Jargon Buster
BWCF Borough Wide Churches Forum
CC Community Connections
GYVSP Great Yarmouth Voluntary Sector Partnership
CG Community Grants
CDW Community Development Worker
DCLG Department for Community and Local Government
GYST Great Yarmouth Support Team
CP Community Partnership
GO-East Government Office – East of England
GYBC Great Yarmouth Borough Council
GYIA Great Yarmouth International Association
GYLC Great Yarmouth Learning Community
GYLSP Great Yarmouth Local Strategic Partnership
GYP Great Yarmouth People
GYPSG Great Yarmouth People Steering Group
LAA Local Area Agreement
LSP Local Strategic Partnership
NCC Norfolk County Council
NM Neighbourhood Management
NRF Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
SCS Sustainable Communities Strategy
SSCF Safer and Stronger Community Fund
WNF Working Neighbourhoods Fund
NM Neighbourhood Management
NRF Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
SSCF Safer and Stronger Communities Fund
VSP Voluntary Sector Partnership
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1. Welcomes and Introductions:
Adrian Barnes welcomed us all to the meeting, introduced ourselves around the table.
Attendance: Adrian Barnes (Chair-BWCF), Mike Hewitt (North Yarmouth Rep), Peter Paine (Port Chaplain), Trish Aydin (CC), Margareth Howard (Yareside Rep), David Wilkinson (SY Rep), Stephanie Vincent (Gorleston Central Rep), Pan Cranston (GYVC), Peter Kirkpatrick (Rural 2nd Rep), Alan Ellison (Mag Rep), Linda Brewer (NCC), Julia Dyson (GYIA),
Margaret Ward (Waterside Rep), Brian McDonnell (OPN), Paul Cheeseman (GYVSP), Nick Davey (CY Rep) John Drinkill (CC Finance), Tracey Souter (CC Admin)
2. Apologies:
Apologies from Diana Baxter (GFS Platform), Jackie Hughes (Children and Families Rep), Judith Edmonds (BWCF), Tim Leonard (LSP Officer), Wendy Long (Rural 1st Rep), Lindsey Seward (Disability Forum), Phil Nathan (1st East)
3. Minutes of last meeting:
Checked through the minutes, no corrections needed.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Action Plan:
Action Plan Final sent to LSP. Peter Paine and Linda Brewer are to be sent copy of Action Plan. Action Tracey
4.2 GYP/LSP Event:
GYP/LSP event 2008 is being held on 15th March at Marina Centre. Elvira Schmidt will be replacing Julie Woods on the Event Co-Ordination Team. This meeting will be Elvira’s first meeting since coming into post early January. Action plan to be covered thoroughly and revised.
No Report as yet, more details to follow at next GYP Meeting.
Stephanie offered to help with refreshments at the event.
Suggested that we look at our awards, as they are similar to Mayors Awards which are happening in March, without compromising our plan as was already discussed prior to Mayors award and important for acknowledgment.
Trish commented that as event is also planned to address Community Cohesion and integration that we should be inviting Tony Wright and Barry Coleman to attend and present to show their support to the community. Action: Trish
4.3 Employment Plan:
Employment Plan Update from Tim Leonard, Tim was absent from this meeting.
4.4 Representation across GYP and LSP.
Trish had no updates to date, no changes to report. No significant changes on the Community Representation.
Linda Brewer new to SG, Representing People with Learning Disabilities, Peter Paine (Port Chaplain) also new to GYP SG.
(Membership form to be sent).
Ask members to ensure that the group they represent have submitted a membership form. CDW’s and other partners are to chase up any outstanding GYP Membership forms.
4.5 GYP Training:
Training forms were handed out at the last meeting, regarding any training requests you may have. Pam Cranston and Peter Paine filled in the Training needs form at the meeting which is to be passed to Christine Chalmers. It is requested that you please fill out forms even if you have no training needs. Chrissie is waiting on last minute returns of forms. Once it has been identified what sort of training is needed, details will follow. Trish thinks this training will be delivered sometime in March.
