Agenda item

The Area Council Manager provided Members with a financial position and forecast for expenditure based on the projects that have been proposed in order to establish which of the existing financial commitments the North Area Council wish to continue to fund.  At the moment a surplus budget of £180,341 remains for 2017/18.

Key points included: 

Anti-Poverty Community Outreach Project:  Barnsley CAB successfully secured the contract and are looking at putting on a ‘twilight’ service, possibly in libraries.  An update will be provided at a later meeting.

Clean & Green – Twiggs Ground Maintenance Ltd has secured this contract, with a start date of 2^nd October.  A representative from Twiggs will attend Ward Alliance meetings over the next few months to build relationships.

Environmental Enforcement – Members expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the service, which they have agreed does not appear to offer value for money.  Nor has it achieved the behaviour change the Area Council had hoped when the service was originally commissioned.

Private Sector Housing Officer – this post has not been recruited to, despite being advertised twice.  The person specification will now be revised and advertised at a lower level to encourage more applications.

Opportunities for Young People – A decision was made at the meeting on 17^th July not to proceed with the Positive Progressions Project as it appears that there would be some duplication with the Sheffield City Region European Social Fund. 

Health and Wellbeing – At the moment no services are being commissioned focussing on this priority.

RESOLVED that:-

      I.        The North Area Council note the existing budget position and forecast for the funding commitments. 

    II.        The North Area Council note that contrary to previous information the North Area received a budget of £400,000 for the period 2017/18.

   III.        The Environmental Enforcement contract be terminated from April 2016. 

  IV.        Members note the procurement position of the Anti-Poverty and Clean and Green Tender.

   V.        Members note the position on the recruitment of the Private Sector Housing and Environment Officer

  VI.        Members note the current financial position.

 VII.        Members note that the current contracts exceed the annual budget.  Therefore changes must be made to enable variation in future commissioned services. 

VIII.        Members need to look at budget profiles in greater detail, as highlighted in the Commissioning Forward Plan report.