To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 12 July 2007 .

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2007 were confirmed as a correct record.

The LSP Co-ordinator informed the Board that the Big Lottery would announce the successful Play Projects bids in December.

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Mr T. Holden.

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

The Chairman informed the Board that Breckland Council had met with the Boundary Committee and were informed that if Breckland wished to a bid forward for a unitary solution in Norfolk they would have to present an initial outline proposal by mid-November this year for consultation and decision by November 2008.

If Breckland Council did not work with the other Norfolk authorities and present a bid, the Boundary Committee would decide a unitary solution on behalf of the Councils.

With regard to consultation with non-statutory bodies, that would take place at the end of the bidding session once a decision regarding the unitary solution had been made.  The consultation would deal with the finer details of the unitary set-up; there would be no consultation requesting views on the form of the unitary councils.

Members were informed that further work would be undertaken on the successful bids between January and March.

The LSP Officer declared an interest in item 14 - Items for Future Agendas (Minute No. 57) and withdrew from the meeting whilst the item was discussed.

To confirm the LSP Board Membership.

The LSP Officer informed the Board that, unfortunately, the representative from RAF Marham was unable to attend the meeting to put forward their case for Board Membership.  It was agreed that the representative be invited to the next meeting to consider this item.

According to the LSP Board Constitution Members who had not attended meetings on 3 consecutive occasions would be requested to attend the next meeting of the Board to state the reasons for non-attendance.  Upon receipt of this information the Board would then decide whether those organisations should continue to sit on the Board or whether the Board would be better served by other organisations.

It had become apparent that neither the Learning Skills Council (LSC) nor the Keystone Trust had attended the past three meetings.  Both representatives were in attendance to explain their absence and request that they remain on the Board.

Keystone Trust

Sylvia Armes, explained that, unfortunately, pressure of business had prevented Neil Stott from attending the LSP Board meetings.  In future the named substitute being Sylvia Armes would attend the LSP Board in his place.

Learning Skills Council

Lucy Walker informed the Board that there had been a number of staff changes as a result of a re-structure which had resulted in two officers covering the Breckland area.  However, following discussions regarding Membership it was noted that Lucy Walker would be attending future meetings of the Board.

Although the Norfolk PCT was normally in attendance it was noted that John Battersby would no longer be the representative and Martin Seymour would take his place. 

Caroline Williams, Chamber of Commerce, stated that it would be useful to provide clarification on the role of each organisation on the Board.

RESOLVED that following the reasons given for non-attendance both the Learning Skills Council and the Keystone Trust remain as Board Members.

To receive a report from Darryl Smith, Principal Housing Officer – Strategy and Enabling, Breckland Council.

The Principal Housing Officer (Strategy and Enabling) submitted a report regarding an affordable housing project which had been funded through the second homes council tax funding.

The proposal was to delivery 5 units of housing in Yaxham by a system develop to the meet the excellent rating for Eco Homes called Green Gauge Housing.  The system would enable tenants to greatly reduce fuel bills as well as live in a better environmentally built dwelling.

Planning consent had been given to the scheme and the transfer of land had been approved by the Council.  Work would commence on site in November with an anticipated completion for summer 2008.

The total cost of the scheme would be £690,150 with £105,748.75 coming from the Second Homes Council Tax funding, Flagship Housing Group had secure £280,251,25 from the Housing Corporation in public subsidy and the balance would be met by the Flagship Housing Group.

This project would meet the LSP priority to provide more affordable housing as well as Norfolk Ambition and LAA targets to increase the supply of units.

In response to queries the Principal Housing Officer (Strategy and Enabling) gave the following information:-

·              The units would be let through the Housing Register but the Parish Council would be welcome to liaise with the Housing Team regarding local lettings.

·              Yaxham was chosen as a site, as opposed to an urban area, as it filled a number of criteria and there was a high housing need in that area.  The scheme would be quick to deliver and the funding needed to be spent. Further to this the LSP would be involved in investigating how housing need was delivered across the District over the coming years through developing sustainable housing schemes.

·              The Parish Council had been consulted in term of planning permission.

·              The reason for the high cost per unit built was that the eco technology used in the homes was expensive.  A standard house could be built for £60,000 but would not meet the eco friendly standards.  The land had not been transferred at nominal value and the Housing Association had been charged.

The representative for the Norfolk Rural Community Council supported the scheme as it met local need in a rural area.  There was a large amount of unmet housing need hidden within rural areas.  The houses would be pioneering in tackling climate change and should be a model for all new housing built both in urban and rural areas.  

RESOLVED that the scheme for 5 affordable eco friendly housing units in Yaxham be supported.

To receive a report by Ralph Burton, Economic Projects Officer, and Lindy Warmer, Business Skills Officer, Breckland Council

The Breckland Enterprise and Learning Account Project (BELA) received £10,000 funding from the Local Strategic Partnership Board that was match funded by Breckland Council.  Grants of up to £500 were made available to start-up and expanding local enterprises.

