Agenda item

Including flytipping proposal, and family support intervention update

The item was introduced by the Area Council Manager, who referred to the previous item. Members were asked to consider the priorities of the Area Council, and whether these remained valid in light of additional data and local intelligence.   Members confirmed that the existing priorities would remain for 2018/19.

In relation to issues of loneliness in men, recent feedback from My Best Life had suggested that this had been identified as an emerging issue. A suggestion was made to invite My Best Life to a future meeting of the Area Council to discuss this and other emerging issues in more detail.

Members discussed other issues within the area, including issues with cohesion, and residents being less tolerant.   It was noted that the Area Council had recently agreed a Service Level Agreement (SLA), which would support new tenants and hopefully assist with this issue.  In addition a suggestion was made to undertake an exercise with Berneslai Homes, the scope of which could consider issues such as these.

The Area Council Manager provided an update in relation to the SLA to support new tenants, and shift allowance had now been removed from the post, which would reduce the cost correspondingly.  The post had been advertised with a closing date of 25^th May for applications.

Members questioned whether this would duplicate existing work, but assurances were given that detailed discussions had taken place with services already in operation to ensure that work was complementary.  

The attention of Members was then drawn to appendix 2, and the outcome of work undertake by the Central Area Fly-tipping working group, and subsequent discussions with the Safer Neighbourhood Services and Neighbourhood Services in order to address the issue of household fly-tipping in the area.   A proposal was submitted to create a service to focus on the enforcement of household fly tipping, and education at an individual and neighbourhood level.  This would focus on ‘hot spot’ areas and be overseen by a steering group comprising of Central Area Council Members, and representatives from the Central Area Team, Safer Neighbourhood Service, and Neighbourhood Services.

Issues such as the under-reporting of fly tipping were discussed.  It was suggested that further development of reporting mechanisms and the areas to be targeted could be undertaken through a workshop, and brought back to a future meeting of the Area Council.

In relation to the family support priority, the Area Council Manager referred to discussions with the Family Centre staff, Public Health Specialist Midwife and the Healthy Child Programme Lead.  Here the issue of low level mental health, or emotional wellbeing, of new parents had been highlighted.  It was suggested that this could significantly impact on effective parenting, and the individuals concerned were unlikely to engage with work happening in Family Centres or be involved with a family support worker. 

It was suggested that this would build on the work of the service provided by Homestart, and that early intervention in this area could lead to better outcomes for the family, and could avoid more costly and more intensive intervention later on.

The attention of Members was drawn to the financial position of the Area Council.  A remaining balance of £126,619 had been carried forward into 2018/19 to give a total opening balance of £626,919.  Of this £469,393 had been committed with £157,225 to allocate.  However a number of areas of expenditure were anticipated, and should these come to fruition then £84,825 would remain.

RESOLVED:-

(i)            That the current priorities and underlying principles for Central Area Council be confirmed for 2018/19;

(ii)          That My Best Life be invited to a future meeting of the Area Council to provide an update on their work to date in the area and to highlight any emerging issues or challenges;

(iii)         That the update on all current contracts, contract extensions and associated timescales, including the revised costings for the Service Level Agreement to provide a service focused on new tenants in the low cost private rented sector, be noted;

(iv)         That the proposal to develop a new Targeted Household Fly-tipping Enforcement and Education Service Level Agreement, with an indicative cost of £64,000 over two years be supported, subject to further development with Members, with a workshop to be convened to finalise details;

(v)          That the proposal to provide a home based and community follow-on peri-natal intervention to support emotional wellbeing be supported, and a working group be convened to develop a service specification and procurement strategy for this service;

(vi)         That the financial position for 2017/8 and the projected expenditure for 2018/19-2020/21 be noted.