Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest to record. 

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion held on 24^th June, 2013, were considered.

Resolved: - That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a correct record for signature by the Cabinet Member. 

Resolved: -  That the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion confirms the following appointments to outside bodies and memberships of panels and sub-groups for the 2013/2014 Municipal Year: -

LGYH - LOCAL AUTHORITY COMMISSION ON ASYLUM AND MIGRATION

Councillor Hussain, Cabinet Member forCommunities and Cohesion 

MOSQUE LIAISON GROUP

Councillor Hussain, Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion

ROTHERHAM CITIZEN’S ADVICE BUREAU – Trustee Board

Councillor E. Wallis, Senior Adviser, Communities and Cohesion

ROTHERHAM DIVERSITY FESTIVAL STEERING GROUP

Waheed Akhtar, Community Engagement Officer

SOUTH YORKSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION – ROTHERHAM ADVISORY GROUP

Councillor Hussain, Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion plus the serving Mayor (2013), Councillor J. Foden

WOMEN’S STRATEGY GROUP

Councillor J. Burton, Adviser, Communities and Cohesion

EQUALITY CHAMPIONS’ GROUP

Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion: - Councillor Hussain

VOLUNTARY ACTION ROTHERHAM BOARD

Councillor J. Burton, Adviser, Communities and Cohesion

Zafar Saleem, Community Engagement Manager.

ROTHERHAM ETHNIC MINORITY ALLIANCE BOARD

Councillor E. Wallis, Senior Adviser, Communities and Cohesion

Zafar Saleem, Community Engagement Manager

Waheed Akhtar, Community Engagement Officer

PARISH COUNCIL – JOINT WORKING GROUP

Councillors D. Beck, J. Burton and E. Wallis. 

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Head of the Rotherham Integrated Youth Support Service (IYSS) (Schools and Lifelong Learning, Children and Young People’s Services), which outlined progress made towards the creation of an Integrated Youth Service for Rotherham’s young people.  Further to Minute No. E4 (Rotherham Integrated Youth Support Service – Update) of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion held on 24^th June, 2013, a further update was now presented. 

A draft version of the Rotherham IYSS Service Specification document had also been submitted.  The Specification had been developed in partnership with RMBC’s Commissioning Service and contained an overview of the core business of the IYSS and information about how the Service’s work would be operationally implemented. 

The Service Specification had been subject to consultation with stakeholders who had been instrumental in the development of the new Service and its expectations.  A shorter version of the Specification would be produced and used by the Service’s workers on a day-to-day basis and as part of the performance measurement and monitoring of the Service.  The Head of Service explained that it would shortly become a statutory requirement for all Youth Support Services to publish a specification document.  Rotherham’s IYSS would publish their Service Specification ahead of the statutory requirement, and this document would form the basis to the local plan that would be produced by each area team of the IYSS. 

The covering report also appraised the Cabinet Member of Rotherham’s responsibilities in relation to the Raising Participation offer, whereby the Local Authority would have a duty to ensure that every 16–18 year old in the Borough had a ‘September offer’, and that the Local Authority also influenced the development of provision to meet the needs of young people in their locality, provide support to young people not in education, employment and training, and track outcomes for the 16-19 cohort.  The risks in relation to Rotherham, including those currently affecting performance, were outlined within the report.  The Rotherham IYSS had held collaboration sessions with other areas of Children and Young People’s Services to map provision and to strengthen the offer provided for young people. 

The IYSS staffing structure was in place and the Service had undergone a ‘soft launch’ to ensure that provision was in place over the summer months and that transitions between young people and their named workers could begin. 

A programme of events had been planned between 24^th and 26^th July, 2013, to widely promote the IYSS to young people, their parents and carers and other stakeholders.  This included handing out promotional materials in the Town Centre and across the Borough detailing the services and the provision available.  The Eric Manns building would also be officially opened, including a plaque being unveiled in the building by a member of former Councillor Eric Manns family.  It was hoped that all users of the building would be inspired to achieve the best they could after reading about the former Councillor’s life  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Further to Minute No. E41 (Members’ Community Leadership Fund: Request to Carry Forward Underspends) of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion held on 25^th February, 2013, where the projected outturn position of the Community Leadership Fund for 2012/2013 had been discussed, the Community Liaison Officer (Neighbourhood and Adult Services) had submitted a report in relation to the actual outturn position for the year. 

A total of 98% of the in-year Community Leadership Fund had been spent during 2012/13, with only £630 being ‘recovered’ to the One Town One Community budget. 

The submitted report contained detail about the types of projects supported and how these related to the Council’s Corporate Priorities.  The average grant size per project has reduced to £200, resulting in an increasing amount of projects being supported.  Feedback from the recipients of Community Leadership funding was that even a relatively small amount of money did make a big difference to the projects involved. 

Spending against the 2013/2014 budget was well underway and approximately one-third of the budget had already been allocated to projects. 

Popular projects supported during 2012/2013 had related to activities for young people and community events.  An emerging trend for 2013/2014 activity pointed to increased support for disadvantaged families and projects in the charitable and voluntary sector, in response to local conditions and welfare reform.

Discussion ensued on the information presented, including how to raise awareness of the availability of the Fund.  It was noted that a breakdown of what Ward had spent their Community Leadership Fund allocation on was available on Elected Members’ internet profiles. 

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

(2)  That an awareness raising exercise be undertaken to publicise the availability and use of the Community Leadership Fund to all stakeholders.

(3)  That updates be brought to the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion as appropriate. 

·         Monday 23^rd September, 2013, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved: -  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion be held on Monday 16^th September, 2013, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall.