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Contact: Lynn Derbyshire on 0151 471 7389 or e-mail lynn.derbyshire@halton.gov.uk
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MINUTES Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2008, were taken as read and signed as a correct record. |
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PUBLIC QUESTION TIME PDF 27 KB Minutes: It was reported that no public questions had been received. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: The Board received the Minutes of the Employment Learning and Skills Specialist Strategic Partnership meeting held on 27 November 2008, which outlined the following:
Members noted the economic crisis and considered ways in which the Council could support businesses. It was advised that a joint Officer and Member group had been set up to look at best practice guidance for businesses in terms of what Local Authorities could and couldn’t do. The Board discussed the tender process and the possibility of adding in to the scoring mechanism extra points for contracts awarded to local businesses and the option of using vacant and underused properties to improve job opportunities in the construction trade. In addition the Board suggested that clarity be provided in relation to Learning and Skills Council’s money in terms of how it was dispersed. RESOLVED: That 1) The SSP Minutes be noted; and 2) The possibility of using vacant and underused buildings to improve job opportunities in the construction trade be investigated. |
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ELS PPB Work Programme 2009/10 PDF 43 KB Minutes: The Board received a report of the Strategic Director Environment which outlined the first step in developing a work programme of Topics for the Board to examine in 2009/10.
Members considered topics as detailed below which would be prioritised and finalised at the next Policy and Performance Board (PPB) meeting:
It was reported that should Members have any further suggestions regarding topic groups they were to email proposals to the lead officer before the 12 February 2009.
RESOLVED: That
1) The list of suggested topic group options above be noted and taken into account at the March meeting of the PPB; and 2) Members forward any further suggestions to the lead officer before the 12 February 2009.
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Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Health and Community which set out the Governments Policy initiative to provide free swimming to all those aged 60 and over and to all those aged 16 and under for two years starting on 1 April 2009.
It was advised that the initiative was launched last summer in order to improve participation, health, impact on childhood obesity and to help meet the Governments commitment to get two million people more active by 2012.
It was reported that free swimming would be offered in Halton in Kingsway Leisure Centre, Brookvale Recreation Centre and Runcorn Swimming Pool. The allocations of annual grants for each strand of the policy and the implementation of the scheme were outlined in the report for Members consideration.
The Board discussed various issues such as the possibility of over crowding, the need for parental consent for children under the age of 16, the use of a swipe card system and the possibility of implementing a talent identification scheme.
Members also requested that a report outlining the effect the scheme would have on current users as well as additional usage gained from the scheme be brought back to the Board after the first year of implementation.
RESOLVED: That
1) the report be noted; 2) a report detailing the effect of the scheme on current users in addition to increased usage gained from the scheme, be brought back to the Board after the first year of implementation; and 3) the possibility of a talent identification scheme be investigated.
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Child Poverty in Halton PDF 36 KB Minutes: The Board received a report which outlined the need to initiate the development of a child poverty action plan. It was reported that in March 1999 the Prime Minister committed the Government to end child poverty by 2020, and to halve it by 2010. Numerous announcements and initiatives had been made since that time and the Government announced PSA Delivery Agreement 9, ending child poverty.
Statistics from the national child poverty toolkit which demonstrated how child poverty had changed since 1999 was also outlined for the Board. Detailed in the report was the progress Halton had made in reducing child poverty.
It was reported that data showed that whilst much had been achieved and child poverty had reduced in the Borough, there was still a considerable amount of children living in poverty (as defined by households with less than 60% of the median income).
The Board considered whether a topic group be established to consider various issues such as longevity and life chances and the proposals that could be made from that work.
Members were advised that the next step was to support the development of a Merseyside Child Poverty Strategy and when this had advanced Halton would need to develop its local action plan. Once the action plan had been finalised it would be brought to Board for Members consideration.
RESOLVED: That
1) the progress made on child poverty be noted; and 2) the finalised action plan for the Child Poverty Strategy be brought a future meeting for Members consideration
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Mid Year Monitoring Report for Voluntary Sector Core Funding 2008-09 PDF 121 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director - Health and Community which provided details of the mid year monitoring report for Voluntary Sector Core Funding.
It was advised that 12 organisations had received funding from the Council, details of which were outlined in the report for consideration. Organisations awarded over £5,000 were subject to a Service Level Agreement and provided quarterly monitoring. Organisations who received under £5,000 provided 6 monthly figures. It was reported that a case study would be provided for each quarter and would be included in future monitoring reports.
Members were informed of a luncheon planned for the Voluntary Sector Agencies, it was reported that the invitation could be extended to Members of the Employment Learning Skills Board so they could liaise with the agencies and maybe arrange a visit in the future.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted
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Community Development Annual Report 2007-08 PDF 45 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Health and Community which updated the Members of the deliver of Community Development in 2007/08.
It was reported that the Community Development team provided direct support to 90 community organisations in 2007/08. It was noted that this support enabled capacity building for groups to plan a key role in delivery of 72 community led initiatives. Members were advised that 2,084 active volunteers had participated in supporting community groups, delivering initiatives and providing community events, an increase in 945 from the previous year.
It was noted that a half yearly service user evaluation for the period 1 April to 30 September 2008 had been undertaken and 78 groups who had used the service were invited to comment with 54 returning completed evaluation forms, a response rate of 69%. Key points from the evaluation were outlined in the report for Members consideration.
Members felt that it would be useful if in the future to have figures of how many people were in each community group that benefited from allocated funds.
RESOLVED: That
1) The service performance and future developments of service delivery be noted; and 2) Statistics of how many people in each voluntary group who received awards be distributed to Members of the Board. |
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Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - Health PDF 43 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board received a
report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which provided a summary
of the findings of the first Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Health. It was noted that Directors
of Adult Social Services, Public Health and Children and Young People’s (CYP) Services
in every Local Authority and Primary Care Trust (PCT) had a statutory duty from
April 2008 to work together to develop a JSNA for their area. It was proposed that the consultation process be in 4 stages, as
follows: 1)
Professionals 2)
Members via all Policy &
Performance Boards (January 2009) 3)
Key stakeholders 4)
General public At each stage, the document would be revised and updated accordingly. Members noted that deprived wards still needed improvement and support, social housing was in good condition and some private housing was in poor condition which was reflected in the more affluent wards and there was a high proportion of adults ... view the full minutes text for item 39. |
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STANDING ORDER 51 The Board was reminded that
Standing Order 51 of the Council’s Constitution stated that meetings should not
continue beyond 9.00 pm. RESOLVED: That Standing Order 51 be waived. |
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LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT PERFORMANCE REPORT PDF 28 KB Minutes: The Board received a report of the Strategic Director Corporate and Policy which provided progress towards meeting Local Area Agreement (LAA) targets at the first six months of the Agreement. Members were advised that the latest data had been received and there was an amendment to the base line data which had gone down. There was a change in the way it was calculated and a mechanism was being developed to reflect all business start ups. RESOLVED: That the report be noted. |