The Committee is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2019.

RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Acting Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received the final report of the Review on Helping to Increase Support/Capacity of the Voluntary Sector.

Following its meeting in October 2018, the Committee agreed the scope for a review to help develop the understanding of the type of support required by Gateshead’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), where it is needed most and why, and in the light of this, where the Council’s role, support and resources may be best focussed to maximise impact.  The aims of the review were agreed as:

·         establish the extent and nature of the types of support the Council currently provides to the VCS across a spectrum of service areas

·         how this activity is resourced and coordinated

·         assess the effectiveness of this Council support in helping the VCS address the needs of Gateshead residents.

The review comprised of four evidence gathering sessions.  Evidence was sought from internal council services, including Neighbourhood Management and Volunteering, Economic Development Service, Care Wellbeing and Learning Service, and externally funded partners, stakeholders and charitable trusts, Comfrey Project, Brighten Ryton Environmental Group, Dunston Family Church, Tyne and Wear Community Foundation, The Ballinger Trust and National Lottery Community Fund and Oasis Community Housing.

All of the sessions included presentations by each of the groups / organisations and a question and answer session.

Findings, issues and challenges arising from the review

·                         The review reaffirmed the need for a vibrant community and voluntary sector

in Gateshead that is supported and capable of meeting the challenges facing Gateshead’s residents in the future.

·                         There is a need to ensure longer term support is available from the Council

which cultivates relationships and reassures community and voluntary sector organisations that they can rely on the Council for advice and help.

·                         The community asset transfer programme has seen significant success in helping community organisations operate community facilities to deliver services for local residents.

·                         Need for dedicated points of contact within the Council – including key frontline services, particularly where the interface impacts directly on the Council and is a key purpose to the community organisation. This is required to ensure decisions can be made by the relevant service, relatively quickly – it also helps to build a positive working relationship.

·                         Where appropriate annual plans or agreements be put in place to be agreed

and endorsed by the Council – including assigned responsible officers for

specific activities, such as grounds maintenance as an example from the

evidence gathering. This should help provide greater clarity on what the

groups are doing, help inform the Council on decisions about deployment of

resources and assist with timetabling key decisions/permissions – allowing

the Group to have more accurate plans.

·                         Annual plan would facilitate greater synergy and timetabling of partnership

approach – would maximize windows of opportunity for works to be

undertaken (summer months, avoiding nesting season, etc)

·                         Always read the guidance thoroughly before applying – if in doubt get in

touch.

·                         Ensure the organisation and the project are eligible.

·                         Have all information required ready at the time of submission.

·                         Ensure accounts/bank  ...  view the full minutes text for item CR10

Report of the Acting Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

RESOLVED -  That this item be deferred to a future meeting.

Report of the Acting Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received a report which provided an overview of the revised Strategic Resilience Management Framework.

The purpose of the revised framework is to outline the focus for Gateshead Council to continue to work in collaboration with our partners and communities over the next two years for emergency planning, resilience, response and recovery.  This will ensure that the council continues to comply with statutory legislation and has the necessary capacity and capability to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency or major incident situations and use the learning to inform contingency planning.

The emphasis of this framework is to support the sustained development of a network of competent officers who are able to respond to emergencies and carry on embedding resilience into all aspects of service delivery.

The revised framework includes the following revisions:

·         Updated national context and Local Resilience Forum arrangements

·         Alignment to the Council’s Thrive Agenda

·         Revision of the Local Governance Arrangements

·         Proposal for a future Local Government Association Peer Review

·         Updated service key objectives and priorities for 2019-2021

The Service Key Objectives have been developed to ensure there is compliance with the Civic Contingencies Act (2004) and help achieve the strategic vision with continuous review that will align to the Council’s Service Business  Planning Process and individual Appraisal and Development Sessions.

The revised framework will contribute to achieving three of the five pledges of the Council’s Thrive agenda:

·         Put people and families and the heart of everything we do

·         Support our communities to support themselves and each other

·         Work together and fight for a better future for Gateshead Council

Since the year-end Assessment of Performance and Delivery Report was presented to Committee members in June, additional highlights include:

·         The Council’s Resilience and Emergency Planning Team has developed a Community Emergency Guidance document which aims to:

o   Provide emergency contact details for a range of situations and the type of assistance that can be provided

o   Enable residents and business proprietors to be better prepared to protect themselves and their properties

o   Provide opportunities to volunteer as Community Resilience Warden

o   The document has been added to the Council website.

·         A recruitment campaign is underway for additional staff volunteers to join the council’s emergency response team which will ensure continued resilience and maintaining of capacity and capability

·         The Council has implemented a new on-line digital logging system for use during incidents and emergency situations.  Training and awareness sessions are currently ongoing for members of the emergency response team.

RESOLVED -  (i)         that the comments of the Committee be noted

                        (ii)        that it be noted that the Committee is satisfied with progress achieved

                        (iii)        That the Committee agreed to receiving a progress report in April 2020

Report of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

The Committee received the work programme report.  It was noted that the item on The Gateshead Thrive Fund had been moved to the October meeting.  It was also noted that Brexit is still an issue to slot in.  The Committee were advised that a members seminar has been arranged for 8 October, it may be that something needs to be brought to Committee at a future meeting.

It was suggested that the Committee may wish to visit some of the organisations who have been supported by Thrive Fund and organisations who are working in Gateshead.

RESOLVED -  (i)         That the provisional programme be noted.

                        (ii)        That further reports on the work programme may be brought to the Committee to identify any issues which the Committee may be asked to consider.

                        (iii)        That officers look at the programme to include visits to voluntary organisations working within Gateshead.