Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1. The report makes a recommendation in respect to applications for funding from the Basingstoke and Deane Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and Rushmoor Strategic Partnership.

1.2. This decision supports all three of the Corporate Strategy priorities: Hampshire safer & more secure for all, Maximising wellbeing and Enhancing our quality of place and support the development and delivery of sustainable community strategies across Hampshire.

2) Recommendations:

To approve the following allocation from the Community Strategy Budget

2.1. Basingstoke and Deane LSP - £ 14,912.

2.2. Rushmoor Strategic Partnership - £ 13,500 per year for 2008/09 and £13,500 for 2009/10.

MAIN REPORT

1) Purpose of the Report:

1.1. To make a recommendation in respect to applications for funding from the Basingstoke and Deane Local Strategic Partnership and the Rushmoor Strategic Partnership.

2) Contextual Information:

2.1. A budget has been established to support the development of Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and to pump prime activity which supports the development and delivery of community strategies across Hampshire. The budget is £229,300 in 2008/09.

2.2. Each of the 11 LSP's are able to bid for funding from this budget to support their development and work at a district level. The budget is also available for the development and implementation of the Hampshire Sustainable Community Strategy.

2.3. The Leader has agreed that the Chief Executive can approve individual applications of up to £2000. The Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage can approve individual applications between £2000 and £10,000. Applications exceeding £10,000 must be referred for approval to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources for decision having consulted the Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities.

2.4. Appendix C sets out the funding criteria for which bids will be approved. They are intended as guidelines and not prescriptive rules.

2.5. The applications are both supported by the Executive Member for Recreation , Heritage and Communities. They have also been circulated to local County Councillors via the respective Hampshire Action Teams. All responses received are supported with the exception of a response from Councillor Reid who does not support the bid from the Basingstoke and Deane LSP.

3) Key Issues:

3.1. None noted.

4) Current Bids:

4.1. The bids for approval are as follows, with further details set out at Appendix B.

· Basingstoke and Deane LSP - £ 14, 912

· Rushmoor Strategic Partnership - £ 13,500

4.2. If the bids are approved, the remaining budget will be £ 98,451 (See Appendix D).

4.3. The bid from the Rushmoor Strategic Partnership is for two years funding and approval is therefore sought for 2008/09 and `in principle' for 2009/10 subject to budget availability.

4.4. A brief report is attached at Appendix E providing information on activities of the Rushmoor Strategic Partnership and the Basingstoke LSP over recent years. Both posts are central to co-ordinating this work and the general operation of the partnerships.

5) Outline of Options:

5.1. Option 1:

a) To approve this allocation.

5.2. Option 2:

a) Not to approve this allocation.

6) Summary Recommendations:

6.1. To approve the current bids.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Bids for funding from Hampshire County Council to support district LSP's

Funding Criteria for the Community Strategy Grants budget

The following criteria should be taken into consideration when preparing a submission for funding. They are intended as guidelines and not prescriptive rules.

Under delegated powers, bids up to £2,000 can be agreed by the Chief Executive; bids between £2,000 and £10,000 can be agreed by the Executive Member for Community Development and bids over £10,000 can be agreed by the Leader

1. The grant money available is for projects that wouldn't be developed without the support of the LSP or without the help of pump priming money

2. Any grant application must highlight the links with the themes contained in the relevant Community Strategy where one has been adopted

3. Any bid must be consistent with the themes and aims in the Hampshire Strategic Partnership's Community Strategy, and the priorities of the County Council

4. The funding request must be discussed and approved by the relevant LSP and any application approved by the Chair of that LSP

5. The budget will not be divided equally between district LSPs but awarded on individual consideration and the merits of the project

6. Applications will be referred for decision as per delegated powers above

7. Grants will not be awarded in order to meet shortfalls in service delivery budgets

8. Grants will not be paid for partner organisations staff costs, however bids will be considered for support staff that; work directly for the LSP ; are joint funded with other LSP partners; and report to the chair of the LSP

9. Funding will be given to applications for pump priming specific projects rather than general running costs of organisations or projects with ongoing revenue requirements. Applications which have a resource implication must state how the ongoing costs are to be met.

