Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced the item providing an update on the current situation in relation to each of the priority areas previously agreed. With regards to the ‘Addressing Loneliness and Social Isolation in Adults and Older People’ priority, Members heard how research was currently underway in order to inform future commissions.  In mid January ‘Just Works’ had been appointed and to date a literature review had been undertaken, 28 community conversations conducted and an online survey launched.  A report featuring the results of the research would be completed to feed into a workshop to discuss this in more detail on 31^st March, 2020.  The outcome of the workship was scheduled to be discussed at the Area Council meeting in April.

An overview of all current contracts and associated timescales was then provided.  It was noted that the current Service Level Agreements (SLAs) concentrating on supporting new tenants in private sector rented accommodation, and that to assist the reduction in the flytipping of household waste were due to come to an end in November.  They would therefore be discussed by the Area Council in April or June.

Members noted that each of the projects funded through the Wellbeing Fund was likely to end in June or July.  The report circulated provided a brief overview of each, and suggested a course of action for each to consider moving forward. 

Members discussed Creative Recovery and noted that the project had been delayed, and that the second part of the project had yet to be delivered.  Members expressed concerns at the delays and lower than expected performance, and reassurances were given that performance had been monitored regularly by the Area Council Manager.  Members also noted that projects were paid in arrears for delivery, providing a safeguard should delivery not be forthcoming.

Exodus, TADS and The Youth Association would be invited to apply to the Youth Work Fund.  It was noted that opportunities for ELSH may be forthcoming from the research into social exclusion.

A suggestion was made that the DIAL service be delivered for 12 months at a cost of £30,000 with 1 session per week in each ward, and that the Hope House Connects project be supported from June 2020 to the end of July 2021 at a cost of £14,000.

Members noted the Youth Work Fund had been launched, which would allocate £60,000 of previously ring-fenced Area Council Finance.  The attention of Members was drawn to the application pack which had been circulated as an appendix to the report.  The closing date for applications was 27^th March, and an evaluation panel was set to meet on 23^rd April, with the outcome being able to be reported into the next Area Council meeting.

Members were reminded of the second element of support for young people 13+, which involved the establishment of a package of training and development assistance for volunteers.  Information sessions had been organised an the feedback from interested parties would be taken into account in the next stage of developing the proposal.  It was likely that the Area Council would receive details of this at their next meeting.

The Area Council Manager went on to provide an overview of the financial situation of the Area Council, and noted that to date £22,800 in income had been provided from Fixed Penalty Notices

RESOLVED:-

(i)            That the overview of Central Area Council’s current priorities and overview of all current contracts, contract extensions, Service Level Agreements, and Wellbeing Fund projects and associated timescales be noted;

(ii)          That  feedback about the development of the agreed priority areas from 1^st April, 2020, including the piece of research to be undertaken in relation to social isolation across the adult lifecourse, be noted;

(iii)         That approval be given for an advice service to delivered by DIAL for the period 1^st June, 2020 – 31^st May, 2021, with one session each week delivered in each Ward of the Central Area, at a cost of £30,000;

(iv)         That approval be given for the Hope House Connects service to be delivered for the period 1^st June, 2020-31^st July, 2021 at a cost of £14,000;

(v)          That the updates on work to take forward services to support young people aged 13+ be noted;

(vi)         That the financial position for 2019/20 and projected expenditure to 2022/23 be noted.