Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest to report. 

Reference was made to Minute E28 (Virtual to Reality Project Update) where it was noted that Gary Whittaker had arranged further meetings with Officers regarding the One Town Finance Initiative.  The Cabinet Member requested a further update on the discussion’s progress. 

Reference was also made to Minute E30 (Youth Service) and it was noted that the Fawkes provision this year had been very successful and was accessed by 2,300 young people.  Data analysis was underway and a report would be submitted to the Cabinet Member in due course.  The Cabinet Member requested that an email highlighting the headlines of the Fawkes provision be sent to all Elected Members for their information. 

Reference was also made under the same Minute regarding mini-bus provision.  It was noted that area assemblies would develop and apply their own criteria for the deployment of the vehicles to address local gaps in provision and that guidance notes had been issued to them for this purpose. 

The Youth Service Manager reported on work that had been ongoing around recruiting and training mini-bus drivers, and that there was further budget available to train additional drivers.  The current bank of mini-bus drivers was sufficient to cover all areas and available vehicles. 

It was noted that the lease with Bramley Youth Centre was close to being signed over. 

Invitations had been sent to all Elected Members for the opening of the MyPlace Centre planned for 26^th November, 2011.

Resolved: - (1) That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14^th October, 2011, be approved as a correct record.

(2)  That a further update be provided to the Cabinet Member relating to the ongoing discussions with Active Regen when available. 

(3)  That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member relating to 2011 Fawkes provision.

(4)  That an update be provided to all Cabinet Members relating to the headlines of the 2011 Fawkes’ provision.

Waheed Akhtar, Carol Adamson, & Zaidah Ahmed to present.

The Cabinet Member introduced Waheed Akhtar, Community Engagement Officer, Zaidah Ahmed, School Community Cohesion Officer and Carol Adamson, Community Engagement Officer, who gave a presentation entitled: ‘Rotherham One Town One Community Update’. 

A copy of the presentation was circulated to the attendees that highlighted the communication and governance strands to be developed under the One Town One Community initiative; events that had taken place in support of the project’s aims; continuing professional development opportunities that had arisen and the ongoing priorities and activities of the project.

It was noted that:

·         A multi-agency group of mosque representatives, Council, Emergency Services and Health representatives was in existence, chaired by Councillor Hussain.  This group was called the Mosque Liaison Group.  The Rotherham Council of Mosques also existed as an independent group that was attended and ran by members of Rotherham’s nine mosques and madrassahs.  It was felt that this model allowed mosque and madrassah representatives to collectively bring issues to the Local Authority’s attention and to improve the momentum of initiatives across all agencies. 

·         The Mosque Liaison Group is seen as a model of good practice and another local authority is currently in the process of developing a similar model based on the lessons learned in Rotherham.

·         A number of safeguarding training and awareness raising sessions had taken place between the Local Authority and Rotherham’s Mosques. 

·         Specialist Child Protection Officer training was due to take place during December.  It had been noted that this was enthusiastically received by all Mosques and that wider relationships had improved. 

·         Activities had also been underway to bring together a number of faiths in the Rotherham Inter-Faith Group that managed the Nature’s Havens project.

·         Community Engagement – the Community Cohesion Unit had been leading activities to improve engagement with Rotherham’s communities of interest.  It was noted that current work to increase their voice and influence included:

o       Money Matters, including Rotherham Local Authority’s Budget Simulator;

o       Local Development Framework;

o       Ageing Well;

o       Mosque Liaison Group;

o       Rotherham’s LGB&T Inter-Agency Group;

o       Local Democracy Week;

o       A ‘Get Involved Workshop’ was to be held on 21^st November and would be delivered by the Parliamentary Outreach Team and RMBC for Voluntary and Community Sector groups on the work of parliament, its processes, and how to engage with them for the benefit of communities.  Further workshops were planned for Elected Members and Officers in early 2012.

·         1001 Inventions – Rotherham would take part in an initiative that aimed to showcase the scientific and technological innovations that had been designed by Muslims which impacted on our daily lives.  The event would take place in February 2012 and involved pupils in Years 6, 7 and 8, as well as Rotherham’s Youth Service in a range of activities.  It was noted that a curriculum pack was being devised to support learning around the event. 

·         School Linking had taken place last year and was continuing this year managed by the Council, the Hallam Diocese and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Waheed Akhtar to present.  

Waheed Akhtar, Community Engagement Officer, provided a verbal update to the Cabinet Member on the funding applications received in respect to the One Town One Community Small Grants fund. 

It was noted that publicity about the available funding had been provided to all Councillors, had been displayed on the Voluntary Action Rotherham website, via REMA, RotherFed, through the Area Assemblies, South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau, Rotherham United Sports’ Trust and through the Inter-Faith group and the Sheffield and Hallam Dioceses. 

The deadlines for funding requests were 23^rd November, 2011 and 20^th January, 2012. 

10 applications for funding had been received, along with 32 requests for additional information.   

A panel would be convened to discuss the applications received by the 23^rd November, 2011, deadline during December, 2011. 

A further update was provided to the meeting regarding the funding received by the Police from the Proceeds from Crime initiative.  A future meeting would be convened to discuss the deployment and sustainability of this funding.

Resolved: - That the update be received.

Further to Minute E23 of the Cabinet Member meeting held on 12^th September 2011, an update was provided in relation to the Armed Forces Community Covenant by Christine Majer, Principal Officer, Commissioning, Policy and Performance. 

The Armed Force Community Covenant was a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. It was intended to complement the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlined the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces at the local level.

Local Authority Officers had been working towards formalising the relationship between the Armed Forces and Rotherham Communities by signing a covenant.  Representatives from the Ministry of Defence had recently met with the Leader and the Chief Executive, and the Ministry of Defence were to shortly provide a date when the covenant would be signed by all parties involved, which would include a celebration and promotion event.   

It was noted that, following formalisation, responsibility would sit within the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, although all agreed that there would be a number of cross-cutting issues involved with the work.    

Resolved: - That further updates be provided to the Cabinet Member on the progress of the Armed Forces Community Covenant and associated work.

Monday 5^th December 2011, 11.30 am in the Rotherham Town Hall.