Name

Minute

Reason

Interest

Councillor Mrs Beer

55.  Plymouth Culture Board – Update on Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park

Is a committee member of the Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee

Private

(a)

the Youth Service were currently in the midst of a staff re-structure, which was progressing well;

(b)

a three year reduction in budget and staffing was planned, frontline delivery was protected, and there were no substantive staffing reductions planned for 2014-15;

(c)

they planned to fully utilise the skills and experience of the professionally qualified workforce to prioritise vulnerable and disadvantaged young people;

(d)

the Service currently had 81 active volunteers, with an additional 29 currently undergoing an induction process.

In response to member’s questions it was reported that –

(e)

it was important for the Youth Service to engage more with the local community during the period of transformation;

(f)

the use of volunteers, working alongside professional health workers would enable the expansion of community schemes;

(g)

the induction programme for volunteers was for a duration of between six and eight weeks, and training and support continued for at least six months afterwards;

(h)

approximately 95 per cent of volunteers lived in Plymouth.  The gender split was roughly 50-50 and a range of ages, ethnicity, religious beliefs and abilities were represented;

(i)

volunteers who participated for more than six months had access to an accredited programme currently supported by City College Plymouth;

(j)

the average length of volunteering was for a period of approximately12 months;

(k)

the Youth Service were in discussions with the University of St Mark and St John to link their volunteers with courses they provide;

(l)

it was thought that only a few of the volunteers had disabilities, and it was possible to tailor the training package to meet the needs of disabled volunteers when necessary;

(m)

there was a lot of other voluntary work taking place in the city that benefitted young people (particularly in places of worship, the uniformed services and sports related activities);

(n)

opportunities for young people to participate in local community matters had significantly increased in the past 12 months;

(o)

community role profiles were shortly being produced to make Councillors aware of what support was available in their ward.

(a)

Steve Pickering had been appointed to develop a three-year vision for the future of Mount Edgcumbe.  His remit was to identity and implement a series of measures to create confidence and to set out a number of longer term initiatives that would develop the resilience and sustainability of the house and park.  Funds had been released to enable this work to be implemented;

(b)

approximately 15 applications had been received to occupy units in the Barrow Centre, which would generate additional income and possibly create an estimated 20-25 jobs;

(c)

it was planned to complete a number of property renovations in the Park for the purpose of creating holiday accommodation;

(d)

it was anticipated that within a few years the Park would be self sufficient and would no longer require a subsidy from Plymouth City Council and Cornwall County Council;

(e)

it was hoped to maximise the opportunities of the Park without compromising on its natural beauty and historical significance;

(f)

the Friends of Mount Edgcumbe made a substantial financial contribution to the Park, and had 70 volunteers who worked in various capacities in the Park;

(g)

the Park had begun to advertise events on local television, which had seen both an increase in attendance and a rise in profile;

(h)

a programme of monthly events had been planned for 2014-15.

In response to members’ questions it was reported that –

(i)

it was hoped that ferry operators would be able to offer more services to Mount Edgcumbe;

(j)

it was anticipated that the purchase of a ’land train’ would increase footfall to the Barrow Centre and house;

(k)

a number of innovative initiatives were being investigated, including vintage motorbike (with sidecar) tours of the Rame Peninsula, and husky dog rides around the Park;

(l)

the disabled parking and disabled toilet facilities in the Park were being reviewed.

(a)

the scheme was a three tier development tool (Gold, Silver and Bronze), which evolved from the now defunct South West Healthy Schools Plus initiative which was piloted in 2009-2011;

(b)

the scheme focused on six areas –

·         Healthy & Active Body;

·         PSHEE, Citizenship and Ofsted SMSC (Social, Moral, Cultural and Spiritual Development);

·         Reducing Substance Misuse;

·         Promoting Health through Relationships and Sex Education;

·         Emotional Health, Mental Health & Wellbeing;

·         Adult Health & Wellbeing and Whole School Ethos.

(c)

tangible results were seen in a very short space of time;

(d)

62 per cent of Plymouth schools were involved in the scheme.  Plymouth College of Art and City College Plymouth were working towards the achievement of the Healthy College Quality Mark Bronze award;

(e)

the Leadership Adviser was in negotiation with the Early Years Team to introduce a version of the scheme for younger children;

(f)

schools were keen to engage in the scheme, and some had reported a shift in attitudes towards alcohol and tobacco, and an increase in healthy eating;

(g)

the cost for schools to buy in to this scheme was £350-£450 per school per year, which provided schools with between two and three days of consultancy support, along with guidance and support from partner agencies;

(h)

funding for the scheme was three-way between school’s income, Plymouth City Council CYP Commisioning and Public Health;

(i)

there was a risk that the scheme would end due to lack of funding at financial year end 2015;

(j)

school leaders were keen for a more sustainable funding model, ie a five year scheme.

In response to members’ questions it was reported that –

(k)

all Plymouth schools were invited to join the scheme at the same time;

(l)

some schools had not yet signed up to the scheme and reasons for this included insufficient funds or lack of time to deal with the application;

(m)

the Leadership Adviser had recently spoken to the Plymouth Association of Plymouth Headteachers (PAPH) with the specific aim of engaging those schools who had not yet signed up to the scheme;

(n)

theGovernors Conference in March could highlight the scheme as school meals was an agenda item.

The Chair thanked Karl Sweeney for his report.