Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report that provided an update in relation to the actions agreed at the previous meeting in relation to the Partnerships response to the recession.

It was noted that since the previous meeting the Chair had written to Partners inviting them to join a time limited Task and Finish Group that would be responsible for developing the Partnership’s approach to the recession.

At the previous meeting partners had been asked to contact the Council’s Head of Economic Regeneration with suggestions as to how this work should be taken forward. However, to date nothing had been submitted and there was agreement that partners wishing to make suggestions should do so as soon as possible so that they could be considered by the Task and Finish Group at it’s meeting in May.

Concern was raised that work should be not be duplicated and it was noted that the Government had produced a booklet that listed all of the schemes and taking place in the Borough to assist local business. This also included the contact details of the organisations providing these schemes. There was agreement that existing information and initiatives should be mapped to avoid duplication.

It was noted that there was a link between a downturn in the economic climate and increases in the level of crime and it was suggested that this should be considered by the Group. Concern was also raised in relation to some of the statistics referred to in the report in relation to crime and it was requested that these were checked with the Community Safety team following the meeting.

It was contended that many of the actions listed it the report were happening independently of the Partnership and that Task and Finish Groups should concentrate on forming new initiatives that could ‘add value’. It was suggested that a benching marking exercise should be undertaken to see how other Local Strategic Partnerships were addressing this issue.

RESOLVED:

1. That the report be noted.

2. That a further report updating the HSP on progress should be submitted.