Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced the item, referring to the Performance Report now circulated.  The following matters were raised:

·         Reference was made to local information and advice and particularly to the benefits gained as a result of advice received and also to the amount of unmanageable debt handled through financial settlements which represented a significant impact on the local economy and to local families

·         The number of people who had been assisted and who were in danger of becoming homeless was worrying.  Some of this was due to the way in which payments were made to claimants and the move to direct payments and also as people struggled to manage on meagre incomes.  The amount of money and resources saved to the Council and other agencies as a result of this service was noted.  Every £1 spent resulted in a wider social impact to the value of £28.81.  This included a range of factors including the reduction in mental stress and the potential impact on physical health, reductions in numbers of residents becoming homeless and reduced levels of depressive illnesses

·         The increase in the number of adult volunteers (53 largely new volunteers largely from the Tidy Team) was pleasing to note. It was also noted that the impact of the work done by volunteers was likely to be greater than the recorded numbers alone reflected because of the amount of work done by volunteers.  For example Darfield volunteers were undertaking environmental work around the ‘Darfield Ring’ and not only grew plants, but donated and planted them out. The Area Council Manager was investigating how such matters could be captured within the statistical information

·         It was reported that the Jump Environmental Group was undertaking work within the park and also a litter pick next week in the vicinity of Church Street.  The group was also involved in various bulb planting projects on the 4^th – 11^th March, 2017

·         The One Stop Shop twilight sessions were continuing to be extremely busy and reflected the fact that the majority of those seen were in work and required help with in-work benefits or other related issues

·         Particular reference was made to the amber rating for ‘outcome indicators met’ in relation to the Summer Internship Programme and the reasons for this which was largely because not all places had been filled across both programmes.  The Area Manager was satisfied that any provider would have faced similar difficulties in filling the available places and that the provider did everything they could to encourage young people to join the programme

·         Following on from the above discussion, in relation to the Tidy Team, it was noted that two adult apprentices had been taken on and were progressing well.  This was particularly pleasing as both had been unemployed for a significant period

·         Progress was continuing with the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Officer pilot and the first quarterly meeting had been held in February.  Good links had been established with other officers and the biggest areas of focus to date had been in Wombwell and to a lesser extent in Darfield.  Further information on progress would be included in the Performance Management Report for the April meeting as the contract review figures were not due until after the current Performance Management Report had been written for this meeting.

·         Three groups had been established to take forward priorities identified following the Health Asset Mapping Conference and whilst there had been a slight delay, these were to be taken forward shortly.  The Area Council Manager would ensure that issues were picked up and progressed.  Arising out of this,

o   The Universal Information and Advice Group had been put on hold whilst the mainstream advice services had been completely redesigned as part of the Council’s Welfare Review which would be put in place from 1st April, 2017.  The roll out of the Social Prescribing programme would also have an impact on this.  Area Team Staff and Social Prescribing staff were having a joint workshop at the end of March, after which the Working Group should be able to be re-launched.  This Workshop would also inform the discussion on reducing social isolation on the South Area Council agenda in April

o   The ‘Love Your Street’ Group had started with a pilot event in Broomhill.  A community clean-up followed by a BBQ had been well attended by some who had not been involved in any community initiative before.  A toolkit had been developed for ‘Love your Street’ work and leaflets had been produced for community groups detailing what groups could do and how they should work.  Packs were available and been passed to the Tidy Team and if anyone required one of these, they should contact the Area Council Manager or the Tidy Team

o   The Better Community Networks group would recommence following the return of the Area Council Manager

·         In relation to future Finance for the Area Council, it was reported that the reduction in the budget was no longer expected.  Including all income received from the Kingdom Contract to date, the Area Council now had £43,000 unallocated at the end of the 2016/17 financial year.  Further income from fines through the Kingdom contract was anticipated but could not be guaranteed and the amounts could not be known at this stage.

RESOLVED

(i)             that the report be received;

(ii)          that information from the ‘Stay in Touch’ period of the Summer Internship Programme from 2015 would be submitted to the next meeting giving details about the destinations and progress; and

(iii)         that an update be provided for the next meeting on the Private Sector Housing officer  project as part of the Performance Management report.