Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
E Crighton, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde; J Downie, Police Scotland; B Davidson, Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce; Peter MacLeod, Renfrewshire Council; M Gordon, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service; P Martin, UWS; S Kerr, Scottish Government; and P Martin, UWS.
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.
Minute of previous meeting held on 24 June, 2015.
1
There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership Board held on 24 June, 2015.
DECIDED: That the Minute be noted.
Report and presentation by O Reid, Lead Officer, Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board and Head of Public Protection, Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council.
2
The Head of Public Protection presented a “spotlight” on the activities of the Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board.
The presentation summarised the Vision of the Board; outlined the work of the Sub-Groups which were set up to ensure the high level impact measures for each priority outcome were achieved; detailed the key priorities for the Board; highlighted key actions within each of the sub-groups; and a video was shown on Energy Advice for Renfrewshire Residents which related to a key action on the Housing Sub-Group action plan.
DECIDED: That the information provided be noted.
Report by Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council.
3
There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive which provided an update on the key welfare reform changes announced in the July 2015 Budget as reported to Renfrewshire Council’s Leadership Board on 16 September 2015 and the proposed opportunities for Community Planning Partnership involvement and action.
The report advised that there were significant implications for a range of Council services which would have a subsequent impact upon Community Planning Partner services and customers and there were benefits to be gained from a strategic public and voluntary sector approach to Welfare Reform in Renfrewshire.
The report proposed that the Community Planning Partnership Board considered the following key issues:
Impacts on Community Planning Partnership – the potential challenges and service pressures for individual partner services and the impact or risk for the Community Planning Partnership in achieving the Community Plan vision and outcome targets, particularly in relation to tackling poverty outcomes;
The Community Planning Partnership response as part of the Tackling Poverty programme – the benefits from a strategic partnership response to welfare reform in Renfrewshire, delivering shared data and planning, co-ordinated communications and training, and, effective service responses; and
Develop opportunities for joint working and new initiatives – staff awareness and training, communications planning, and new initiative development offer opportunities for the partnership to achieve consistent, effective and efficient service responses.
It was proposed that a welfare reform work stream was established within the Tackling Poverty Programme and that a corporate and partnership response was developed in a similar manner to the previous welfare reform project, developing an effective response to manage the financial and social impact on the most vulnerable; to identify and assess the impact of the proposed changes on Council finances, policies and strategies and propose effective strategies to mitigate the impact.
DECIDED:
(a) That the Welfare Reform changes and potential impacts on partner services be noted;
(b) That it be noted that a welfare reform work stream would be established within the Tackling Poverty Programme and that a corporate and partnership response would be developed in a similar manner to the previous welfare reform project;
c) That a co-ordination role for the Community Planning Partnership be approved in relation to Welfare Reform and considered preferred engagement and partnership working arrangements; and
d) That it be agreed that the Board would receive regular progress updates on Welfare Reform as further detail and guidance emerged.
Report by Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council.
4
There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive which detailed the key elements of the draft Council Tackling Poverty Strategy, which would be submitted to Council on 24 September, 2015 for approval. The report included information of the governance, consultation, monitoring and evaluation arrangements to support the strategy and action plan.
The Tackling Poverty Strategy, a copy of which was appended to the report, was structured into six key priorities:
1. Increase the number of households who could access employment that provided an acceptable standard of living;
2. Prevent financial crisis and support low income families to make the most of their money;
3. Improve levels of physical and mental health of children in low income families;
4. Close the educational gap between children from low income families and their better off peers;
5. Create neighbourhoods where people want to live and can afford to live; and
6. Narrow inequalities by working in a way which is inclusive, effective and evidence-based.
The report noted that three project boards would drive the delivery of the projects within the Tackling Poverty Action Plan, and manage the relationships with the wide range of stakeholders. The three project boards would be themed in line with the key outcomes of the strategy and would cover: Pockets, Prospects and Places.
Existing governance arrangements for issues relating to welfare reform would be reviewed as the proposals around welfare reform and devolution of welfare are developed, but would report into the Pockets project board.
Discussion took place on the use of Seniors’ Forums and other 3rd sector and voluntary organisations to disseminate and communicate information. It was recognised that local people had a central role to play in defining the success of the strategy and it was agreed that the stories and voices of people living in poverty would remain at the centre of the decision making.
DECIDED:
(a) That the Tackling Poverty Strategy, a copy of which was appended to the report, be noted;
(b) That the arrangements for governance, consultation and monitoring and evaluation be noted; and
(c) That it be agreed that Partners highlight any activity currently underway, or planned within their own organisations which sought to address poverty related issues and where beneficial links could be made with the Council’s Tackling Poverty Strategy.
Presentation by D Webb, Project Manager, Digital Assistance and D Amos, Head of Policy and Commissioning, Chief Executive's Service, Renfrewshire Council.
5
D Amos and D Webb delivered a presentation on the Digital Development Plan which aimed to ensure that everyone in Renfrewshire had the opportunity to reach their digital potential and had the means of access, awareness, skills and confidence to participate online responsibly. It was recognised that digital connectivity was now considered the 4th utility rapidly becoming as necessary as water, electricity and gas. There was a real risk residents who were not digitally connected could find it difficult to access public services.
The plan set out the barriers to participation and identified those who were most likely to be digitally excluded and already facing social inequality: disabled people or those who had a long term health conditions (in poverty); those over 55 years old (in poverty); and those in poverty (not working, in social housing and living in a deprived area). Resources would therefore be targeted towards these groups. It was highlighted that there was a need for Renfrewshire to have an overarching Digital Strategy to co-ordinate public, private and 3rd sector activities to develop infrastructure and accessibility, improve connectivity, deliver training, advance e-commerce, educate and innovate – with digital participation at its core. It was hoped to achieve this through a community led partnership approach focussing on three main areas of activity: Reviewing, Co-ordinating and Promoting what we do already; Building Capacity in existing services that work with digitally excluded groups and developing and piloting new approaches; and Influencing Policy, Procurement and Practice.
D Amos advised that Digital Participation could not be resolved by one organisation and that the partners required to work together to maximise resources and impact. As a result, a Digital Steering Group would be set up and would be made up of council leads and community planning partners in order to develop a co-ordinated and strategic approach. It was noted that a community led Digital Participation Reference Group which would be chaired by the Chief Executive, Engage Renfrewshire would shape the strategy and ensure a joined up approach. A copy of the Digital Participation Plan 2015-2017 was tabled at the meeting.
DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.
6
There were submitted and noted the Draft Minutes of meetings of the following Thematic Boards:-
(a) Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 31 August, 2015.
(b) Children & Young People Thematic Board held on 31 August, 2015.
(c) Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities Thematic Board held on 1 September, 2015.
(d) Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 2 September, 2015.
(e) Community Care, Health and Wellbeing Thematic Board held on 8 September, 2015.
(f) Jobs & the Economy Thematic Board held on 9 September, 2015.
Draft Minute of meeting held on 31 August, 2015.
Draft Minute of Meeting held on 31 August, 2015.
Draft Minute of meeting held on 1 September, 2015.
Draft Minute of meeting held on 2 September, 2015.
Draft Minute of meeting held on 8 September, 2015.
Draft Minute of meeting held on 9 September, 2015.