Issue - meetings

Gemma Webb presented this report on the progress which had been made against the actions in the Community Strategy 2004-2007. It was understood that of the 25 actions:

• 17 were Green, which meant they had been achieved or were likely to be achieved
• 4 were amber which meant they had been partially achieved or data was awaited it was likely to be borderline
• 1 was red, which meant that the target had not been met

Gemma Webb explained that 3 actions had not been graded, but this work would be carried out in the near future.

Enabling older people to live at home

It was noted that there were two targets associated with this action. The target of increasing the number of people over the age of 65 being helped to live at home had not been met, while the latest figure should be available by the end of the month for the number people over the age of 65 living at home with a quality life index below 10. Mark Kemp agreed to find out a precise definition of the quality of life index.

Sustainable housing

Chris Jackson stated that housing associations had a good record on ensuring that their new build affordable homes were sustainable, but cost prevented the renovation of the existing housing stock.

The Board AGREED to appoint Councillor Mark Howell onto the South Cambs climate change working group.

Cabinet NOTED the progress made in delivering the priority actions in the Community Strategy 2004-07. 

The Conservation, Sustainability and Community Planning Portfolio Holder congratulated officers for progress made delivering the priority actions in the Community Strategy, and advised that more joined-up thinking between portfolios would be necessary for the 2007-10 Strategy.

The Head of Community Services explained that the Council was well advanced in some areas and must focus on completing the remaining targets and preparing the next strategy.  He updated members on the Local Public Service Agreement target relating to increased road safety, which, if maintained would pass the 60% trigger to receive reward grant money.  The reward grant would be paid to Cambridgeshire County Council and shared equally amongst all five Local Strategic Partnerships.  Should the grant be achieved, he had proposed to the Local Area Agreement (LAA) board that 5-10% be ‘top-sliced’ to support the officer structure for Community Strategy work.  He undertook to bring to Cabinet in September or October a report on progress towards, and possibility of achieving, reward grants.

Concerns about road safety in and between villages were expressed, although it was understood that any improvements were for Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver.

Cabinet NOTED the progress made in delivering the priority actions in the Community Strategy 2004-07.

To approve the Community Strategy for South Cambs, April 2004 to March 2007.

Cabinet on 22nd April 2004 is being invited to endorse the final Strategy for approval by Council, and its recommendation will be reported at the meeting.  Copies of the Strategy are enclosed separately with this agenda.

The draft Strategy was approved by Council on 12th December 2003, subject to amendments made by the Local Strategic Partnership Board.  Further development work has taken place through the Partnership and the Board has approved changes.  All partners are now being invited to ratify the Strategy, which will be subject to  annual reviews.

RESOLVED    that the Community Strategy for South Cambs, April 2004 to March 2007, be ratified and adopted.

Cabinet on 22nd April 2004 had endorsed the final Community Strategy for South Cambs. April 2003 to March 2007, for approval by Council. The draft had been approved by Council on 12th December 2003 but further development work had taken place and the Local Strategic Partnership Board had approved changes.

Councillor R Page accused the Strategy of being unrealistic and asked that it should not be accepted. He called for a realistic assessment of the current situation, what people wanted and what could be achieved.  The Leader responded that the Strategy had been two years in gestation and that it was an attempt to face reality and address damage already done.  Some outcomes might be unobtainable but they had to be sought or nothing would happen.  This was what all the partners, including the Council, the Health Service and business were aiming for.

Other Members acknowledged the possible shortcomings of the Strategy and its inability to deal with the major national issues, but commended it as a document to work on.  The Leader invited Councillor Page to attend the next meeting of the Local Strategic Partnership. 

Council

RESOLVED    that the Community Strategy for South Cambs, April 2004 to March 2007, be ratified and adopted.

For Approval

Cabinet RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the South Cambs Community Strategy be approved.

Council had approved the draft Community Strategy on 12^th December 2003 and the finalised Strategy was to be launched in autumn 2004.  The Sustainability and Community Planning Portfolio Holder commended the Community Strategy to Cabinet and cautioned that there could be a need for additional staff to ensure that all aspects were delivered.

The following points were raised:

·                      Further priority action areas for lifelong learning had been added and two priority action areas had been added in relation to travellers: the travellers’ needs survey and enforcement action to tackle unauthorised and illegal development;

·                      It was hoped that the provision of broadband would reach 99% of settlements by the end of 2004, two years ahead of the target date in the Strategy;

·                      There was a danger of small community-specific voluntary organisations being overshadowed by larger groups at the new Voluntary Sector Forum;

·                      The Strategy incorporated a youth element throughout by identifying children and young people as priority groups, although there were some queries as to whether this was sufficiently emphasised; and

·                      All partners would monitor progress throughout the lifetime of the Strategy.

Reservations were expressed about the staffing and resource implications, and it would be necessary to prioritise those aspects for which the District Council was primarily responsible.  Members of the Local Strategic Partnership had been apprised of the limited financial resources from the Council and the central government had been approached for assistance.

Cabinet commended the Head of Community Services for his considerable work on the Community Strategy, especially after Cambridgeshire County Council withdrew officer support.

Cabinet RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the South Cambs Community Strategy be approved.

Minute 5: Community Strategy for South Cambridgeshire

Cabinet recommend to Council

its endorsement in principle of the Community Strategy for South Cambridgeshire, subject to the strategy being approved by the Strategic Partnership Board on 2nd December 2003.

RESOLVED    to endorse the Community Strategy for South Cambridgeshire, subject to the amendments approved by the Strategic Partnership Board on 2nd December 2003.

Noting that the Local Strategic Partnership Board had approved it, subject to comments on detail, Council

RESOLVED    to endorse the Community Strategy for South Cambridgeshire, subject to the amendments approved by the Strategic Partnership Board on 2nd December 2003.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

its endorsement in principle of the Community Strategy for South Cambridgeshire, subject to the strategy being approved by the Strategic Partnership Board on 2nd December 2003.

The Council had a duty to prepare a Community Strategy to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of local people and to contribute to a sustainable United Kingdom.  The South Cambs Strategic Partnership had produced a draft Community Strategy, which the Sustainability and Community Planning Portfolio Holder explained was not intended to replace current work but to provide a strategy of targets and monitoring mechanisms for a range of services provided by the Council and its partners.

Members queried the limited references to supporting young people, previously identified as a high priority.  The Head of Community Services explained that that supporting young people could be included in other targets even if not specifically stated.  Members also noted that there could be more references to health provision, especially for those communities far from Addenbrooke’s.  The Chief Executive felt that the Strategy should limit itself to those issues which could be best addressed in partnership and noted that there were issues already being catered for by individual organisations.

The Head of Community Services acknowledged the large number of targets in the Strategy, explaining that the Strategic Partnership Board included a wide range of partners, all of whom wanted their own issues addressed.  He agreed to raise the possibility of reducing the number of targets at the Board meeting on 2nd December.

Councillor Mrs Heazell asked that the word “routemap” in the introduction be replaced with something less dated.

Members were asked to report any further concerns to the Head of Community Services before 1st December so that they could be considered at the Board meeting.

Members welcomed the Community Strategy and Cabinet

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

its endorsement in principle of the Community Strategy for South Cambridgeshire, subject to the strategy being approved by the Strategic Partnership Board on 2nd December 2003.