10. Where possible joint funding in line with partnership approaches should be encouraged and to this end grants should normally be a percentage of the sum required to complete the project

11. A budget monitoring report will be required for all bids over £2,000 at the end of the financial year. Continued financial support will be conditional on this basic information being provided

Examples of activity from Rushmoor Strategic Partnership and Basingstoke and Deane Local Strategic Partnership over recent years

Rushmoor Strategic Partnership

Projects and Programmes over the last 4 years

Rushmoor Borough Council has developed the Rushmoor Strategic Partnership to bring together who will have a significant interest in a series of major programmes over the past 4 years:

· The development of the Aldershot Urban Extension as a sustainable community on 137 hectares

· Project Connaught - providing military facilities and accommodation

· Farnborough town centre development - over 16,000 sq m retail space, 130 new residential properties and large hotel and commercial leisure facility

· The preparation of the Local Development Framework including studies on the economy, housing and open space

· Working with stakeholders to establish needs and priorities for the Borough - the work has involved establishing a profile of the area, meeting stakeholders and holding a visioning conference. The outcomes have been used to develop the Partnerships future plans.

The partnership has played a significant role in co-ordinating activity and engaging partners on a series of practical priority projects:

· Raising educational attainment - focusing on how the partners and community can address the "out of school" issues which impact on attainment especially in the wards of Mayfield and Heron Wood. The work has support Hampshire LPSA targets through improved partnership working locally and early intervention to address parental attitudes to education, alternatives to anti-social behaviour for those at risk and barriers to young people accessing services. This builds on existing projects such as the extended schools programme, the Emmaus projects, Mayfield on-line and Source Youth café. A Learning partnership has also been developed.

· Anti-social behaviour - supporting greater partnership support and co-ordination for the work of the police and the local community safety partnership using powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act

· Basingstoke Canal Towpath project - working with the voluntary and community sector to improve and protect 3km of towpath with SSSI status and amenity use

· Farnborough Community Centre Solar Energy project - as a demonstration project

· Development of the hotel sector

Other recent activities and achievements

Over the past 12 months, the partnership has undertaken the following:

August 2007 - Stay Active & Independent Event - More than one hundred senior citizens in Rushmoor took part in the Rushmoor Strategic Partnership's (RSP) `Stay Active and Independent' event a social, informative and practical event to help residents keep in good health in later life. Particularly targeting deprived wards where accidents in the home were high. Two booklets were produced and published by the RSP and distributed widely.

http://www.rushmoorsp.com/pdfdocs/RSPFallsPreventionSafetyCheck.pdf http://www.rushmoorsp.com/pdfdocs/RSPFallsPreventionStayActive.pdf

December 2007 - Local Improvement Priorities Workshop - This was an exercise to engage local partners in considering the priorities and indicators from the national set to put forward for inclusion in the Hampshire LAA as part of the LAA consultation. The report can be seen at: http://www.rushmoorsp.com/pdfdocs/RSPWorkshopOutcomesReportDec07.pdf

January 2008 - Development of the Hampshire SCS Workshop - The Partnership identified issues for the development of the Hampshire Sustainable Community Strategy (HSCS) for 2007 to 2017. The seven key challenges and ten ambitions were considered and the Partnership identified essential areas and whether the ambitions adequately matched the issues for Rushmoor. The Partnership noted some additional areas not included in the challenges. An outcomes report was produced and circulated. The outcome report can be located at http://www.rushmoorsp.com/pdfdocs/RSPWorkshopDraftOutcomesReportv3Jan08.pdf

March 2008 - RSP Development Programme Workshop - This workshop resulted in a development plan for the partnership.

September 2008 - Action planning event - The Partnership has produced a `Portrait of Rushmoor 2008' setting out conditions and challenges for the borough. This has helped identify the top priorities to inform the action plan for the next 12 months in Rushmoor. An outcomes report is currently being produced and will be circulated. The most important challenges as ranked by the RSP at this event are:

1. Multiple deprivation Mayfield Ward

2. Obese children

3. Multiple deprivation North Town Ward

3. Multiple deprivation Heron Wood Ward

5. Low NVQ levels 3 & 4

6. Large number of migrants

7. Suicide rates

8. Hospital stays - Alcohol related

8. Levels of violence, burglary, sexual offences & drugs

10. Crime/ASB perception

10. Obese adults

June 2008 - Local Business and Local People Competition - Local Business & Local People' is a competition organised by the Rushmoor Strategic Partnership (RSP) and sponsored by the Aldershot News Group. The competition was aimed at local businesses that have contributed to the community to improve quality of life in Rushmoor. Entries were judged on the positive impact businesses has had on local people. The Holiday Inn, Farnborough and it's Spirit Health Club were selected to receive an award for their partnership working with students with learning difficulties from Farnborough College. The Holiday Inn, Farnborough were commended by the Rushmoor Strategic Partnership (RSP) at a reception hosted by the Mayor of Rushmoor, Councillor Alan Ferrier, and Chairman of the Partnership, Councillor Peter Moyle.

