Agenda and minutes

Cllr Haeberling opened the meeting and asked each member to provide an introduction. The apologies that are list were provided.

Cllr Haeberling opened the meeting and asked each member to provide an introduction. Apologies received were given.

There were no declarations of interest.

The detailed note of the meeting held on 8^th June 2010 was agreed as a correct record. Angela Gascoigne provided an update on the joining up of work on tenant and customer profiling work underway by Somer Community Housing and the Council. It was stated that this work is well underway.

There were no additions to the Forward Plan.

• Desired outcomes: LSP Board (1) Outline the key issues identified in their template for their organisation / sector (2) Understand the opportunities & threats for the LSP posed by the changing financial and political landscape, (3) Consider the presentation attached at Appendix 2 and give their views on the questions set out in the final slide.

David Trethewey introduced the agenda item. The first section of the agenda item focused on establishing what the financial changes mean to the area and putting these changes in to a national context. Information is currently being gathered by partner organisations and all of the details will not be known for several months. The Partnership Position Statement: Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership (Appendix 1 of the report) is seen as the first step to establishing the details in a local and national context. This work will be further developed and will be reviewed at the next LSP Board meeting on 14^th December.

A request was made that the Partnership Position Statement: Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership can be circulated to the groups and networks that Board members represent. It was also requested that the Partnership Position Statement:  Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership closely aligns with the Sustainable Community Strategy. The summary also needs to be clearer about the Council and PCT integration and any changes that will happen in the current financial climate.

The second part of the agenda item focused on the future of LSPs and what they will look like in the future. The Government’s position is clear that it will be up to local areas to decide what is best for them. It was again emphasised that there are many gaps in information and it was recommended that this issue should be included at the next Board meeting on 14^th December. 

It was stated that Council Tax is likely to be frozen through 2011/12 and the rights for communities to veto Council Tax rises will be introduced from 2012/13.

The discussion ensued around the LSP not being in place for the sake of simply being another structure and that it is important to make sure that the Sustainable Community Strategy is a relevant document. One way of achieving this may involve the LSP having a role in leading as a place based or Total Place budgeting body.  However it was emphasised that this will be challenging to achieve in the short term as there are several uncertainties.

Agreed that:

·  The Partnership Position Statement:Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership and the Future of the LSP will be further discussed at the LSP Board meeting on 14^th December

Key Actions

·  The Partnership Position Statement: Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership is revised to capture additional comments from Board members on the financial changes (Action 45).

• Desired outcomes: LSP Board (1) Notes and comments on the Local Enterprise Partnership.

David Trethewey introduced the agenda item. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were announced with the letter from Government inviting applications on 29^th June. West of England made a submission for a LEP on 6^th September, and the Government is currently reviewing all the LEP applications.

Bath has a strong international brand and as such the LEP will reflect this strength. The LEP is about the areas working together and each of the four West of England local authorities are taking a role in this work. Therefore the LEP will not be focused around any one of the four local authorities.

The opportunity for consultation has been limited due to the narrow timescale. There will be chance for future discussions, but this will not be until after the Government’s decision. There also needs to be dialogue around the role of the Big Society in LEPs and how the two work together. The governance mechanism of the LEP also needs to be developed.  The LSP will also need to decide how to influence the LEP including clarifying the role of the Sustainable Growth Alliance.

The update was noted.

• Desired outcomes: LSP Board (1) Notes and comments on the outline of the event

David Trethewey presented the agenda item. The key note speakers at the event will be Neil Smith (Policy Manager, Cabinet Office) and John Everitt.

The balance of the event was questioned and it was felt that there was not enough emphasis on the local picture. However, it was agreed that providing the national policy key note speech includes information on the context of changes, The Big Society and the Localism Bill (national finance) that thirty minutes will be sufficient for the local agenda key note presentation. 

It was requested that information on the financial cuts are made clear in the Annual Forum. However it was acknowledged that by 11^th November the full picture will not be known

The update was noted.

• Desired outcomes:  LSP Board discusses and scrutinises the Theme Delivery Partnership

Janet Rowse introduced a presentation on the Health & Wellbeing Theme Partnership. It was stated that changes to Health and Wellbeing would have taken place regardless of the changing political and economic developments. A major reason for the requirement for change is in response to the ageing population of the area. 

It was agreed that the update was helpful, however it was stated that more information was needed around juvenile alcohol abuse, homelessness and mental illness. Janet Rowse offered to clarify particular topics outside of the meeting.

A discussion ensued about the presentation forming a view of what each individual is expected to do in terms of keeping healthy. It was clarified that those who are unable to conform to this model and need help will receive the assistance that is appropriate. It was stated that there is a lack of join-up between the ‘Liberating the NHS’ paper and the Department of Work and Pensions paper in terms of capturing the anticipated increased unemployment and the anticipated rise in mental illness that this will bring. This is likely to be an issue in the area, as there is a large reliance on public sector employment.

The update was noted.

Key Actions

·  Health and Wellbeing presentation to be circulated  (Action 46)

• Desired outcomes:  LSP Board (1) Endorses the vision and key priority areas for the CYPP 2011-2014 (2) Promotes  the agreed vision and priority areas for the next CYPP 2011-2014 across the Local Strategic Partnership:

Mary Kearney-Knowles presented the agenda item. The Children’s Trust is no longer a statutory body; however it will remain in place. The Children’s Trust is leading on the Children & Young Person’s Plan (CYPP) 2011-2014. The six priorities have been now reduced to five. This reduction is due to ‘a positive learning experience’ being incorporated as cross-cutting issue across all the priorities.

Discussion focused around the level of consultation that has taken place. Mary Kearney-Knowles offered to provide details of the questionnaires analysis if required. The LSP Annual Forum will be used as an opportunity to provide further feedback on the draft CYPP.  All members agreed to endorse the CYPP.

Agreed that:

·  The Children & Young People’s Plan is endorsed.

• Desired outcomes: LSP Board comments on (1) Local Area Agreement 2 performance (2) The risk register and the accompanying actions to mitigate risk.

David Trethewey introduced the agenda item. It was explained that the dashboard will be included as a standing item at each meeting. The purpose of the dashboard is to give a high level picture of the Partnership’s activities.

The allocation of the Local Area Agreement Performance Reward Grant (PRG) was discussed and in particular the process for reviewing ways to allocate the PRG. It was felt that it is necessary to capture comments from the Civil Society and the Business Community.  To do this a task group will be established to develop the criteria for allocating PRG.

Key Actions

·  Establish a task group that will review the process of allocating Performance Reward Grant (Action 47)

Cllr Haeberling gave a reminder that the Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council is encouraging nominations for the Chairman's Community Award 2010/11.  This year the Awards have been organised in conjunction with the Student Community Partnership and Somer Community Housing Trust, and have launched the new category of “Good Neighbour”. The deadline for nominations is Friday 15^th October 2010, for more information contact:Sara Dixon, B&NES Community Projects Officer, Policy & Partnerships.

Peter Dupper-Miller informed that there will be an exhibition of Parish Plans in the Guildhall on 27^th October.

A request was made by Chris Head that the templates provided by Board members titled ‘Implications of the Current Position’ are circulated.

Key Actions

·  The ‘Implications of the Current Position’ templates to be circulated to LSP Board members (Action 48). 

(Actions will be shown once, then removed from subsequent minutes)