Agenda for Community Select Committee on Thursday, 12 July 2018, 6.00pm

Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Venue: Shimkent Room - Daneshill House, Danestrete

Contact: Fungai Nyamukapa  Email:  fungai.nyamukapa@stevenage.gov.uk Tel: 01438 242707

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Hearn and T Wren.

 

Cllr J Mead declared a personal interest in Item 4 by virtue of being a Trustee of the Stevenage Community Food Bank.

 

Cllr S Mead declared a personal interest in Item 4 by virtue of being a Trustee of the Stevenage Community Food Bank.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Hearn and T Wren.

 

Cllr J Mead declared a personal interest in Item 4 by virtue of being a Trustee of the Stevenage Community Food Bank.

 

Cllr S Mead declared a personal interest in Item 4 by virtue of being a Trustee of the Stevenage Community Food Bank.

2.

MINUTES - 20 JUNE 2018 pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on 20 June 2018

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on 20 June 2018 are approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on 20 June 2018 are approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

3.

RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT SCOPING DOCUMENT pdf icon PDF 112 KB

To consider the revised Resident Engagement Scoping Document

Decision:

The Scrutiny Officer presented the revised scoping document for the Scrutiny Review of Resident Engagement.

 

It was RESOLVED that Cllr Judi Billing CC be added to the list of potential external witnesses for the Resident Engagement Scrutiny Review.

 

 

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Officer presented the revised scoping document for the Scrutiny Review of Resident Engagement.

 

It was RESOLVED that Cllr Judi Billing CC be added to the list of potential external witnesses for the Resident Engagement Scrutiny Review.

 

 

4.

THIRD SECTOR SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORT pdf icon PDF 98 KB

To consider the 2011 Third Sector Scrutiny Review report and the delivery of the 2012-2015 Voluntary Sector Strategy and options for future support to the sector

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Assistant Director (Communities and Neighbourhoods) introduced the Third Sector Scrutiny Review Report. The Community Development Manager highlighted the context of the last review and indicated that four key priority areas had been selected for development in the 2012-2015 Voluntary Sector Strategy. It was noted that none of the priority areas of voice and representation, sustainability, harnessing corporate giving and volunteering had recorded clear evidence of progress against the objectives. Members and Officers expressed concern that the strategy did not have a clear action plan on how objectives were measured for impact and outcomes.

 

The Community Development Manager also briefed Members on the national, Hertfordshire and Stevenage context of the voluntary community sector (VCS). Members acknowledged the diversity of VCS activities, interests and levels of commitment among volunteers in the Borough.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.       That the review of the VCS Strategy 2012-15 is noted

 

2.       That the Voluntary and Community Sector 2012-2015 strategy not be updated but be replaced with clear and concise guidelines based on our co-operative approach

 

3.       That a Modern Member Programme (MMP) be arranged to train Members on how to help volunteers

 

4.       That officers use Community Select Committee as a reference group for the voluntary community sector review and the re-commissioning of the contract with the Citizens Advice Bureau

 

5.        That future grants and other forms of assistance to the voluntary sector be linked to performance targets with an annual review

 

6.        That the SBC website be updated to include links to national volunteering portals

Minutes:

The Assistant Director (Communities and Neighbourhoods) introduced the Third Sector Scrutiny Review Report. The Community Development Manager highlighted the context of the last review and indicated that four key priority areas had been selected for development in the 2012-2015 Voluntary Sector Strategy. It was noted that none of the priority areas of voice and representation, sustainability, harnessing corporate giving and volunteering had recorded clear evidence of progress against the objectives. Members and Officers expressed concern that the strategy did not have a clear action plan on how objectives were measured for impact and outcomes.

 

There was moderate evidence of progress against objectives in the priority areas. Members noted that the Stevenage Health Hub was an example of encouraging the support of innovative models in the sector. The Timeshare event held at North Hertfordshire College had raised awareness of opportunities in the voluntary sector and improved networking among volunteers. Stevenage Borough Council did not have an online volunteer organisation database. 

 

The Community Development Manager also briefed Members on the national, Hertfordshire and Stevenage context of the voluntary community sector (VCS). It was indicated that Hertfordshire Compact had replaced Stevenage Compact. With regard to the Stevenage context, it was noted that cuts in funding from central government had created gaps in services relating to young people. Members were informed that most of the SBC grants to the third sector were historical and the tapered funding was scheduled to end in 2020.

 

Members acknowledged the diversity of VCS activities, interests and levels of commitment among volunteers in the Borough. Members reported a perception that the Council at times placed barriers on activities of the voluntary sector and was not always responsive to requests for assistance or suggestions from voluntary groups. The Voluntary and Community Sector 2012-2015 strategy had been superseded by a number of changes including funding cuts and as such the strategy was now out-of-date. The Council had to align its VCS strategy to community challenges and put in place measures to check the quality of service delivery by voluntary organisations. It was important that the Council maintained a good balance between respecting the independence of the VCS while ensuring that there was good value for the grants given to voluntary organisations. Members were informed that the Council was considering staff volunteering options as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.            That the review of the VCS Strategy 2012-15 is noted

 

2.            That the Voluntary and Community Sector 2012-2015 strategy not be updated but be replaced with clear and concise guidelines based on our co-operative approach

 

3.            That a Modern Member Programme (MMP) be arranged to train Members on how to help volunteers

 

4.            That officers use Community Select Committee as a reference group for the voluntary community sector review and the re-commissioning of the contract with the Citizens Advice Bureau

 

5.            That future grants and other forms of assistance to the voluntary sector be linked to performance targets with an annual review

 

6.            That the SBC website be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

URGENT PART 1 BUSINESS

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

Minutes:

None.

6.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

To consider the following motions:

 

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

 

 

Minutes:

Not required.

7.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent

Minutes:

None.