Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced the item and reminded Members of the previous agreement to extend the length of the contract with District Enforcement.  It was noted that this had been actioned and that work had been ongoing with Ward Alliances and Members in order to identify any areas of concern, in order to target operations.

It was noted that the Warren Quarry Lane/Highstone Road and Birk Avenue areas had recently been the focus of patrols. As a result, 20 Fixed Penalty Notices had been issued.

Members discussed the service provided by District Enforcement, which had been amended due to Covid-19, and questions were raised in relation to when normal service would resume.  It was suggested that they be invited to a future meeting to discuss this.

Members heard how the contract with Twiggs Grounds Maintenance had also been extended and that external funding had also been identified in order to launch a Tool Bank in the area.  Sanitised tools can be delivered to volunteers and training given in a Covid safe way in order for volunteers to undertake clean and green tasks in their area.  The service had been very successfully received.

Questions were raised regarding the removal of litter collected by volunteers, and it was suggested that Twiggs would be able to assist, with contacts to be provided to Members.

With regards to the service provided by Family Lives, contract meetings had been held and discussions taken place around how to best support the service in order to improve performance.  As a result, the eligibility criteria had been relaxed to include those with children up to age three, fathers, and kinship carers.

Members noted that Creative Recovery were unable to complete the delivery of their project and therefore it had been put on hold, however plans were being made to resume once restrictions had been lifted.

Attention was drawn to the performance of the Healthy Holidays initiative, which the Area Team and Ward Alliance had been delivering over the past three years.   Members noted the recent changes due to restrictions, which included a focus on those suffering financial hardship due to Covid 19, and a focus on providing children and young people with two healthy meals a day.

It was noted that the initiative had grown from supporting 79 families during the summer holidays to supporting 176 over the Christmas holidays.

Praise was given for all the officers and volunteers involved in the initiative.  Members discussed the similar provision being provided centrally, noting that this focused on those eligible for free school meals, and that local provision could complement this, supporting those in financial difficulty but not eligible for free school meals.  It was suggested that officers be invited to a briefing with Members or a future meeting to discuss their strategy.

RESOLVED:-

(i)           That the report be noted;

(ii)          That District Enforcement be invited to a future meeting to discuss the service in light of changing Covid-19 restrictions;

(iii)            That officers in Public Health be invited to a Member briefing or a future meeting to discuss centrally provided healthy meals provision in school holidays.