Agenda and minutes

Councillor G. Carr declared a non-pecuniary interest in minute number 28 as trustee of DIAL Barnsley and Homestart South Yorkshire.

The meeting received the minutes from the previous meeting of Central Area Council held on 9^th November, 2015.

Members were made aware that RVS had now attended a GP practice meeting.  An interest in referring to the service to reduce loneliness and isolation in older people was expressed, however, it was noted that this had not yet resulted in any additional referrals to date.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Central Area Council held on 9^th November, 2015 be approved as a true and correct record.

The item was introduced by the Chair, who welcomed Liz Pitt – Research and Business Intelligence Manager and Rebecca Clarke – Public Health Specialist Practitioner to the meeting.

Liz Pitt gave a presentation that provided an overview of deprivation and associated health inequalities in the Central Council area.  This showed changes over time, and highlighted the disparities between Wards in the area.

The presentation considered a number of areas of concern for children and young people in the area.  These included child poverty; smoking prevalence; and achievement at Key Stage 2.

The same was also highlighted for adults within area, which included mortality rates from cancer and respiratory disease; long term unemployment; fuel poverty; and smoking prevalence.  Also presented were the risk factors contributing to deaths in the area, which were associated with lifestyle choices.

The presentation from Rebecca Clarke that followed reminded Members of the recent transfer of the Public Health function to the Council, including the services it was mandated to commission or provide.  In addition Members also considered the range of discretionary services provided.  The meeting heard how the Public Health Strategy 2016-18 had recently been approved and noted three areas of focus in the short term:-  improving the oral health of children; creating a smokefree generation; and increasing levels of physical activity.

It was noted that the budget for Public Health was approximately £16.7m per year across Barnsley, but was subject to in-year savings of around £1m.

Members considered some of the issues raised by the data presented, alongside the support in place to help address these.  It was noted that the data was the latest available, but may not reflect any recent changes which had taken place over the past 2-3 years.

The meeting went on to discuss how Central Area Council could add value to the work being delivered in order to try to improve delivery, and increase the impact of any intervention.

The Chair proposed arranging a workshop, with relevant officers and Members in attendance to further explore this issue.

RESOLVED that the Area Manager arranges a workshop between Members and relevant officers to discuss health issues, support already in place, and how Central Area Council can add value.

The Area Council Manager introduced the item, referring to the steps made to progress the three Check and Challenge exercises. 

With regards to the exercise with Neighbourhood Services, Members heard how officers had agreed to provide a commentary about service delivery over the past six months.   However, this had yet to be provided and therefore a workshop had yet to be organised.

Members expressed concern at the lack of response from the service, and the importance of this information in not only taking forward the Check and Challenge element of Central Area Council duties but also to ensure the contract with Twiggs did not duplicate work being undertaken by Neighbourhood Services.  It was agreed that the views of Members be relayed to the Cabinet Spokesperson for Place and the relevant Executive and Service Directors.

The Area Council Manager provided an update on the progress being made with regards to the Check and Challenge exercise with local schools.  This included discussion with the Principal at Horizon Community College who had agreed to participate.  A workshop session was expected to be held in mid March, with the outcome and any recommendations being discussed at the Area Council meeting on 9^th May, 2016.

The meeting went on to discuss the outcome of the exercise with the Targeted Youth Support Service, which had now been completed. Attention was drawn to the overview of the exercise which had been circulated, and the recommendations of the panel. The recommendations included repeating the exercise in September/October, 2016 when the service had been operational for a year.

RESOLVED:-

(i)        that the actions undertaken to progress the Check and Challenge exercise for Neighbourhood Services, and the update about the approach taken to progress the Check and Challenge of local schools be noted;

(ii)       that the Chair liaises with the Cabinet Spokesperson for Place with regards to concerns with the lack of progress in taking forward the Check and Challenge exercise with Neighbourhood Services, and that these concerns are also raised with the relevant Executive and Service Directors;

(iii)      that the outcome of the Check and Challenge exercise undertaken with the Targeted Youth Support Service be noted and the associated recommendations be approved.

The Area Council Manager introduced the item and provided an update with regards to the two procurement exercises currently being progressed on behalf of the Area Council.

With regards to the procurement of a service to ‘Create a Cleaner and Greener Environment in Partnership with Local People’ it was noted that the advert for submissions had been placed with a closing date of 29^th January, 2016.  The tender was expected to be awarded towards the end of February, 2016 with the contract commencing 21^st April, 2016.

Members then heard of progress in procuring the Environmental Enforcement Service.  It was noted that the closing date for the return of tenders had passed and two had been received.  Approval was expected to be given to a preferred contractor by 27^th January, 2016 in order for the contract to commence on 1^st April, 2016. 

Members sought assurances that the contract would not be awarded on price alone, but that a quality service was required.  The Area Manager confirmed that the specification of requirements and procurement strategy would help to ensure this.  Concern was expressed with regards to a Member representative not being included on the tender evaluation panel, noting the timescales involved and the practice of other Area Councils not to include Members on the Panels.  It was agreed that the Chair would formally raise this concern with relevant officers involved in procurement.

Members were reminded of previous discussion, where an indication was given that they would like to continue providing a home visiting and support service for families with young children, as currently provided by Homestart.  In order to do this it was suggested that the current contract with Homestart be extended until 31^st March, 2016 at a cost of £5,300 and that a procurement exercise is undertaken to commission a service from 1^st April, 2016 to 31^st March, 2017.

The Area Manager updated the meeting on the progress made in delivering a Youth Programme to improve the health and wellbeing of young people aged 13-19 years.  The Youth Programme Panel had met on 8^th December, 2015 and recommended three projects, which had subsequently been approved by the Executive Director Communities.  The meeting discussed the projects to be delivered and Members taking part in the Panel remarked how well the process had gone.

The meeting considered the unallocated finance remaining for 2016/17, of £126,372, which combined with expected levels of income from Fixed Penalty Notices resulted in a figure of £156,372 remaining for use in 2016/17.

Members wished to express their thanks to all the staff involved in the delivery of Central Area Council commissioned services, and it was agreed that a letter be sent to this effect.

RESOLVED:-

(i)        that the update on procurement of the Environment Enforcement Service, and the service to Create a Cleaner and Greener Environment in Partnership with Local People be noted;

(ii)       that the Chair formally raises the issue regarding Members desire to be involved on Tender Evaluation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Central – held on 28^th October, and 25^th November, 2015

Dodworth – held on 6^th October, and 17^th November, 2015

Kingstone – held on 14^th October, and 25^th November, 2015

Stairfoot – held on 14^th December, 2015

Worsbrough – held on 1^st October, and 12^th November, 2015

The meeting received the notes of the meetings of the Ward Alliances within the Central Area held in October, November and December, 2015

RESOLVED that the notes from the Ward Alliances be received.

The meeting received a report detailing expenditure from the Devolved Ward Budget and Ward Alliance Funds for the year to date.  It was acknowledged that expenditure was higher in some wards than others, noting that a number of applications had been approved since the papers had been circulated. 

Members were encouraged to accelerate project development where possible in order to allocate finance appropriately.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.