Agenda item

The Area Council Manager spoke to the report, referring Members to previous discussions which had taken place at the workshop on 28^th February, 2019.

Here it had been proposed that a South Health and Wellbeing Fund be established, which would have an allocation of £35,000 comprised of £25,000 from Public Health and £10,000 from the Area Council.  A number of appendices had been circulated which provided guidance and application forms for the grant, which would provide from £2,500 to £5,000 to promote health and wellbeing.  Reassurance was given that coverage across the South Area would be ensured in the approval of grants.  It was suggested that the fund, if approved, be launched in May, with an assessment panel being convened in June, and any further panels only being convened if funds remained unallocated.

Members discussed the proposal, including the composition of the assessment panel.  A suggestion was made that the Chair attends on behalf of the Area Council.  With reference to the guidance and application form, Members requested that these be kept as simple and as transparent as possible to encourage applications.

The workshop had also considered the issue of holiday hunger and how to address this in the South Area.  A suggestion had been made to make £10,000 of funding available (£2,500 per ward) with this being distributed through existing Ward Alliance Fund mechanisms, with any underspend returned to the Area Council.  It was noted that this could be utilised in any School Holidays.

Members were reminded of previous discussions related to reducing social isolation and the suggestion of commissioning a service to address this issue.  It was noted that discussions were taking place at a strategic level between the Clinical Commissioning Group and the Council regarding this issue, but these were likely to take some time to conclude.  Taking account of this, Members were minded to commission a service initially for a year, with the option to extend the service further, or to give notice should there be a similar service commissioned centrally.

Members discussed the use of income from Fixed Penalty Notices.  Previously the Area Council had discussed providing finance for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in the Wombwell Ward, but this had been deferred pending further information.  Members discussed the provision of TROs, noting the impact of austerity on their provision, with a system of ‘worst first’; used to prioritise their provision.  Noted were the delays in the implementation of TROs that had previously been funded.  It was suggested that further information be sought on the timescales for implementation.  Members received confirmation that if finance was allocated, work would only be paid for on their completion.

RESOLVED:-

(i)            That approval be given to establish a ‘South Health and Wellbeing  Fund’ using £10,000 from South Area Council Budget and £25,000 from Public Health;

(ii)          That the documentation related to the process, guidance and evaluation criteria associated with the ‘South Health and Wellbeing Fund’, as appended to the report circulated, be approved, subject to these being simplified wherever possible;

(iii)         That the Chair act as South Area Council representative on the ‘South Health and Wellbeing Fund’  evaluation panel;

(iv)         That the Executive Director, Communities be authorised to approve South Health and Wellbeing Funds, in line with guidance and following consultation with the evaluation panel, ensuring coverage across the area;

(v)          That £2,500 per ward be devolved to each Ward Alliance Fund for South Healthy Holidays, to be approved through existing mechanisms and in line with guidance appended to the report;

(vi)         That £60,000 per annum be approved to commission a service to reduce Social Isolation in the South Area, for an initial period of one year with the potential to extend for a further year subject to continued need, performance and funding being available;

(vii)       That the Executive Director, Communities be authorised to approve relevant tender documentation for the service to reduce Social Isolation, following consultation with Members of South Area Council;

(viii)      That up to £6,500 of income from the Environmental Enforcement contract be approved to commission work to revise the existing Traffic Regulation Order at Blythe Street, Wombwell, and that discussions take place with relevant officers regarding timescales associated with the delivery of this and other Traffic Regulation Orders within the area.