Agenda and minutes

Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Monday 7 December 2009 2.00 pm

Venue: Council House, Next to the Civic Centre

Contact: Helen Rickman, Democratic Support Officer  Email: helen.rickman@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

33.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

Minutes:

The following declaration of interest was made in accordance with the Code of Conduct in relation to an item under discussion at this meeting –

 

Name

Agenda item and subject.

Reason

Interest

Councillor Wildy

6. Worklessness: The Contribution and Role or Plymouth City Council.

She is on the local management board of working links

Personal

 

34.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 16 KB

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 26 October 2009.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

35.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

There were no items of Chair’s Urgent Business

36.

FEEDBACK FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY MANAGEMENT BOARD

To receive any feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on issues which concern this Panel.

Minutes:

The Business Manager for Development and Regeneration informed the Panel that the Management Board had requested that all Panels incorporate into their work programme feedback on corporate improvement priorities; this had been included in the agenda under item 8 where slippage on CIP 11 had been identified.

 

37.

WORKLESSNESS: THE CONTRIBUTION AND ROLE OF PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

Tackling Worklessness: The contribution and role of Plymouth City Council

 

Part 2: Where are the gaps? How can Plymouth City Council be more proactive?

 

This session will be lead and facilitated by Rupert Owen and attended by representatives from across the council e.g. Children’s Services/ Adult Learning/Financial & Social inclusion, Human Resources

Homelessness:

Strategic Housing: Matt Garrett, Housing Manager

(Plymouth Sustainable Employment Project)

 

FINANCIAL INCLUSION:

Social Inclusion Unit: Darrin Halifax / Jo Hambley

Recruitment policies:

Jane McGuire, Assistant Head for Human Resources

Minutes:

Several representatives from different organisations and sectors of the Council namely, Strategic Housing, Social Inclusion, Recruitment and the Shekinah Mission provided the Panel with presentations upon the issue of worklessness in Plymouth.

 

The Panel was informed that –

 

(i)

homelessness and unemployment were strongly linked to rates of unemployment; figures were very high among single homeless, young homeless people and homeless families;

 

(ii)

many people who experienced homelessness or who were rough sleepers had low levels of qualifications, and many had none at all; many homeless people also had a history of offending, mental health issues, substance abuse and domestic violence which resulted in multiple barriers to get into the workplace;

 

(iii)

Plymouth Sustainable Employment Programme (PSET) was a unique pilot project funded by the CLG (Communities and Local Government Department) in order to explore how to support entrenched rough sleepers and homeless people in hostels to access training and employment;

 

(iv)

PSET provided greater opportunities to reach challenges in the labour market; this initiative was run by the Shekinah Mission to support homeless people back into employment;

 

(v)

PSET enabled skilled workers to engage with 12 hard to reach individuals in Plymouth and move them into sustainable employment;

 

(vi)

PSET provided an inclusive programme for people excluded from mainstream society and employment;

 

(vii)

pre employment training was included in the PSET programme and was integral to an individual’s personal development as it provided help with literacy and numeracy and allowed individuals to become more stable before going into employment;

 

(viii)

Shekinah trading had a model of engagement in which work experience was provided for two weeks to individuals to help them move into employment;

 

(ix)

the PSET pilot programme was due to finish in February 2010;

 

(x)

the PSET pilot programme was highlighted as being a flagship for employability;

 

(xi)

every homeless person out of work amounted to an annual sum of £7,758 in welfare benefit payments, £1,341 in income tax and national insurance payments and £12,000 in lost economic output; it was also estimated that if factors such as temporary accommodation, unemployment, and the cost of health services, criminal justice services and support were taken into account the annual cost to taxpayers of each homeless person could be as much as £50,000;

 

(xii)

the financial inclusion unit had received an award for ‘Best Practice’ nationally and was nominated as ‘Council Partner of the Year’ due to its work with money advice services;

 

(xiii)

the financial inclusion unit had formed a questionnaire in order to determine the barriers to unemployed individuals; the results showed childcare, low wages and debt were the 3 main factors;

 

(xiv)

tax credits were a great way to supplement low wages as in some cases it could double an individual’s income;

 

(xv)

it was important for a lead to be identified for the issue of worklessness so that a coordinated approach could be maintained;

 

(xvi)

Plymouth City Council was a popular local employer as evidence showed that people in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

38.

DESTINATION SOUTH WEST

The Assistant Director for Economic Development will provide the Panel with an update on Destination South West.

Minutes:

The Business Manager for Development and Regeneration informed the panel that Destination South West was a tracking resolution from a previous meeting in which it was highlighted that currently there was no councillor representation on the board. At 26 October 2009 meeting the panel was advised that the Director of DSW was happy to attend a future meeting, however it was resolved that the Assistant Director for Development and Regeneration (Economic Development) would attend the Panel first in order to provide an update.

