Agenda item

Report of champions and NP Co-ordinator, Abdulrazak Dahir

 

NC & NP decision and discuss

i)   Section 106 money funding

ii)  Wellbeing Grants

iii)  Fundraiser report and

iv)  Other NP Buisness

The activities / business report was considered as follows:

 

Part 1 -Citywide NP event:

The update on the citywide event held on 20 July was noted.  The Chair and members of the partnership also congratulated Cllr Craig on her recent appointment as Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods.

 

 

Part 2 - NP equalities review 2016:

The update on the equalities monitoring review was noted.  The outcomes of the review effectively set a benchmark against which future reviews could be assessed, and it would be important to take the key findings into account in taking forward the NP engagement plan.

The key findings included:

·         Engagement with disabled people: the percentage of disabled people engaged with was lower than the NP census proportion.

·         Engagement with black and minority ethnic people: the percentage of engagement with these groups was lower than the NP census proportion.

·         Gender engagement: males were engaged in line with the NP census proportion but female engagement fell below the NP census proportion.

The full report was available for inspection.

 

 

Part 3 - Operation sub-group update:

The update report was noted. As a point of clarification, it was also noted that the St George in Bloom group had received a financial donation from the St George Town Team, and had received support from the Aviva Insurance community outreach team.

 

 

Part 4 – Meadow Vale steering group proposal:

The update on the progress made by the steering group was noted.

 

The NP and Neighbourhood Committee considered a funding proposal from the steering group.

 

Cllr Beech declared an interest in this particular proposal relating to her role as a member of the Meadow Vale Steering Group, and did not participate in the taking of this decision.

 

The Neighbourhood Committee

RESOLVED:

That a contribution of £3,308 be approved from the neighbourhood budget towards the cost of hiring professional support (architect) to pull together the requirements for a full planning application to develop Meadow Vale community centre.

 

 

Part 5 - Environment sub-group update:

The update report was noted.

 

The NP and Neighbourhood Committee considered a proposal from the sub-group to ring-fence £15,000 of the remaining Section 106 funding for improving provision at Colebrook Road green space.

 

Main points raised/noted:

 

1.      An additional document was circulated setting out summary details of Section 106 spending by park in the NP area, from December 2011 to May 2016.  Whilst noting this information, the committee agreed it would be useful for a full, detailed document on this spend to be prepared and circulated.

 

2.      A separate meeting would be arranged, involving Cllr Craig (as Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods), to discuss future investment/improvements that might be progressed at St George’s Park.

 

3.      Grenville Johnson advised that he had been collating suggestions for a permanent, local memorial for the late, former councillor Ron Stone.  These suggestions would be shared at the next Operation Sub-Group.  At a future point, a decision was likely to be needed about ring-fencing a sum to meet the anticipated memorial costs as the proposal (once agreed) began to be progressed.

 

Action: The Chair to provide details of Section 106 expenditure to committee members.

Action: The NP Co-ordinator / Cllr Craig to organise and facilitate a separate meeting between Friends of St George’s Park and Cllr Craig.

 

The Neighbourhood Committee

RESOLVED:

That £15,000 of the remaining Section 106 funding be ring-fenced for improving Colebrook Road green space, either as match funding for play equipment or for other uses to improve provision at Colebrook Road green space.

 

 

Part 6 -Traffic and transport sub-group update:

The update report was noted.

 

The NP and Neighbourhood Committee considered a proposal from the sub-group to allocate £12,500 to the Lyppiatt Road local traffic scheme (i.e. the priority scheme for this NP for 2016-17).

 

Main points raised/noted:

 

1.      At their recent meeting held on 3 October, the Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill NP had agreed to fund 50% of this scheme, estimated to cost £25,000.

 

2.      Whilst indicating support for the proposal, Neighbourhood Committee members noted that whilst they were being asked to agree a financial allocation for the scheme, the final detail was subject to consultation and further development in light of the consultation.  The impact of the current, proposed residential development in Lyppiatt Road also needed to be taken into account in terms of the timing of works to be carried out on this scheme.

 

Noting and taking account of the above, the Neighbourhood Committee

RESOLVED:

That £12,500 be allocated to the Lyppiatt Road local traffic scheme (to progress the feasibility design scheme).

 

 

Part 7 - Wellbeing grants

 

The NP and Neighbourhood Committee considered the recommendations from the Wellbeing sub-group.

 

Main points raised/noted:

 

1.      In relation to the application from Playing Out CIC, the aim was to work towards sustainability with these schemes supported by local parents / volunteers in the NP area.  It would be useful to circulate a map showing the areas that currently had Playing Out schemes.  It was also important to look to encourage/facilitate the development of these schemes, working with parents/volunteers in those parts of the NP area that had not yet seen the development of these schemes.

 

2.      In discussion on the application from The Lamplighters, it was noted that Meadow Vale Community Association would be advised of the contact details of a local community artist, who could potentially assist with a workshop event. 

 

3.      It was suggested that consideration should be given to developing a Christmas lights proposal for 2017.  It was noted it would be essential to secure support (and organisational assistance) from local traders in taking forward this idea.

 

Action: Playing Out project to encourage people from the Speedwell area to take up the project offer.

Action: Fiona Russell to contact Lamplighters about the Meadow Vale Community Centre involvement in the project.

 

Noting and taking into account the above, the Neighbourhood Committee

RESOLVED:

 

1. That £2,000 be awarded to Playing Out CIC to fund paying for a local project worker to support existing local Playing Out schemes, support a primary school to start a new scheme, network with local groups to spread the Playing Out idea and encourage take up, and to provide road closure kits to new Playing Out streets. The aim is to work towards sustainability with Playing Out purely supported by volunteers in the NP area.

Condition(s): Publicity to be shared with webteam@stgeorgenp.org.uk when a reach across St George is needed.

 

2. That £2,671 be awarded to Meadow Vale Community Association to fund improving the look and facilities of the community centre, to make it easier to hire out and to enable many activities to be carried out there.

Condition(s): When the work is done, advertising for hire of the community centre to be done locally and comprehensively, including on local community noticeboards.

 

3. That £1,865 be awarded to The Lamplighters to fund working with local schools and community groups to create lanterns on the theme of “The World in Lights” culminating in a lantern procession on 2 December, from Redfield Educate Together Primary Academy to and along Church Road and back.

Condition(s): Publicity to be shared with webteam@stgeorgenp.org.uk

 

 

Part 8 – Update report on fundraising consultant

The update report was noted

 

The NP and Neighbourhood Committee considered a request to allocate £295.55 as top-up funding to the £10,000 allocated to the fund raising consultant.

 

An additional document was circulated, providing a summary of the successful fund raising activity undertaken by the fund raising consultant, Viv Brinsdon, on behalf of Meadow Vale Community Association and Friends of Dundridge Park.   Partners expressed their appreciation of the expertise and highly effective work that had been carried out by Viv in securing funds to support local projects and schemes.  A fund raising workshop had been planned to capture good practice from this experience, but did not materialise.  It was noted that Voscur was contracted to support and build the capacity of local community groups.

 

It was suggested it would be beneficial to have a fund raising session, amalgamating the Wellbeing funding process and learning from the experiences of Meadow Vale, and Friends of Dundridge Park and Troopers Hill.

 

Action: The NP Co-ordinator and Wellbeing sub-group champion to organise this session.

 

Noting and taking account of the above, the Neighbourhood Committee

 

RESOLVED:

That £295.55 be allocated as top-up funding to the £10,000 allocated to the fundraising consultant.