Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest to report.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12^th September, 2011.

The Cabinet Member referred to Minute No. E20 (Youth Offending Service Update) and the documentation that he had received, which would be formulated into a response in due course.

Reference was also made to Minute No. E22 (Local Democracy Campaign 2011/12) and the need to ensure that all information relating to Local Democracy Week was circulated to all Members.

It was also noted that the Local Strategic Partnership were in support of the development of an Armed forces Community Covenant.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12^th September, 2011 be approved as a correct record.

The Chairman welcomed Gary Whittaker and Marie Crocker from Active Regen to the meeting and invited Gary to give a presentation on the Virtual to Reality Project. 

Active Regen was a social enterprise (not for profit company) based in Dinnington and used sport and physical activity as a regeneration mechanism to overcome social and economic issues faced by communities such as poor health, obesity, crime, criminal damage, anti-social behaviour, drugs and alcohol misuse and unemployment.

Active Regen provided physical activity and sports programmes for people of all ages with encouragement for children, young people and adults to become involved not only as participants and apprentices, but as sports coaches and leaders.

An information pack on the programmes that Active Regen currently promoted and organised was circulated and further information provided on the Projects 50+ Active, Health Active, School Active, Going4Gold and Disability Active.

Attention was also drawn to the costs involved and specific information provided on possible joint finance programmes which would require investment over two years, eighteen months or one year, along with an outline programme calendar and the outputs.

The Virtual to Reality Project was designed to utilise technology to initially engage players in a virtual sporting experience and then to provide an experience of that particular sport itself.  The programme had been tested in communities that experienced high levels of young offending and anti-social behaviour.  The aim was to use activity as a diversionary tactic and the results showed that this innovative approach had a positive impact.

Partnership working was fundamental to the sustainability and future development of the organisation which worked with a wide range of voluntary and community organisations and businesses who not only provided financial resources, but supplemented services that enhanced the provision within communities.

Discussion ensued on the sustainability of a co-funded programme, the multi-agency approach, the marketing and public relations programme and a “One Town One Community” five week summer programme.  Examples were also provided on other projects that Active Regen had organised within Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster and Wakefield.

A further discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and clarified:-

·              Working in partnership with the Police and the type of support they provided.

·              The need to work closely and link into the Youth Service to avoid any duplication of activity and targeted youth support to maximise support to communities most in need.

·              Activity age ranges.

·              Engagement with both primary and secondary schools.

·              Delivery costs and the staffing hours involved.

·              The criteria used for identification of the phasing blocks and areas.

·              Co-financing for community programmes and the six month match funding period.

·              Supporting bid submissions.

In terms of next steps it was suggested that a progress meeting take place to explore further what could be achieved from the limited resources that may be available and for further discussions to take place with South Yorkshire Police and other local partners to look at delivery.

The Cabinet Member and his Advisers welcomed the initiatives that Active Regen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Janet Spurling Community Engagement Officer, which provided an overview of the key findings from the “Hidden in Plain Sight” Inquiry into disability–related harassment by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to which the Council was required to make a submission earlier this year.

Information was provided on the background to the inquiry and the request for Rotherham to provide evidence regarding one of ten serious cases considered by the inquiry in which disabled people died or were severely injured and the Council submitted a joint response with South Yorkshire Police and NHS Rotherham. 

Rotherham’s submission identified areas of improvement, which included continuing to ensure support and advocacy was in place for disabled people and public awareness raising and these were areas where the inquiry recommended local authorities have a leading role.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission concluded that the scale of disability-related harassment went far beyond the extreme cases explored in detail by the inquiry, but much was unrecognised and unreported.  It referred to “a culture of disbelief” that existed around disability-related harassment with complaints not taken seriously and not responded to appropriately.  Many disabled people experienced daily “so-called low level harassment” which eroded their confidence and isolated them from wider society, but there was still a paucity of data to demonstrate the true extent of disability-related harassment and to help authorities to understand it and to be able to prevent it. 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission found that the “focus on help and protection within the adult safeguarding system could be at the expense of ensuring justice and redress”.  A greater understanding and application of the ‘social model of disability’ was advocated in order to make progress in tackling disability-related harassment.  The Commission also noted a lack of evidence of public bodies promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people under their statutory responsibility.

Seven core recommendations were produced setting out desired outcomes; each with underpinning recommendations which focused on three key areas:-

·              Recognition of the scale of disability-related harassment.

·              Prevention through a proactive approach and preventative measures.

·              Redress so that incidents were dealt with swiftly and fairly, with victims being supported and having access to justice.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission intended to consult with a range of stakeholders over the next six months on its proposals and how these may be integrated within planned initiatives in order to be cost effective, before publishing a “manifesto for change” next spring for the coming five years.

Reference was made to the recommendations and the areas which specific agencies and sectors who dealt with disability-related harassment have developed and the measures which could be taken to prevent such an incident recurring in the future.

Whilst relevant robust policies were in place it was necessary that awareness raising with officers and appropriate recording of incidents took place as a matter of course.

Resolved:-  (1)  That Janet Spurling be thanked for her intensive input and work on this inquiry.

(2)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Christine Brodhurst-Brown, Manager of the Youth Service, which provided an overview of current issues relating to Rotherham Youth Service, including an update on the recent restructure of the Service, the MyPlace project, mobile provision, summer and Fawkes provision, the recruitment of new apprentices, marketing of the service and service feedback on Positive for Youth.

More in-depth information was provided on:-

·              Chislett and the handover to the Community Partnership.

·              Bramley Youth Centre.

·              Dinnington and its set up in the Salvation Army Hall in Dinnington.

·              International Centre and its hand over to Environment and Development Services.

·              The MyPlace completion.

·              Mobile provision and launch.

·              Summer provision and Fawkes Project.

·              Apprentice Project.

·              Marketing and overall improvements.

·              Positive for Youth Feedback.

Discussion ensued on the excellent work that had taken place as part of the Youth Service restructure, the provision that had restarted in Harthill, the Fawkes Project, the need to positively promote the opening of MyPlace scheduled for the 26^th November, 2011 and the mobile provision on track for mid-November.

Reference was also made to activities broken down into Area Assemblies, which was to be circulated to all Members for information.

Resolved:-  (1)  That all staff be thanked for their support and work involved as part of the Youth Service restructure.

(2)    That the report be received and the contents noted.

(3)  That information be provided for all Members on the opening of MyPlace, Area Assembly activities, Youth Service website and on the Fawkes Project.