 

The Panel was informed that –

 

(i)

Destination South West was established more than five years previously in which £1000 was funded each year;

 

(ii)

the aim was to promote Destination South West around the world;

 

(iii)

Plymouth did not have a deep water mooring that was not owned by the Military of Defence;

 

(iv)

boats have reduced from 25 to 7 annually;

 

(v)

a strategy was being drafted in order to keep the South West on the national and international radar;

 

Resolved that the Assistant Director for Development and Regeneration (Economic Development) be invited to attend a future meeting once the strategy had been completed, in order to provide the panel with an update.

39.

CORPORATE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES

The Panel will consider the corporate improvement priorities that relate to their terms of reference, in order to achieve early scrutiny input into the Corporate Plan. (as agreed at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board meeting on 7 October 2009).

 

CIP 5 (Providing better and more affordable housing)

 

CIP 11 (Improving access across the city)

 

CIP 12 (Delivering sustainable growth)

 

The Cabinet member for Transport and the Head of Transport Strategy will be invited to attend to provide further explanations on the slippage within CIP 11 over and above the summary response provided within the November Joint Finance & Performance Report.

Minutes:

The Head of Transport Strategy informed the panel that Corporate Improvement Priority 11 (Improving access across the city) showed some slippage in achievement and informed the Panel that –

 

(i)

three milestones in CIP 11 were slipping in the access ability action plan, namely the access to health facilities, training and employment for young people;

 

(ii)

the council had accessibility action plans for 2006-2011;

 

(iii)

access to healthcare (to Derriford Hospital) was identified as a strategic objective for the Council;

 

(iv)

a draft for the Derriford Hospital Action Plan would be submitted to the Healthy Theme Group in January 2010;

 

(v)

Derriford was to see considerable development in future years through the Local Development Framework

 

In response to questions raised it was reported that –

 

(vi)

a result from a health and wellbeing survey showed that those without access found it twice as likely to have difficulties getting to Derriford Hospital;

 

(vii)

the council was trying to improve access via public transport;

 

(viii)

new shelters and cycle racks had been installed at the Derriford Interchange;

 

(ix)

the cycle network was to be prioritised in the Northern Corridor or the city;

 

(x)

the A386 was to be widened in order to install a South Bound bus lane;

 

(xi)

it was recognised that accessibility in the Local Area Action Plans was key to success;

 

Resolved that the Head of Transport Strategy be requested to return to the 25 January 2010 meeting to discuss further what measures need to be undertaken to progress Accessibility Action Plan targets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40.

HOE FORESHORE SITE VISIT UPDATE

Members of the Hoe Foreshore Task and Finish Group will provide a verbal update on the site visit that took place on 30 October 2009.

Minutes:

The Chair informed the panel that the Hoe Foreshore Task and Finish Group was due to be finalised as a final site visit was taking place on 8 January 2010 in order to ensure that remedial works had been completed.

41.

QUARTERLY SCRUTINY REPORT pdf icon PDF 23 KB

The Panel will consider its draft quarterly report.

Minutes:

The Panel noted the quarterly scrutiny report.

42.

APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED REPRESENTATIVES

The Panel will consider the appointment of a co-opted representative.

Minutes:

The Panel considered the option to appoint a co-opted representative and resolved that this would be considered again at the next meeting after the Director for Development & Regeneration had helped to present his plans for the delivery of the future growth agenda.

 

43.

TRACKING RESOLUTIONS pdf icon PDF 7 KB

To monitor progress on previous resolutions.

Minutes:

The Business Manager for Development and Regeneration informed the panel that a resolution had been passed from the Devonport, Stoke, St Peter and the Waterfront Area Committee to the Management Board on 2 December 2009 in which the Growth and Prosperity Panel be asked to consider driving speeds on the Hoe.

 

Resolved that this be noted but meanwhile the Business Manager for Development and Regeneration identify whether the Transport & Highways service were already looking into this issue and to consider this item at a future meeting.

44.

WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 31 KB

To review the panels work programme 09/10.

Minutes:

The Panel was informed that due to significant pressures in Democratic Support the proposed extra meeting for ‘worklessness’ which was due to be held in January could not be supported; it was therefore resolved that this item be scheduled for 22 March 2010. In order to accommodate this change it was agreed that ‘Strategic Housing Functions’ be moved from 25 January 2010 to 22 March 2010 meeting and that ‘City and Sub Regional Governance’ be moved from 22 March 2010 to 25 January 2010 meeting.

 

In response to a question raised, it was resolved that the Director for Development and Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Planning, Strategic Housing and Economic Development be invited to the 25 January 2010 meeting in order to provide the Panel with an update on the Capital Programme.

 

 

Under this item it was also raised that Councillors Lowry and Aspinall would be named substitutes for Councillor Coker if he was unable to attend the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

45.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

There were no items of exempt business.