confirmed as a correct record.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Debbie Bartlett, Ian Clarke, Jonathan Clemo, Tony Dickens, Andrew Egerton-Smith, Brian Horner, Richard Lewis, Shirley Matthews, William Nunn and John Rogers.

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests they may have in any of the following items on the agenda.

None.

Report by Rob Walker, Director of Community Services.

Rob Walker informed the Board that Pride in Breckland was going from strength to strength and highlighted the good job being done by Richard Wills. Pride in Breckland Awaydays had taken place and it was hoped to introduce the formula into wider community use. Projects being undertaken by the Light Dragoons under the “Pride” banner included Football in the Community in Dereham and clearance work in Thetford; as well as being beneficial to the community, participation suited the Light Dragoons’ own purposes in preparing them for similar projects elsewhere.

A Breckland Blitz, dealing with clearance of litter, graffiti and debris from ponds etc, would be under way for the next nine weeks. A kit for this was available free of charge for use by other organisations.

A series of community cohesion events was planned, to include a world record attempt in the summer at forming a 1 km line of plastic bottles.

Other events included participation in the “Scores on the Doors” food hygiene scheme, Breckland in Bloom and Junior Masterchef.

Rob Walker made the point that Pride in Breckland, which had a strong media representation, tied in with the Local Area Agreement and the achievement of its indicators. He reminded the Board that “Pride” was intended to be a partnership and any ideas should be passed on to Richard Wills.

The Chairman and other partners endorsed Rob’s remarks concerning the splendid job being done by Richard Wills.

Report by Tony Trotman, Programme Manager, Thetford Healthy Town.

Tony Trotman, the Programme Manager, gave an update in response to the Board’s request at its last meeting. He provided a brief recap on the joint Thetford Healthy Town initiative. Thetford was one of nine towns selected nationally and funded until March 2011, with the overall aim of creating a healthy culture. Two reports had been commissioned:  a Detailed Health Needs Assessment (being produced by the University of East Anglia) and a Keystone Development Trust paper on Migrant Workers’ Health Needs. Both would be published in April, prior to a comprehensive evaluation by the Department of Health. The “Healthy Town” principles had been absorbed into Moving Thetford Forward activities.

Tony Trotman outlined current projects, which included a “Bike It” scheme, Community Supported Growing, Green Ventures Bikes, META Health, Green Gymnasium, Walking for Health, Joy of Food, Run in Thetford, Get Thetford Dancing and Healthy Lifestyle courses. More of the same was planned, including Boot Camp taster sessions, 1940s Swing Dance classes, a Thetford Sports Day, Supporting School Enrichment days and workplace health advice. He hoped that this gave a flavour of what had been happening over the last three or four months.

Trevor Holden thought that it would be interesting to see a breakdown of funding and how this was split among the different strands of the venture. This would give a picture of whether value for money was being delivered and whether specific areas of funding were proportionate, or not, to the resulting benefits and would be particularly relevant in advance of the Department of Health audit. Valerie Jenkins wondered whether it would be possible to measure the effects of the initiative on levels of anti-social behaviour.

In thanking Mr Trotman for his presentation, the Chairman asked that the matter be brought back to the May meeting to consider these issues and the two reports referred to above.

To receive a presentation from Daniel Harry, Norfolk County Council, LAA Lead.

Daniel Harry, Norfolk County Council’s Lead Officer on the Local Area Agreement, gave a presentation to partners. He explained that he had been visiting Local Strategic Partnerships throughout Norfolk since the last comprehensive review, in November, to remind Boards of the basis of the Local Area Agreement and progress being made and ideas on dealing with the indicators contained in it.

Good progress had been identified in relation to local endeavour in the following areas:

• Environment: a reduction in waste and landfill
• Stronger: community cohesion and public engagement in decision making
• Safer: a reduction in overall crime
• Health: adult participation in sport, drug users in effective treatment

The Norfolk County Strategic Partnership Board was working through existing partnerships to establish which were best placed to respond and was considering new approaches. One of these involved “clustering” of indicators to put them into complementary groups which broke down silos. It was felt that Pride in Breckland could well provide a vehicle whereby a cluster of apparently unconnected indicators could fit together and have a knock on benefit. This fitted in with the theory of selecting key indicators and developing them, rather than looking at all 67 indicators individually.

Dave Seaton thought that National Indicator No. 21, as applied to this area, might be more accurate if it referred to “perceptions” of anti-social behaviour and crime, rather than “concerns”. He also made the point that there were seven different standards applied to this subject in Norfolk, even though perceptions did not change at district boundaries.

Rob Walker pointed out that Breckland’s Sustainable Communities Strategy would soon be due for review and, if changes were to be considered in June, this would seem to be an appropriate time to discuss the documents in relation to one another.

Presentation by Clive Rennie, Assistant Director, Women and Children’s Commissioning NHS Norfolk.

.