Spring 2008 - Environmental Project: Renovation of Farnborough Community Centre Pond - This project, initiated and overseen by the partnership was completed in Spring 2008. A marsh with 23 species of plants, seating and an interpretation board had all been installed. It is intended that the pond would be used by local businesses, such as Citizens Advice Bureau and Rushmoor Voluntary Services and also by local schools.

Local Community Roadshows - A series of Council ward road shows were scheduled for 2008. Each roadshow was designed for a particular ward and provided residents with an opportunity to meet with various Partner organisations and Rushmoor Council services. Road shows have already taken place in West Heath (Farnborough), North Town and Rowhill (Aldershot).

Basingstoke and Deane Local Strategic Partnership

The partnership has:

· prepared its community strategy Pride in Our Place and is scoping the development of its Sustainable Community Strategy that takes account of the Hampshire Sustainable Community Strategy and the LAA targets. This is being done alongside the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

· Submitted a local response to the South East Plan consultation, which brought together the views of local partners

· Actively supported the Borough Council in achieving Beacon Status for:

o Affordable Housing,

o Preventing and Tackling Anti Social Behaviour, and

o Promoting sustainable communities through the planning process

· Provided input to CLG working which developed the draft guidance "Local Strategic Partnerships: Shaping our Future"

· Participated in an Audit Commission workshop on assessing partnerships to inform the development of the Comprehensive Area Assessment.

· Coordinated the Borough consultation on the Children's and Young Persons Plan(CYPP) on behalf of the County Council

· Co-ordinated partners view to feed into the development of the LAA.

The LSP oversees and co-ordinates a range of other local thematic partnerships. Partnership working has for example:

· established the Community Warden Scheme which aims to provide residents with a "trusted friend" who can help them find support when they need help. They act as the eyes and ears of the community, and enable the organisations represented on the LSP to respond much more quickly to issues residents identify.

· developed the 55 Plus guide to essential services in response to the consultation with older people who expressed concern that it was difficult for them to find out what opportunities and services were available to them.

· reduced crime and re-offending through tackling prolific offenders - resulting in reduced call on criminal justice and other service resources, and reduced fear of crime

· co-ordinated support to vulnerable people to prevent evictions through a Vulnerable Person's Protocol - resulting in less repeat homelessness

· brought in Lottery funding to provide a mobile play scheme for children in rural areas - providing more play opportunities for 5-11 year old

The LSP Board has developed projects which cut across the work of the various local partnerships:

Oakridge project - which was designed to increase the well being of older people in Oakridge by co-ordinating existing services in the area; developing a range of leisure services; providing information and advice clinics; focusing on transport issues. The project launched a weekly leisure programme for local older people; launched a community newsletter; developed an over 55s discussion forum; ran information and advice clinics for 2006; actively promoted the range of health clinics available in Oakridge. This was made possible through the ongoing support and co-operation of a range of agencies working together (including voluntary sector / housing / health / Council / education). Throughout, the project has been underpinned by ongoing consultation with older people: this has helped to focus and develop its priorities.

Winklebury project - which was designed to increase access to services for parents of young children; increase confidence and aspirations of parents of young children by encouraging parents to get involved and raising parents' interest in school. The project established a Parentaid information directory for parents and professionals; piloted multi-agency information road shows at schools; piloted a pre-school family learning programme; launched a year-long family learning campaign with parent and toddler, pre-schools and schools in the area; developed a multi-agency family learning network; piloted a parent network. Throughout the process a wide range of agencies (covering aspects of education, health, voluntary services, police and the church) were involved. Parent consultation has also played an important part in the project with involvement at a variety of levels.

More recently, in July 08 the partnership held its Annual Conference "People at the Heart, Communities Taking Part!". This was an opportunity to consider actions for getting the people of Basingstoke and Deane more involved in decisions that effect their local neighbourhood and services. This support a LAA target. Conference attendees included representatives of the borough's county, borough and parish councils, health, emergency and other public services, housing associations and members of a range of borough forums, including the multicultural, over 55s, environment, and cultural forums and the youth council. The conference has led to a series of recommendations for the LSP's first ever Involved Communities joint strategy and action plan to be agreed by the end of the year.

The partnership was asked to prepare a DVD "What has my LSP ever done for me?" commissioned by South East Employers and on how a LSP can work more effectively together to make a difference to an area.

The Partnership is now actively engaged in how it can integrate LAA targets and co-ordinate local action to support these. It is also working to ensure good local communication links and local partnership arrangements to support the LAA themes.