5. Working Neighbourhood Funds
It was discussed at LSP Exec meeting, to see if there could be more flexibility in how the funds were distributed, as they don’t yet have a process of how they administer the funds. Any money not used by the end of the three year will be lost. Want to see the funding more evenly spread across the borough. Any Feedback or suggestions to be submitted to Trish as soon as possible in order for her to input this in the GYP report to the next LSP Exec meeting.
Margareth Howard asked if the funding is Borough wide. This was confirmed and that the Working Neighbourhood Fund is mainly focused on Learning, Skills, Employment and Social Enterprise.
Margaret Ward raise the point that any allocation of funds should also include those areas not classified as deprived. Concerns were also raised about representation on the group to discuss this fund. It was explained that Sub group from Employment and Skills Working group tasked to explore administration of funds to be reported back to LSP Executive.
6. Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement Targets.
There are 198 national targets, from which 35 targets were identified and agreed at LSP Exec Meeting,
7. Sustaining GYP
Trish is having ongoing discussion with LSP and other partners regarding funding to sustain GYP SG. We have funding to continue till 31st March 2008. Need to look at how to sustain the group until any new funding becomes available. Brian McDonnell suggested that Trish, Paul and Adrian meet with Barry Coleman to discuss sustainability of GYP.
Trish is meeting with Richard Packham regarding funding or the implications for the group and LSP partnership if there is a lack of funding.
Need to show how LSP have benefited from the partnerships. Will keep group updated. Action: Trish.
John Drinkill mentioned that the allocated funding can sustain the group until 31st March, however, the group will not just cease to exist, Community Connections will look at any possible contingency plans to support the continuation of GYP steering group for a further two months post March if necessary but running at a limited capacity, i.e.; no small grants, no expenses being paid etc.
8. Finance
John has nothing to report and next quarterly report will be issued at the next meeting. John requests that any Expense claim forms are returned as soon as possible for him to process.
John explained that expenses are paid to people representing a community group anyone attending the meetings during their normal work time is entitled to claim travel costs and can claim a donation to the organisation that they are representing. Claim forms are available from John Drinkill. Expenses are paid to the individual and a donation is paid to the organisation.
9. Great Yarmouth Support Team- GYST
No report as there was no December meeting (Judith absent from meeting)
10. Reports from all networks;
Pam – reports that Norwich and Norfolk Voluntary Services is hosting a “V Team” for youth groups in Great Yarmouth. Please see Pam’s report which is attached.
Annie Sadler has left and at present there is no co-ordinator for GYVC, but recruitment is in progress.
New leaflet for the Disability Forum which was distributed at the meeting,
David Wilkinson has secured the Town Hall for the Disability Forum Meeting.
Brian McDonnell reports of the Older Peoples Network fun day at Priory last week which was a great success. Reported on the publicity regarding “Self Defence with a Walking stick”, CNN was there filming demonstration which is fantastic publicity for Yarmouth Community Groups.
Peter reports of a Housing forum, inviting councillors and tenants to come along to these meetings. 1st Meeting will be in Gorleston after Easter, There will be 3 in Gorleston, and 3 in Caister. Invites tenants to come along and have an input on their neighbourhood and community. These meetings were designed to give tenants the opportunity to have their say without being directly involved with a tenants group bringing council officers (building and maintenance) to these meetings to meet the tenants.
Paul reports on the VSP Conference that is on the 6th February, called “The Third Sector, Helping to Build Great Yarmouth’s Future” All information regarding the conference will be emailed to all members. Requests that any members present at the meeting to leave their name and contact details with Paul if they want to attend the conference.
The development of GYP Website is in progress. Adrian commented on usefulness of the weekly updates on BWCF website that could be considered for GYP website.
Peter has requested that maybe there can be a link on the GYP website to the new BWCF’s Site.
Peter mentioned BWCF Website; this site aims to provide information on the outer harbour, possible job opportunities.
11. Communication;
GYP Website update at next meeting. Gill Woodard has taken over the website, contacts etc to be available on the site. Progress report from Gill will be presented at the next meeting. GYP website could be launched and promoted at the event in March.
