Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Planning and Social Inclusion held on 9th July, 2004 be received and a correction approved to the sub-heading of Minute 3, with the deletion of “Multi-Cultural Centre” and the substitution therefore of “Unity Centre”.

Consideration was given to a report of the External Affairs Manager, relating to the progress of the review of the CERB (Community and Economic Regeneration Budget) Fund.

It was clarified that the report related to the community element only of CERB.

The main issues driving the review were:-

-                      government policy, in relation to the strengthening of the voluntary and community sector

-                      close review of the types of activity being funded;  the need for improved co-ordination and support within the sector

-                      sustainability

-                      identifying current CERB funded activity essential to Council delivery and opportunities for mainstream funding

-                      the need to develop a long term approach to supporting voluntary and community organisations rather than supporting short term projects

Consideration was also given to a briefing report concerning the “Change Up” framework, a Government-led initiative to strengthen the capacity of voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver public services.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the approach being taken to develop a more sustainable approach to funding voluntary and community groups be noted.

(2) That a further report regarding the External Funding Review of the CERB Fund be submitted to the next meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Community Planning and Social Inclusion.

The Executive Director of Housing and Environmental Services submitted a report concerning the Council’s proposals for neighbourhood development. The report summarised the local and national context of these proposals, as well as the action which would have to be taken in order to establish effective neighbourhood management arrangements. Members recognised the importance of creating the correct conditions in which neighbourhood management could develop and of developing confidence in the Council’s commitment to lead.

Reference was made to the commitments of the Neighbourhood Strategy which would:

- drive forward service integration at neighbourhood level through the development of a neighbourhood management approach;

- prioritise the active involvement of communities and place community needs and aspirations at the heart of neighbourhood renewal;

- ensure effective mainstreaming of neighbourhood renewal in the plans and activities of the Council’s partner organisations;

- maximise the use of external resources to facilitate the transformation of deprived areas.

An outline project plan and timetable for the neighbourhood development arrangements were appended to the report.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the outline project plan and timetable for neighbourhood development, as contained in the report submitted, be approved.

(3) That a further report about neighbourhood development be submitted to the Cabinet.

(4) That a seminar about neighbourhood development be arranged for all Members of the Council.

Resolved:- That the next meeting be held on Friday, 15th October, 2004, commencing at 10.00 a.m.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to financial assistance provided by the Council).

Consideration was given to a report of the Manager of the Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service concerning the staffing requirements for the provision of benefit advice for recipients of non-residential Social Services.

The report outlined the budgetary requirements of this service, as well as details of the overall workload.

Discussion also took place on the need to develop the service in the longer term and to determine the level of resources which were required to enable this service to be delivered. It was agreed that this aspect would require further consideration in the future.

Resolved:- (1) That the financial contribution made by Social Services in 2004/2005 be ring-fenced, to enable the Welfare Rights Service to recruit staff to deal with the outstanding workload in respect of benefit advice.

(2) That the provision of the benefit advice service be the subject of a service-level agreement between the Welfare Rights Service and Social Services.