Agenda item
CABINET MEMBER
The Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Community Development will provide an overview of his portfolio.
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed Councillor Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development, who provided an overview of the current areas of work, which included the following key areas –
(a) |
Plymouth Energy Community - |
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an independent residents’ co-operative had been established in June 2013 which was working to combat fuel bill rises through its community switching scheme and keeping people’s homes warmer through its insulation programmes; |
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(b) |
co-operative housing - |
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a ‘Self-Build Champion’ had been identified who had contacted a number of households who were keen to develop self-build housing and who were identifying Council sites to support sel-build homes in the City; |
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(c) |
social enterprise development - |
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the Council had achieved Social Enterprise City status in October 2013 (one of the first to do so in the country); |
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two major social enterprises had helped to secure over £9m of funding (Ocean Studios and the Millfields Trust); |
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(d) |
new Community Economic Development Trust - |
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a CEDT steering group had been formed in October 2013 which comprised of 11 residents, four councillors and one business and held its first meeting in December 2013; |
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an option appraisal of 10 assets for the CEDT to inform income generation and investment opportunities had been completed; |
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(e) |
community use of assets – |
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a new Community Asset Transfer Policy had been adopted by Council on 10 June 2013, which outlined how the Council’s co-operative values could be imparted across communities by encouraging community groups or organisations to acquire Council owned buildings under asset transfer; |
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(f) |
communities and community cohesion – |
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the implementation of the new Community Covenant had secured approximately £350m funding for community projects; |
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the newly opened credit union shop in Frankfort Gate had seen an increase in footfall of 40 per cent; |
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(g) |
child poverty – |
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a learning, skills and employability group had been set up to challenge youth unemployment and the rising number of not in education, employment or training (NEETs) within the City; |
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the Children’s Partnership and the Children’s Clinical Commissioning Partnership had commenced a review of the mental health services due to their known impact on employability; |
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(h) |
community safety and anti-social behaviour – |
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a range of community safety initiatives had been launched such as the designated driver (pledge 17); |
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closure of the first crack house on owner occupied premises; |
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(i) |
housing options and homelessness - |
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the commissioning of an on-site provision in the housing options service that offered advice and support on welfare rights, debts and budgeting skills; |
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the successful implementation of ‘no second night out’ initiative for rough sleepers; |
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(j) |
private sector housing and housing renewals - |
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the waiting times had been reduced by 50 per cent for the Disabled Facilities Grant (10 months reduced to five months on average); |
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working in partnership with the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and landlords to increase the level of provision of mains powered smoke detectors; |
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(k) |
neighbourhood regeneration – |
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service provider and resident listening events had been organised in Barne Barton; a resident led neighbourhood forum had been set up to progress the neighbourhood plan; |
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a resident led Big Local steering group had been set up in Whitleigh to oversee the Lottery £1m Big Local programme. |
The Chair thanked Councillor Penberthy for his comprehensive overview of his portfolio.