12. Reports
12.1 Social Forum had not met since last GYP SG.
12.2 Environmental Forum to meet on 4th March 2008
12.3 Economic Forum to meet on the 13th March 2008
12.4 Learning Forum (No report as yet, Lindsey not present at meeting)
12.5 LSP Board (Mike to send report)
12.6 LSP Executive Report issued and circulated at meeting, report also attached.
12.7 1st East Phil not present at the meeting, Email received after meeting.
1st East: Little activity since our last meeting due to holiday season. There will be some further consultation which relates to the 1st East Area Action Plan for Great Yarmouth through further consultation by GYBC which will happen in April. The details of this are not clear yet however I will update you as soon as possible. Next meeting of GYP will have on the agenda a slot of 20 minutes for you all to come back to myself and Mark Bayley with ideas from your groups and organisations on how the Community Forum for 1st East can work better for all. Please see the last report and minute’s form last meeting to refresh the plan. Mark Bayley and I are booked in our diaries for next month.
12.8 Partnership for Health (Brian) to meet 24th January
12.9 Runham Vauxhall Fair Share to meet 16th January
13. Any Other Business
Congratulations to Sue Brady (Rural CDW) on the Rural Village Life Magazine, Proving to be very popular with older people in rural locations. Rural Clip has had fantastic feedback on the transport section; Trish acknowledged Tony Rozier work on transport issues and Brian also praised the work Tony has been doing and commended him on his transport information within the magazine.
Peter K asks if the allocated funding for the community transport project could be rolled over to next year. Only half of the allocated money had been spent. Initially a one years project, but could use funding to sustain for next year. John D explained that this would be subject to LSP approval that Trish will be addressing.
End of Meeting 11.50am
(Great Yarmouth)
REPORT BACK TO GYP FROM LSP EXECUTIVE
14th December 2007
Community Safety Team – Carol Congrieve reported that current restructuring regarding Community Safety Team will see one Norfolk wide operational unit, sub-divided into 7 districts each being led by a Superintendent. These units will support Safer Neighbourhood Teams
Funding has come into borough from East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and also monies into LEGI paid directly to Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
Sustainable Community Strategy
Great Yarmouth to identify national and local indicators to be fed into LAA that will be a performance framework to be agreed on a County basis with Government Office by June 2008.
There will be 35 indicators selected from 198 defined by Department of Community and Local Government.
Agreed set of local indicators, reflecting local needs
Second Homes Council Tax - Report of principle advisor (Housing Options) requested and granted time to spend grant of £57,000 extended beyond 31st October 2007.
Neighbourhood Renewal Funding – Opportunities Week funding of £50,000 approved.
Working Neighbourhood Fund - £7.1million given to Great Yarmouth for the whole of the borough targeting areas of worklessness, skills and enterprise.
Arrangements for administering the fund to be reported to next meeting. In the mean time LSP Officer with partners of Employment and Skills Sub-group including rep from Partnership for Health is asked to discuss and recommend arrangements to manage fund.
Great Yarmouth Runham Vauxhall Fair Share Area – boundary agreed to be extended to parts of Central Yarmouth not covered by Neighbourhood management as concerns that it might be unlike that the monies allocated for Runham and Vauxhall would be spent as small area.
David Glason expressed concerns from residents regarding this arrangement. It was clarified that Runham and Vauxhall would be given priority for any expenditure.
Great Yarmouth people and Community Partnerships – Trish Aydin raised matters of concerns to be considered regarding the sustainable funding for GYP and asked that the LSP partnership look favourably on ensuring this partnership was given access to funding.
That Newtown Youth Centre had been burgled and to remind the LSP Executive that at an earlier meeting it was suggested that this group could put in to any underspend there may be form NRF to support security measures.
That the Transport Development Coordinator report on the finding of the pilot project the rural partnership is undertaking will be available to LSP January meeting where consideration will be asked to be given to findings of report and any funding required extending this project beyond March 2008.
