Agenda item

The meeting received the minutes from the previous meeting of Central Area Council held on 9^th May, 2016.

The Chair gave thanks to Councillor Williams for acting as Chair at the previous meeting.

With regards to the reporting of intelligence for enforcement action, the Area Council Manager updated Members on the work undertaken to improve the reporting pathway, ensuring that calls from Members, and from the general public were directed to the appropriate department.

With reference to RVS and the lack of referrals from GPs, Councillor W Johnson made the meeting aware that he had recently chaired a Scrutiny meeting with the Clinical Commissioning Group, and had the opportunity to highlight this issue.  It was noted that that representatives from the Clinical Commissioning Group would investigate this further.

It was noted that Councillor Williams unfortunately could not attend the Youth Programme Coordinators meeting, but had been provided with a written update.  It was agreed to circulate this to all Members of the Area Council.  Members noted that the Summer Programme was currently being updated and would be circulated when available.

Councillor Bruff raised concerns with the delivery of the Youth Programme, reminding Members that outreach provision had been specified as part of the programme, but it was perceived that much of that being delivered was based in community centres.  It was suggested that effective outreach provision could assist in adverting issues, such as that recently seen in the Hoyle Mill area.

In relation to the RVS contract, it was agreed that the Area Council Manager raises the issue of steering group meetings being reconvened as part of the RVS at the next contract monitoring meeting.

Members expressed concern at minute 43, Neighbourhood Services Question and Answer session.  The meeting felt that the minute did not adequately express their frustrations with the service, which related to an historic lack of response, and an inability to provide performance information.

It was also noted that some Members had yet to receive service schedules and associated maps, and it was agreed to remedy this.

The Chair made Members aware of recent discussions with the Executive Director Place (Matt Gladstone) regarding the provision of performance information relating to Neighbourhood Services, as part of the recent Check and Challenge Exercise.  The service had a number of performance measures, such as fly tipping, which were reported as part of the Corporate Plan.  However data relating to the delivery of service standards was not currently collected.  The outcome of the discussion was that the service would reconsider their service standards and the performance information it collected, and would report back to the Area Council in six months on progress in relation to the Check and Challenge exercise.

Members noted that there were positive examples of the work of Neighbourhood Services, most recently around the Broadway area of town, and those present recognised the impact of financial reductions on provision.  However, the importance of providing performance information and accurate schedules of work was stressed, this would help to ensure the contracted services of the Area Council did not duplicate existing provision.

RESOLVED that, subject to relevant amendments to minute number 43 to adequately reflect the discussion, the minutes of the Central Area Council held on 9^th May, 2016 be approved as a true and correct record.