So far the project had received 34 expressions of interest.  14 of these had been followed up with an application for funding and to date 10 grants had been paid and 4 had been awarded. 

There had been an open invitation to visit many of these businesses and the aim was to get everyone together at a networking event.  If the event was well attended consideration would be given to forming a BELA Networking Group as an outcome of the project should the beneficiaries so wish.

The project was working well and has been a great success with thanks received from all those that had been assisted.  However, the project needed to be progressed and the grant needed to be further publicised to meet the target of 20 businesses funded via the LSP grant.  BELA had not been advertised other than in Breckland Voice and promoted via Business Link, NWES and other enterprise agencies. An article would therefore be placed in the EDP to celebrate the success of the project and the beneficiaries and to raise awareness of the grant.

Members queried the number of expressions of interest to the number which had actually received grant funding   In response the Economic Development Officer informed the Board that sometimes businesses were referred to the Enterprise Agency to get additional advice before they made an application.  Once that advice had been obtained the business may not need to make the application for funding through BELA.

In the future successful applications would be publicly acknowledged through a press release and the grant sources would be recognised.

It was agreed that the Economic Development Officer should re-email the information regarding the BELA funding to the LSP Members in order for them to publicise the grant within their organisations.

RESOLVED that

(1)    the report be noted; and

(2)    the Economic Development Officer re-email the BELA information to all the LSP Members to enable them to publicise the grant within their organisations.

To receive a report by Peter Dinsmore, Equalities Officer, Breckland Council.

The Policy Officer (Equalities) informed the Board that the District Council and other LSP agencies adopted individual Race Equality Schemes for 2005-2008.  Those schemes were now under review and it was proposed that Breckland Council and the agencies involved in the LSP develop a joint Breckland Race Equality Scheme (RES) and Action Plan for 2008-2011.

The first stage of this process was to carry out a review of the existing RES and its three year Action Plan.  As part of this review, there was an opportunity to develop a Breckland Race Equality Scheme that linked with those of Norfolk Constabulary, Norfolk PCT and other agencies.

A joint approach would maximise opportunities for cross-agency working, reduce duplication of activity and ensure there was an integrated approach to policy making and service delivery in relation to race.

The scheme would be developed in consultation with the general public and would involve ethnic minorities at all stages, this would contribute to objectives within the LSP’s Social Inclusion Strategy. 

Local knowledge would be important to ensure that the scheme was aimed at a grass roots level which would ensure that the action plan dealt with real issues.

The representative for Keystone stated that the Trust worked with Mobile Europeans Taking Action (META) which was an organisation assisting migrant workers.

It was agreed that it was important that all partners worked together to produced a meaningful Race Equality Scheme.

RESOLVED that a Breckland Race Equality Scheme be developed by partner agencies and that a meeting of relevant officers be organised to move this forward.

To receive an updated report by Joe Liggett, Culture Thematic Lead, Breckland Council.

The Senior Leisure Manager presented a report which outlined the progress in developing culture within Breckland since the development of the Cultural Strategy 2006.  In addition the report outlined a process which would enable a review of Cultural provision within the LSP context.

Sports Development

·              The Sports Development Officer had formed a strong partnership with Active Norfolk enabling access to information and resources and to lever in external funding.  There had been a new reformed relation with lead National agencies such as Sport England which had been key in identifying opportunities to link with national campaigns.  Local partnerships with clubs, coaches and community groups had improved local delivery and opportunities to access coach and club education course had been of real benefit to district clubs.

·              The new leisure facilities had opened at Dereham and Thetford and over the last year the Council, in conjunction with Parkwood Leisure, had worked closely to raise participation in sport and physical activity across the District.

·              During the Summer Holidays a Rural Sports Development Programme had been delivered in partnership with Parkwood Leisure.  Throughout the summer there had been almost 800 attendees at the rural sports programme and an additional 6 sessions were run in week 6 of the holidays.  Sessions were advertised through 12,000 leaflets which were distributed to all Breckland schools and those just over the border. 

·              Disability sport had been a key area of work over the past year and two inclusive days were held in Dereham and Thetford Leisure Centres for pupils from Fred Nicholson and Chapel Road Schools.  This led to those children being able to participate in a Norfolk Wide event at the UEA.

·              A Sports Forum had been formed in Thetford to trial the Community Sports Network.  Building on the success of that Group, further forums were currently being formed in other market towns.  Once the network had been formalised a funding application would be submitted to Sport England to draw down up to £25,000 per year for sports activity in the District.

Arts Development

·              Festivals, carnivals and community events had been supported in all towns and relevant parishes which had enabled them to diversify and extend professional live programmes and reach new audiences.  Rural areas had been particularly supported through a professional touring theatre scheme. 

·              Opportunities for local artists to practice, exhibit, perform and network had been developed through the Breckland Arts Network.  Community Initiatives had been developed such as workshops and an art and photography competition.

