Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ali declared a personal interest in item 11 below (NRF Commissioning 2006/07 and 2007/08).

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion held on 22nd May, 2006 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman subject to the addition of Councillor Ali as a representative on the following :-

-           RMBC/BME Liaison Group

-           Women’s Strategy Group

ZafarSaleem (Equalities and Diversity Manager) and Peg Alexander (Smile Consultancy) gave a presentation relating to the above.

The presentation covered :-

-          Introduction

-          Background and Terms of Reference

-          Consultant

-          Methodology

-          Findings 1 and 2 : Current Provision

-          Findings 1 and 2 : Finance

-          Findings 2 and 2 : Need

-          Findings 3 : Gaps

-          Other Findings : 3

-          Next Steps

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered :-

-          comparison of agencies

-          quality standard mark

-          funding information from agencies

-          need for information from programme areas regarding funding for advice provision

-          advice initiatives in LAA

-          need to know spend level and what and where advice has been given

-          need for funding requests to feed into the Base Budget Review process

-          independence/integrity of advice

-          timescales

-          possibility of workshops for users and providers

It was noted that the outstanding items were to (a) identify models of good practice and (b) make recommendations for future provision.

Workshop proposals for providers were discussed.

Resolved:- (1) That Zafar and Peg be thanked for an informative and interesting presentation.

(2) That programme areas be requested to provide funding details regarding advice provision.

(3) That a workshop be arranged as now discussed.

WaheedAkhtar, Partnership Officer (Regeneration), presented the submitted report updating progress with regard to the commissioning process for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF).

In accordance with the three elements to the NRF programme the report covered progress in respect of:-

(a) Strategic Element – all the Delivery Plans were agreed by the Steering Group except for Employment Strand B. (summary of each plan appended to the report).

(b) Area Assembly Fund – menu of proposals agreed by the Steering Group to allow area assemblies to select options for the spending of their allocations. The following activities (though not an exhaustive list) were included :-

            -           Additional Neighbourhood Wardens

            -           Junior Wardens Scheme

            -           Environmental Clean Up Days

            -           Community Sports Coaching Programme

(c) Community Chest – South Yorkshire Key Fund (SYKF) had been appointed to manage the community chest element. The first panel meeting to consider applications would take place in July, 2006.

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered :-

-     timescale for allocations from the Area Assembly Fund

-     availability of NRF funding

-     further development of the Rotherham Community Empowerment Network (CEN)

-     in house provision to oversee the implementation of the Stronger Communities Theme of the Rotherham Local Area Agreement

-     next steps and future role of the Steering Group

Resolved:- (1) That the progress made on the NRF Commissioning process be noted.

(2) That monitoring reports be submitted to this meeting on a quarterly basis.

Michelle Musgrave, Head of Neighbourhood Development, presented briefly the submitted report giving an overview into the Community Engagement Project being funded through the strategic commissioning process. Neighbourhoods were being commissioned through the cross cutting theme delivery plan to undertake a community engagement project with funding allocated to the proud theme Board.

The project was funded for two years to work with the Voluntary and Community Sector around building the capacity of local organisations and to develop a community development strategy in the borough. The project would fund a dedicated officer to work with Community Partnerships, Parish Councils and community based organisations.

Resolved:- That the information be noted and the project be approved.

Michael Holmes, Strategic Funding Officer, presented the submitted report giving an overview of the Council’s funding to the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in 2005/06. Key issues and areas for further analysis were highlighted. Funding was categorised and the total support provided in each category was summarised by programme area.

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

-                      need  for legal advice regarding any potential removal of funding

-                      view of where want voluntary sector to be in medium term

-                      need to identify whether or not funding was local

Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.

(2) That legal advice be sought prior to any potential removal of funding.

(3) That the locality source of funding be identified.

Janet Spurling, Equalities and Diversity Officer, gave an update on the multi-agency partnership approach to the development of a women’s strategy for the borough. This included all programme areas, PCT, South Yorkshire Police, Voluntary and Community Sector and Rotherham Chamber.

-                      An event had been held in April, 2006 with over seventy attendees and good ideas had been generated

-           smaller sub-groups were being finalised to include working group members and women from other organisations to supplement membership

-           the timetable for the finalisation of the project plan had been extended from December, 2006 to March, 2007 to allow more time for consultation

-           the consultation plan was being drafted

-           proposal to launch formally on International Women’s Day : 8th March, 2007

-           reports were soon to be submitted to the Cabinet and LSP

Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.

(2) That the reports being prepared for Cabinet/LSP be also submitted to this meeting.

(3) That this meeting be kept informed of developments.

Colin Bulger, Head of Policy and Partnerships, presented the submitted report relating to the forward plan of workload for the Community Cohesion  delegated powers meetings. It was pointed out that, whilst it was relatively easy planning three months in advance, planning further ahead was more difficult. It was proposed that a revised plan be considered at each meeting.

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised :

-           need to check proposed meeting topics against portfolio responsibilities

-           need to include ward visits and the capturing of information

-           need to timetable in feedback from the various strategies and explain why items were being submitted

-           need for regular progress reports

Resolved:- (1) That the report be welcomed and be submitted to each meeting as now discussed.

(2) That six monthly progress reports be submitted to this meeting and the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel.

Resolved:- That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion be held on Monday, 26th June, 2006 at 8.30 a.m.