Community Empowerment, Engagement and Involvement needs to be kept on agenda and
Trish invite partners to discuss the way forward as it would appear that there are a lack of true partnership and an observed trend that appear not to be supporting the infra-structures that are already built in Great Yarmouth e.g. via Community Connections and Great Yarmouth People Partnership.
Concerns about possible hidden agenda and lack of true meaning of partnership working.
Decisions and process that looks aimed to exclude and the potential danger of this for what has already been built up in community e.g. Community Partnerships in Great Yarmouth that has benefited the borough to date.
Street Scene Assessment – Supportive presentation by Mark Smith.
Gt. Yarmouth LSP Board Meeting Report
Report to GYP 10th Jan. of board meeting held 7th Jan. 2008
Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS)
Tim & David reported on the SCS. The latest Questionnaire was issued, with question on Economy, Environment, Health and Cohesive Community.
The Presentation of the new SCS will take place at the LSP/GYP meeting on March 15th at the Marina Centre .
Norfolk Citizens Panel - latest questionnaire.
David reported on the latest results, of which 450 of the 1000 members responded.
Indicators
Tim gave a presentation, after which additional discussion took place as to the final set of indicators which would be used.
GYP/CP Reports
Trish reported on: LSP/GYP event, help required from LSP not just financial assistance. Indicators, awaiting feedback which will be passed to Tim/David. Action Plan, it has now been approved.
Paul reported on: VSP Conference, this takes place on 6th February.
Working Neighbourhood Fund
Tim reported that the WNF is a 3 year fund for the whole borough, but will be aimed at deprived areas.
Use will be made of The Employment & Skills Working Group, plus a small number of additional members to give a balanced and cross sector view.
Reports
We also received a number of reports from:
Employment & Skills Action Plan.
LEGI
NRB
Economic Forum
Date of next meeting 14th April 2008
Mike Hewitt
GYP - Community Member
(Great Yarmouth)
REPORT BACK TO GYP FROM LSP EXECUTIVE
16th November 2007
Children and Young People - joint meeting of the LSP and Children and Young People’s Board was followed by a proposed Action Plan with five areas identified to focus on; [1] attendance, [2] celebrating success, [3] early years take-up, [4] advice and guidance, [5] raising aspirations. These were agreed.
Consultation on Mental health and Older People – presentation from Linda Offord, Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT on consultation documents which proposed changes to Older people’s mental Health Services. Aim of change to move towards modernising older peoples services to aim for excellence across the coast. Consultation period extended to 14th Jan. Mental health strategy to be produced, go out for consultation then action plan to be drawn up. Linda said need to educate GP on alternatives to writing prescriptions. Need to engage employers as second biggest factor of absenteeism from work is mental distress. Pilot scheme to engage employers taking place in Waveney.
Neighbourhood Renewal Funding –
Agreed to hold a Great Yarmouth Opportunities Week in March. This is budgeted at £50,000.
Some monies that were underspend was returned to housing action group.
Two bid received following a mini bidding round from Excellence cluster and Norfolk Family Learning.
Expression of interest for funding received from Williamson’s lookout, the DIRT Team and to fit out Bretts Building ( A new NRF capital project) supported by Neighbourhood Management Board as reduction in Not in Employment, Education or Training was one of LSP targets. Agreed in principle if further underspend become available.
Agreed that partners informed their contacts that capital funding might be available if there was any further underspend.
Possibly implication of Government Spending Review and Local Area Agreement (LAA) in relation to NRF. Due for further discussion.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Great Yarmouth need to identify national indicators relevant to them to be included in LAA.
Working Age Benefits Claimants by Lower Super Output Areas – indices of deprivation table identified definite pockets of deprivation and in some areas clear that mental health was the main problem for those on incapacity benefit.
Future of Community Safety Team in Great Yarmouth – possible relocation of Community safety team to Whymondham following the need for constabulary to identify savings. Safer Neighbourhood Team would be retained.
Employment and Skills Action Plan – Investor in Community request to agree funding for Flegg High School to do feasibility study into the building of a small business incubator was agreed.