·              Both the Dereham and Thetford Leisure Centre held art exhibitions for over 12 local artists on a rotating basis.  During its opening, Dereham Leisure Centre has hosted jazz and music event with storytellers, sculpture and a district-wide art competition and a stained glass installation created by 60 local children.  The successful Creative Change project was held at Dereham which provided creative opportunities for men suffering from anxiety, depression or stress.

·              Strong working partnerships had been established with agencies such as Norfolk County Council, Creative Arts East, Norfolk Music Works,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

To receive and note the monitoring report on usage of LSP funded vehicles.

The LSP Officer presented the Safer Neighbourhoods Vehicle Monitoring Report which related to the vehicles purchased through funding granted by the LSP Board.

In excess of 3,000 miles had been clocked on the vehicles and had been used to visit the Safer Neighbourhood Team areas, Local Area Groups and a number of Parishes.

A letter had been received from the Home Office commending the Crime and Disorder Partnership as being the top in the County for achieving targets and reducing crime.

In response to queries regarding other partnership organisations using the vehicles it was understood that the vehicles were used, predominantly, by police officers and there may be issues regarding insurance which would prevent use by other partners.  It was understood that if these issues could be addressed other organisations should be encouraged to use the vehicles.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

To receive an update on LAA and negotiations regarding 2008/2009 agreement.

The LSP Officer informed the Board that the Norfolk Local Area Agreement (LAA) was being refreshed.  There was now a National Indicator Set.  The Norfolk County Strategic Partnership must set local targets against the 35 of the indicators from this Set for inclusion in the LAA Action Plan.  Local Performance Indicators could also be included in the Action Plan.

The Deputy Chief Executive from Breckland would sit on the LAA Negotiation Team deciding those 35 indicators and would put forward Breckland’s perspective.  The role of the Team would be to ensure that the indicators were appropriate for Norfolk as a whole.

Norwich and Norfolk Voluntary Services was holding a half-day conference for the voluntary sector and community organisation which would help shape high-level priorities in Norfolk’s LAA.  All voluntary and community partners should be encouraged to attend this important event.

The County Council representative stated that even though performance would be judged on the targets set against LAA indicators it should not mean that local projects should stop.  The 35 targets chosen would be used to judge Norfolk as a whole and, as such, would not all be county wide targets.

The Deputy Chief Executive asked how the third sector, being the voluntary and community services, and the district Local Strategic Partnership would have an impact on the LAA and the setting of targets.

In response the County Council representative informed the Board that the there was already an enormous body of data which would be used in the refresh of the LAA.

The Deputy Chief Executive noted that colleagues were already engaged with the LAA process which would hopefully reflect local nuances and the third sector.

The County Council representative added that the County welcomed the bottom-up approach in deciding the LAA Indicators.

The LSP Officer informed the Board that the LSP could influence the Team through Breckland’s representative, being the Deputy Chief Executive.

Members noted that the partner organisations would be reporting to the LAA Team through other avenues and would make sure that representations would be in the interest of the communities within Breckland.

As a way forward it was agreed that the Deputy Chief Executive would report on the progress of the LAA Group to the LSP Board.

It was noted that the Chair, William Nunn, sat on the County Strategic Partnership Board; the Chief Executive, Trevor Holden, sat on the County Strategic Management Group and the Deputy Chief Executive, Tim Leader, sat on the LAA Negotiation Team.  Through these representatives Breckland’s preferred indicators would be put forward.

Members discussed the role of each Member of the Board and the specialist skills that each representative brought to the Board’s discussions.  It was suggested that the responsibility of each Board Member be reviewed and this information should be fed into the LSP to enable more direct future decisions to be made.

The Board were informed that on partnerships elsewhere in the County each Thematic Lead provided a two minute update at the beginning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

To receive and note the financial report.

The LSP Officer informed the Board that there had been an underspend on the Creative Change project and the Safer Neighbourhood vehicles had been cheaper than anticipated.  This left £118,000 uncommitted.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

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

It was noted that the following items would be included on future LSP Board agendas:-

·              Progress on Health and Wellbeing Partnership

·              Update on the Sustainable Community Strategy

·              Cultural Forum and the link with the Sustainable Community Strategy

·              Funding of the LSP Officer

It was agreed that the meeting on the 29 November 2007 should exclusively deal with the Sustainable Community Strategy.

With regard to the funding of the LSP Officer it was suggested that as the Officer worked for the LSP Board his post should be funded by all partners and for continuity purposes the length of term of the post should be two years.  However, this item would be discussed fully at a future meeting.

RESOLVED that

(1)    the meeting on the 29 November 2007 be a single issue meeting for the Sustainable Community Strategy.

(2)    the following be included on future agendas:

(a)    Progress of Health and Wellbeing Partnership

(b)    Funding of LSP Officer

(c)     Cultural Forum and the link with the Sustainable Community Strategy.

To note that the next meeting of the LSP Board will be held on 29 November 2007 at 2.00 pm in the Anglia Room, Elizabeth House, Breckland Council.

The next meeting of the LSP Board would be held on Thursday, 29 November 2007 at 2.00 pm in the Anglia Room, Elizabeth House, Dereham.