Agenda and minutes

No Declarations of Interest were made. 

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion held on 16^th December, 2013, were considered.

Resolved: -  That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record. 

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Area Partnership Manager (Housing and Neighbourhood Services, Neighbourhood and Adult Services Directorate) that outlined an evaluation of the impact of the Community First Neighbourhood Match Fund in Rotherham to 31^st December, 2013.

Nationally, there were three aspects to the Community First Neighbourhood Match Fund: -

·         The Neighbourhood Match Fund - £30 million - a small grants programme for some of the most deprived areas in England, administered by the Community Development Foundation (CDF);

·         National Endowment Match Challenge - £50 million;

·         Community Organisers.

The Cabinet Officer for Civil Society viewed the Community First Neighbourhood Match Fund as: -

1.     A means of enabling small social action projects, encouraging individuals/groups to bring change to some of the most deprived communities in the country; 

2.     A tool to support new and existing projects;

3.     Part of a broader power shift, putting local residents in the driving seat, building their capacity and confidence to develop community led solutions.

Evaluation had been undertaken in Rotherham based on the three Cabinet Office objectives. 

There was confidence that the Community First Neighbourhood Match Fund was meeting the first objective in Rotherham.

·         £712,000 would be delivered into voluntary-community sector projects in some of the Borough’s most deprived neighbourhoods.  To date, £396,964 had been awarded by the eleven Ward based Community First Panels to 255 projects;

·         The submitted report included examples of best practice in relation to the first objective, and included which of the Ipsos Mori categories each project supported.

In relation to the second and third objectives, the picture was more mixed.  Funding had largely been awarded to existing projects.  Panels had, however, increased their knowledge of and links to the work of existing projects in their Wards.  Feedback from Panels’ voluntary-community sector members had highlighted how they had welcomed the opportunity to work with Councillors and senior officers. Local residents had been involved in setting local priorities, approving projects for funding and projects representing community-led solutions to local issues. This represented a positive experience and confirmed that groups/organisations who, with support, could take on a greater role in future work. 

Discussion ensued on the regrettable situation that had led to two of Rotherham’s Deprived Neighbourhood’s not being eligible to participate in Community First under the criteria supplied by the Cabinet Officer for Civil Society. 

The next steps towards the end of the funding stream were discussed.  It was noted that there was a £21,000 remaining allocation to be made from Year Three’s funding allocation.  Year Four’s funding would need to be allocated over the nine-month period between April – December, 2014. 

Discussion ensued on the submitted report and the following points were raised: -

·         Working with the private sector to generate government match funding;

·         Establishing how much had been raised by the end of the project;

·         The role of the Local Authority in supporting and providing additional skills to the matching process;

·         The role of cash or ‘in kind’ as part of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

·         Officer to report. 

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion welcomed the Manager for Partnerships and Youth Development (Integrated Youth Support Service, Schools and Lifelong Learning) and the Director for Schools and Lifelong Learning (Children and Young People’s Services Directorate) to provide an update on the Integrated Youth Support Service in Rotherham. 

Current budget saving proposals relating to the Service were considered.  It was noted that the Cabinet had approved the proposal at their meeting on 15^th January, 2013 (Minute No. C169 refers).  A consultation process would be undertaken with staff and stakeholder groups over a period of thirty days.  This process would inform staff and stakeholders of the saving proposals and invite their comments and suggestions on how to make the required savings.  A number of consultation meetings and communications would take place.  Discussion ensued on the information provided and included issues of work and case load considerations and the Council-wide requirement to achieve savings. 

The recent Holocaust Memorial Event was discussed.  All agreed that the successful and moving event showcased the best of Rotherham’s young people and the Integrated Youth Support Service.  In particular the commitment and passion of the staff was recognised. 

The resilience of the staff was further demonstrated by their positive working attitudes.  They had contributed good news updates for the Cabinet Member.  The good news stories included: -

·         A case study about the positive effects of taking a victim awareness course following a young person receiving a nine-month Referral Order for Arson. The young person, along with their family members, had provided positive feedback about the course and how it had increased their understanding of the ramifications of crimes on the victim/s and wider community;

·         A talent show at MyPlace had been designed, planned and organised by young people;

·         A Targeted Roma Boys’ Group had taken place that aimed to enable participants to develop a sense of self, cultural identity and pride, to tackle inequality and prejudice and to help individuals to represent their community and other young people by taking an active voice and influencing and developing leadership;

·         The Youth Cabinet held their annual Children’s Commissioner Takeover Day Event.  Twenty young people met with twenty professionals to talk about the barriers to young people getting support surrounding issues of self-harm;

·         Dinnington and Maltby Youth Forums were working on anti-litter campaigns in their areas in conjunction with local councils, schools, area assemblies and others;

·         Youth Start were offering a weekly open access mental health sessions in partnership with CAMHS;

·         Wentworth Valley Locality had contributed to the recent decrease in young people ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ which was at 5.6% in December, 2013, compared to 7.5% in the previous year.  In addition, youth club attendances had increased at MaltbyLinx and Bramley.  More young people were receiving one-to-one support with personal issues and tracking of 16-19 year olds exceeded the target every month. Lunch clubs and evening sessions were continuing to be provided by the Locality;

·         The Wentworth North and South Teams were continuing to run  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

·         Monday 24^th February, 2014, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved: -  (1) That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion take place on Monday 24^th February, 2014, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

(2)  That the March meeting take place on Friday 21^st March, 2014, to start at 2.30 p.m. in the Rotherham Town Hall.