Neighbourhood management – agreed that they continue to deliver through pooled LAA funds from 2006 – 2010.
GYP/Community – reminded partners of event on 15th march at marina centre. Sub-regional housing network being developed, Norfolk Voluntary Services new website to be available shortly
Report from Pam Cranston (GYVC)
V Team “Good News for Young People In Great Yarmouth”
Over the last year NVS (Norwich and Norfolk Voluntary Services) has been hosting a V team on behalf of the Norfolk Youth Volunteer Consortium*. The V team is funded by V *(Vinvolve) .
The V team consists of a Youth Volunteer Adviser and Youth Volunteer Development Manager. The role of the V team is to engage more young people (16 – 25 years) to volunteer and to create more new and interesting volunteer opportunities for young people. The core values of this project is that it is youth led and therefore one of the V team’s objectives is to set up a Youth Action Team. This team of young people will provide guidance and be involved in steering the direction of the work of Norwich V team. They will also act as ambassadors for youth volunteering and help other young people set up volunteering projects in their local communities.
The Youth Volunteer Adviser currently works with engaging young people into voluntary activity. She has also focussed on trying to engage young people who may face physical or social barriers to participation and been working with organisations/agencies to see how to address some of these.
The Youth Volunteer Development Manager is focussed on developing new opportunities for young people. His remit is to work with and support voluntary organisations to provide opportunities for young people and to try and create more opportunities that young people have identified they would be interested in.
To date the Norwich V team have held some successful fundraising events. A sponsored abseil for Benjamin Foundation; 3 Oxjam events (these have been extremely successful for recruitment and Publicity); reggae night to fundraise for SCOPE (this was youth led). Another exciting youth led project is a group of young volunteers are coming together to form a Norfolk Youth Disability Forum. We have also a group of media volunteers that have written some fantastic articles and done some great graphic design for fliers, posters etc.
In June 2007 we were invited by V to bid for funding to host a Norfolk wide V team which would lead to three new posts being created. The good news is we have been successful and we hope to have the countywide team in place by March time. This will be a three year project. The GOOD NEWS for GREAT YARMOUTH is that we intend to have a Youth Volunteer Development Manager based at the Great Yarmouth Volunteer Centre. They will be covering East and North Norfolk. The YVA will be countywide and is currently recruiting for a countywide Youth Action Team and would love some young people from the Great Yarmouth area; please find attached a flier to tell you more about this and note closing date is 31st January, 2008.
This is exciting news for the young people of Great Yarmouth as Norfolk V team aim to create lots of new and interesting volunteering opportunities and they also want to engage them in setting up their own voluntary projects within their local communities. The Norfolk V team are also developing accreditation for young volunteers which will help their personal development and recognise the positive contribution they make.
I would be grateful if you could promote the Youth Action Team opportunity to any young people you have contact with as we would love some representation in the Great Yarmouth Area. Also, if you are interested in finding out more or how your group/organisation could work with Norfolk V then please give me a call on 01603 883825.
* Norfolk Youth Volunteer Consortium – this is a group of organisations that work with young people, specialists of volunteering and groups actively interested in engaging young volunteers. It includes NVS, Millennium Volunteers, BTCV, Connexions, Norfolk Council of Voluntary Youth Services, Norfolk Youth Services, West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action, Norfolk Constabulary and Active Norfolk. The Consortium has created a Norfolk Youth Volunteer Strategy which can be found on
www.nvs.org.uk.
* V (Vinvolve) – This is a commissioning organisation set up to deliver the outcomes from the Russell Commission* consultation and allocate government funding to deliver this. They have a governing body called V20 that consists of 20 young people. For more information there web address is
www.wearev.com
* Russell Commission – Headed by Ian Russell this was a comprehensive consultation process across England to look at Youth Volunteering with young people, voluntary organisations and organisations that work with young people. This resulted in a report of a number of recommendations to take forward the youth volunteering agenda. A copy of the Russell Commission report can be found on:
http://archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/russellcommission/report/index.html
