Agenda item

The Area Council Manager referred to the report circulated, and noted that the new contract for advice services had been discussed earlier in the meeting.

Members went on to discuss the Community Magazine and the possibility of producing two further editions.  It was acknowledged that how the magazine was delivered was important, and noted that the previous edition was delivered on its own, as opposed to with a number of other leaflets.  Members were supportive of producing further editions on the same basis as previous magazines, and £3,500 was approved for their distribution.

The Area Council Manager spoke about two projects which had been delayed largely as a result of her time off work due to illness, but in part due to the inappropriate nature of delivery through the winter.  These were pop up sessions in local parks, and the development of a social media presence relevant to young people.  The Area Council had already allocated £2,000 to each of these but they had yet to be progressed.  As these were under appropriate procurement thresholds, it was suggested that Forge Community Partnership be asked to deliver both.

Attention was drawn to the development work undertaken by the Area Council Manager, which included work with Public Health, Social Prescribing, and Community Nursing to foster closer working in the area.  Work had also been undertaken to organise an Area Council workshop to consider social isolation.

The meeting were made aware of work to embed Social Return On Investment methodology in procurement processes, and noted that the Area Council Manager now had line management responsibility for the Principal Towns Project Manager who covered the North, South and Penistone areas.

Members considered the headline financial figures for the Area Council noting that approximately £47,000 remained unallocated in 2017/18.  For 2018/19 only around £9,000 remained unallocated; however this assumed that a number of contracts would continue and the Area Council may wish to review and amend some of the services delivered currently.

It was suggested that a workshop be held in the autumn for Members to consider the full range of contracts held, and the priorities of the Area Council moving forward.

RESOLVED :-

(i)           That the progress of commissioned projects under development, as detailed in the report submitted, be noted;

(ii)          That the progress of other non-commissioned development work being undertaken, as detailed in the report submitted, be noted;

(iii)         That the production and distribution of two further editions of the South Area Community Magazine be approved at a cost of up to £3,500;

(iv)        That Forge Community Partnership be approached to deliver the Pop Up Parks project at a cost of £2,000, and the Young Person Friendly Social Media project, at a cost of £2,000;

(v)          That the financial profile for the Area Council in 2017/18 including funding currently unallocated be noted;

(vi)        That the long term financial profile and potential implications for future commissioning work be noted; and

(vii)       That a workshop is arranged in the autumn for Members to consider Area Council contracts and future priorities.