Clive Rennie, NHS Norfolk’s Assistant Director, Women and Children’s Commissioning, expanded upon the presentation circulated with the agenda, covering what NHS Norfolk did at present, its aims and objectives in the face of challenges identified and what differences could be  expected by the County’s population by 2014 and beyond. He pointed out that the two previous presentations had prepared the way for his subject, as they shared certain common themes.

Of particular interest to Board members was the illustration of the differences Norfolk people would see in 2014, as a result of the implementation of the Strategy, with improved services closer to home, easier access to quality services, dedicated stroke units and greater resources applied to the problem of dementia.  

In acknowledging the increasing problem of dementia, the Chairman also said he was surprised at the figures showing 2,000 deaths a year due to smoking.

In reply to a question regarding the absence of any reference to Watton in the illustration of tiers of service, Mr Rennie explained that this diagram was based on hospital provision, which was available to some extent in each of the other Breckland towns. Following a further question on consultation on proposed service changes, Mr Rennie said that in his experience the consultation process invariably included parish councils.

Rob Walker referred to the inequalities that existed in a large geographical area such as Breckland. It would be beneficial if the Board could discuss how to best ensure that local resources were used towards these and other local headline health issues.  

To receive a report from Mark Fretwell, Partnership (LSP) Officer.

Mark Fretwell, LSP Officer, presented his report which updated the Board on the action taken following the successful bid for funding for 19 jobs within Breckland.  The FJF Project is linked to National Indicator 152 ‘working age people on out of work benefits’.  A feature on this would be appearing in Breckland Voice.

The posts to be provided at the solicitors and the hair salon were currently being recruited to through Job Centre Plus.  The LSP Officer agreed to bring a further report, outlining who had been recruited to these posts and for how long, to the next meeting.

To receive a report from Mark Fretwell, Partnership (LSP) Officer.

Mark Fretwell explained the background to the application of the award from the Department for Communities and Local Government and Go-East and activities subsequently planned.  The project is linked to NI 1 (the percentage who agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area).  Job evaluation had been agreed to grade the associated posts and the recruitment process had begun, initially internally. Acceptance of the recommendations would account for expenditure of some £204,000 of the £220,000 available for the year.

In considering details of the project, Board members had questions on the proposed satellite provision for the mobile service. It was made clear that the facility would be made available throughout the district, and beyond; the focus would not be solely on migrant workers. Rob Walker emphasised that the connectivity would be there for access to all agencies and not just Breckland Council advice and guidance.

Partners represented at the meeting gave their commitment to the project, thus enabling the LSP officer to go ahead and “sell” the proposals.

RESOLVED that

(1)   the funding of a transportable satellite solution, covering satellite costs including one year of air time and annual support and maintenance, estimated at £20,000, be approved;

(2)   the funding of scoping work linked to migrant workers, using arts as the engagement mechanism, at a cost of £9,350, be approved;

(3)   partners’ commitment to the Migration Impact Funding be noted; and

(4)   project delivery options in Year 2 be explored at the 12^th May meeting of the LSP Board, following commencement of the one stop shop and mobile service in April. 

To receive a report from Mark Fretwell, Partnership (LSP) Officer.

Board members received a report from the LSP Officer outlining progress in the two key participatory budgeting projects on the Area Based project and the Breckland Youth Council Project.  The project is linked to NI4 (whether people feel they can influence decisions in their local area).  The Youth Council had felt empowered and valued in assessing their 21 applications, which brought the total number for both projects into treble figures. The success of this process would be receiving publicity through Breckland Voice and further press releases.

A Board member commented that the time given for applications had been rather limited and a longer turnaround was needed to enable adequate consideration and preparation of bids. Officers pointed out that all aspects of the process would be evaluated and a longer period would be given in future for the submission of bids.

RESOLVED that

(1)   the report be noted;

(2)   a further report be submitted to the Board meeting on 12^th May detailing the projects awarded funding through the Area Based Participatory Budgeting events; and

(3)   Breckland Youth Council members be invited to the next Board meeting to make a presentation on their participatory Budgeting project.

To receive an update on Partnership finances by Mark Fretwell, Partnership (LSP) Officer.

The LSP Officer reported that the cost of second home provision had made available an additional funding of just over £100,000 for 2010/11.

Taking account of on costs and salary, there was an overall balance of approximately £120,000.

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

Partners noted the following items generated for the next agenda from matters under consideration at this meeting:

• Thetford Healthy Town -  newly published reports and a breakdown of project funding
• Future Jobs Fund – recruitment details
• Migration Impact Funding - project delivery
• Participatory Budgeting – further report on Area Based funding awards and presentation from Youth Council

To note that the next meeting of the LSP Board will be held on Wednesday, 12 May 2010 at 2.00 pm in the Norfolk Room, Elizabeth House, Breckland Council.

It was noted that the next meeting of the LSP Board would be held on Wednesday, 12 May 2010 at 2.00 pm in the Norfolk Room, Conference Suite, Elizabeth House, Dereham.