Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced this item and provided Members with a detailed update report regarding performance of the North East Area Council’s commissioned projects together with a summary performance management report and individual cases for each service.  Key points to note included:

·         The newly appointed Community Development Worker had started work with the Council and had settled in well

·         Thanks were extended to Barnsley Community Build who had repaired the vandalised roof of the Royston Bandstand at short notice four days before the Gala

·         Environmental and Enforcement commission

o   details of the number of fixed Penalty Notices was provided.  Officers continued to concentrate their patrols around intelligence led information from the tasking process and also from complaints on the street, from the community at large. 

o   There had been an increase in specific witness information in relation to the throwing of litter from vehicles

o   Prosecutions for littering and dog fouling were continuing and there was currently a 99% success rate at court, however, it was not possible to pursue all offenders who failed to pay due to court space allocated to Barnsley offenders and this was a growing problem.  It was pleasing to note that the FPN for littering had increased to £100 from April, 2018

o   In response to specific questioning, the Area Council Manager stated that if ‘hot spots’ were identified these areas would be targeted and Case Study 1 gave details of one such initiative.  Such initiatives often acted as a deterrent and prevented a recurrence of the problems identified leading to a behaviour change in the area targeted

o   Walkabouts were continuing to be successful

o   Juvenile ‘Litter Picking days’ had been undertaken and the Community Litter pick on the 21^st July at Acorn Park, Grimethorpe had been attended by 24 juveniles

·         Stop Smoking Initiative

o   The Initiative had been launched on the 16^th July, 2018 and weekly sessions were being held at various venues around the area

o   Numbers attending were continuing to increase and Sarah Sverdloff was becoming known within the community and feedback was extremely positive

o   The funding was for one year only and, therefore, the initiative was being monitored carefully

o   Posters advertising the service were to be distributed

·         Case Studies – gave details of the Environmental Enforcement, Royston Canal Club, Dominic Jones and Work Experience, Interschool Crown Green Bowling and Private Sector Housing

o   It was pleasing to note that the Royston Canal Club had funding for the purchase of a new boat

o   Dominic Jones had been chosen to be the South Yorkshire Scout representative in America at the South Yorkshire World Scout Jamboree.  This was a tremendous achievement and Dominic was raising funds to help pay for the trip.  He had also been selected onto the National Youth Select Committee 2018 that would investigate the issue of work experience nationally.  He was one of only 11 members to get seats on the committee for his role as a Member of the Youth Parliament and had spoken positively about his experience in Barnsley

o   The Interschool Crown Green Bowling Club had been a tremendous success.  The work undertaken by Gemma Conway with schools, the organisation of the gala, visits to the canal and the introduction of children to fishing was particularly noted

o   Members were pleased to note the work undertaken with private landlords which was now encouraging greater two way dialogue between landlord and tenant

RESOLVED that the update report be noted.