Agenda item

Update on the delivery of commissioned projects.

The North East Area Council Manager introduced this item, highlighting progress in regard to the delivery of a number of projects aligned to the agreed outcomes and social value objectives of the North East Area Council.

Members considered a summary performance management report for each service commissioned to provide services in the North East Area Council area, together with detailed case studies outlining the valuable work taking place which also contributes to these objectives.

Specific items to note included the Social Isolation and Dementia Project; the work of the Private Sector Housing and Enforcement Officer; District Enforcement (including car parking, litter and dog fouling) and reparation litter picking work which had been done in conjunction with 15 young people, 7 of whom were from the North East Area.  The Councillors were asked to feed back to the Area Manager any problems with regard to private landlord rented properties and vulnerable tenants in their local communities.    

The North East area team has been involved in planting 7,000 daffodils bulbs at Cudworth park, encouraging volunteers, community groups, businesses, individual and familiesto brighten up the park in time for spring 2020, also supported by Henry Boot.

The North East Ward Alliance helped low-income families cope with the extra costs of feeding children over the six-week school break through the ‘Fit and Fed’ family based project, providing open spaces around the holidays for children and families to come together to play, learn new skills, and share a meal together.

During the festive period a number of community Christmas events across the North East Area were supported with the aim of addressing social isolation by bringing people out of their homes and interacting with others.  Examples of these projects include celebrating local village Christmas trees switch on events, the installation of Christmas lights on the High Street and other key focal points, pantomimes and intergenerational Christmas Carol Concerts with the school choirs.

In November 44 homes in Lundwood around the Lang Avenue area were flooded, causing loss, damage and distress to residents and their properties, with some residents rehomed due to the damage caused.  The Ward Alliance created crisis hampers made up of all the essential items a family would need to live on, to help them through the flooding period and alleviate some of the financial pressures during this difficult time.  A Christmas party was also held  at Burton Grange Community Centre for the flood victims. The party was designed to bring the community together after the difficult time, allow them to socialise and get back to sense of normality. It was also an opportunity to say thank you to all those that had volunteered and helped out during that time.

RESOLVED that:

(i)            The update be noted

(ii)          That the Area Team be thanked for their hard work, and

(iii)         Members let the Area Manager know about any problem with private landlord properties and vulnerable tenants and families in their areas.