Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion held on 27^th February, 2006 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Andrew Towlerton, Policy and Research Manager, submitted a report which invited Members to consider and endorse Rotherham Partnership’s refreshed Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.  The Strategy sought to ensure that all communities benefited from the delivery of the Community Strategy by addressing root causes of deprivation and driving forward improved services, co-ordination and delivery at neighbourhood level.

The Strategy had been circulated for comments and amended accordingly to reflect these comments.

The Strategy had also been amended to incorporate the key themes from the Local Area Agreement and the key role in its delivery. 

Changes have also been made to text supporting each of the communities of place in Section 4).  These changes mainly reflected the extension of the target neighbourhoods (from 20% most deprived to 25%) and agreed at Rotherham Partnership’s November Board meeting, many of which had limited robust data available from consultation exercises such as community planning.

Comments about the population target area descriptions in the Strategy were noted and taken on board.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy be endorsed.

(2)  That the implications for service delivery and policy development be noted.

(3)  That the revised timetable for finalising the under-pinning action plans be noted.

(4)  That the report be submitted to the next L.S.P. Board.

Andrew Towlerton, Policy and Research Manager, submitted a report which invited Members to consider and approve Rotherham’s draft Consultation Older Persons’ Strategy, which aimed to improve the quality of life of local older people.

The draft Strategy was based on detailed consultation, analysis and discussions and sought to promote a better quality of life for Rotherham’s increasing population of older people who were over 50 (which is expected to rise by 40% in 2021).

It was structured around seven sections each based around a Priority Theme contained in the Community Strategy.  Each included a descriptive analysis of trends and issues arising in relation to the theme based on statistical analysis and the findings from consultation, together with a list of key objectives required to address the main issues identified.

The objectives were broad and intended to set direction for activity rather than describe specific activities that partners, businesses, communities and others could take.  These specific actions would be developed into a supporting action plan to be agreed by the end of May, 2006.

Its development had been led by a Task Group involving Programme Areas, P.C.T., voluntary sector, Rotherham Partnership and other stakeholders such as Age Concern and fiftyplus Rotherham.  It was chaired by the Council’s Older Persons’ Champion.

It had been developed in a national and local policy context which had seen a major shift in policy towards older persons.   There had been a move away from focusing public services on the most vulnerable people (only 15% of the older population) and towards a broader approach and enabled all older people to remain as independent for as long as possible and live their lives to the full.

It was recognised that health and social care services were only a small part of the support that older people valued and needed and only a small part of the experience of growing older.  This Strategy was intended to play a key role in achieving this, providing a framework and focus for older persons’ policy and service delivery.

It was intended that consultation on the strategy would take place in late March and early April and the final strategy agreed in early May.

The difficulties associated with the development of the Strategy were acknowledged, given that the definition used for an older person included anyone over fifty years of age, where for many a transition would begin and some may be planning retirement.

In addition to the agencies and individuals involved in this Strategy, it was suggested that information be made available on the Internet for comment by older people proficient with the use of I.T.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Draft Consultation Strategy be endorsed.

(2)  That the wider consultation of the Strategy be agreed.

(3)  That the timetable for developing the detailed action plan be agreed and noted.

(4)  That the report be referred to the Adult Services and Health Scrutiny Panel.

(5)  That the report be submitted to the next L.S.P. Board.

Colin Bulger, Head of Policy and Partnerships, submitted a report, which detailed the signing of a Local Area Agreement by the Council with Partners including Voluntary Action Rotherham and the Government.

As part of that agreement the Council would become the accountable body for the Community Empowerment Network, both for its work programme and funding stream.

The Local Area Agreement also included a number of budgets, which needed to be either “aligned” or “pooled”. If aligned, then partners addressing areas of similar interest would continue to receive any Government funding using their traditional arrangements, but would be expected to develop closer alignment of aims and objectives, actions and how budgets were being used. This was simply a continuation of current development albeit at a faster rate. 

There was a significant difference for “pooled” budgets. Pooling signified that Government funds, which would normally go to partners would come to the Council as part of a single cheque” for disbursement. The Council would, therefore, act as the accountable body, which would bring a set of duties with it. This would be to ensure that the Government money was spent properly and that there was a performance management system in place to monitor and evaluate that targets were being met and objectives achieved. The Council would then make one report to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber covering performance against all pooled budgets.

The Community Empowerment Network funding was originally a contract between Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber and V.A.R.  Under the Local Area Agreement, the Community Empowerment Network funding it was one of the few new budgets that would be pooled.

In order to assure itself that V.A.R. were delivering against funding, the Council via Community Cohesion Delegated Powers needed to agree a work programme for the Community Empowerment Network. It would receive regular reports on progress against targets. Funding would be released against approval of these reports.

Resolved:-   (1)  That the attached Plan and Work Programme be agreed.

(2)  That the release of funding from Central Government to V.A.R. be authorised.

(3)  That regular performance reports, detailing progress against actions, be received.

Andrew Fellows, Policy Officer, gave a presentation on the Social Inclusion Framework.

The presentation drew specific attention to:-

·              Background to the Framework.

·              Purpose of the Framework.

·              Definition of Social Exclusion.

·              The Vision.

·              Social Excluded Groups.

·              Drivers for Social Exclusion.

·              How the Vision linked to action.

·              What the Council was currently doing.

·              Priority Actions.

·              Next Steps.

Members welcomed the presentation and asked a range of questions, drawing particular attention to:-

-                 Follow up action for Programme Areas that failed to respond to surveys.

-                 Consideration of Cabinet Member Champion for Social Inclusion.

-                 Issue of fairness for all.

-                 Development of consultation for hard to reach groups who are not represented democratically or had access to educational opportunities.

Resolved:-  (1)  That Andrew Fellows be thanked for his informative presentation.

(2)  That the contents be noted.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion take place on Monday, 24^th April, 2006 at 10.00 a.m.