Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the TEST VALLEY AREA COMMITTEE of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at Andover Museum on Tuesday, 16 November 2004.

PRESENT:

Councillors: M.J. Woodhall (Chairman); Mrs. P.A. West; Councillor I. Carr - Chairman, Test Valley Local Strategic Partnership; Councillor D. Bidwell - Chairman of Test Valley Association of Parish Councils; Ms J. Blann - Test Valley Community Service

6 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

7 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 September 2004 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman.

8 ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Mike Wickenden, Head of Sport, Community and Outdoor Services, Recreation and Heritage Department gave a presentation on activities for young people. He advised that he is the County Council Officer responsible for the key Cabinet priority relating to young people and particular efforts were being made in Andover with the scheme covering transport, mentoring, attainment, behaviour and diversionary activities. These matters were being addressed by the Test Valley Crime Reduction Partnership and the Quality of Life Group which involved such organisations as the Borough Council, Hampshire Constabulary, the Fire and Rescue Service, Testway Housing and the Hampshire County Youth Service. Activity programmes are organised which consist of mixed activity weeks (tennis coaching, canoeing, climbing in Dorset) and theatre and dance workshops at the River Way Community Centre.

In the ensuing discussion the need was stressed to provide transport for children from rural areas to visit facilities and in response, the initiative was mentioned which includes providing community transport to the Depot at Portway in Andover. There are two area youth workers for Test Valley who maintain some contact with Parish Councils. It was stressed that Parish Councils should contact Mr. Wickenden at the County Council concerning their needs in relation to young people.

9 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES

Lyn Penny, the Lead Social Services Manager for the Andover area, gave a presentation on children and families services. She advised that a management team of three is responsible for the whole of the South West of the County and in the Test Valley area centres exist at Andover and Romsey which run a variety of services.

These services are a reception and assessment service which decides initially to whom a problem should be referred; the Family Support Service; the service for children with disabilities which is run by a small team based in Winchester; the Permanence Service which works with the relocation of children away from their families; the Care Leavers Service and the Family Placement Service which supports and recruits foster carers. In addition to foster carers, a system of kinship care is being developed which supports extended families caring for families and in certain circumstances pays an allowance.

Mrs. Penny then drew attention to preventative services such as the "Girls Zone" programme which is operated by the Andover Social Services Department and meets weekly to discuss girls' problems, the "Keep it Cool" anger management scheme organised for 7-11 year olds and the summer scheme which Social Services staff ran in the summer, in which children were taken to various venues for days out. Attention was also drawn to other schemes in the Test Valley area such as the Stevens Ark Scheme run by Mencap which offers respite for families in the Andover area; the Cornloft Art and Therapy Studio based in Longstock; the Family Link Scheme which offers respite to parents who have a child with a disability; the Romsey Parents Support Group and the Acorns Early Years Centre.

In the ensuing discussion the problems of recruiting and retaining social workers was aired and the ongoing need for foster carers was mentioned; the kinship scheme was praised. It was stressed that members of the public wishing to contact the Social Services Department could either do it on a personal basis or via a general practitioner, neighbours or Councillors. The work of the Social Services in Andover and the rest of the Test Valley area was praised.

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