Agenda and minutes

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business.  (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear.  New items will be dealt with at Item 14 below)

None.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgement of the public interest.

None.

To approve the minutes of the Haringey Strategic Partnership meeting held on 30 January 2006.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the last meeting of the HSP on 30 January 2006 be agreed and signed by the Chair subject to the Council’s membership on the Board being amended.

There were no matters arising.

The Report was introduced to the Board which outlined new projects that would receive NRF funding under the 2006/7 programme. There was a discussion amongst partners over the Top Slice of the NRF funding which would be allocated to neighbourhood management and capacity building. The Board heard that the breakdown of the Top Slice had been reached with guidance from the Council and that a review of allocations would reveal how the funds have supported partner agencies. It was established that partners would be fully engaged in the process of deciding to the details of how the Top Slice is allocated.

RESOLVED:

The HSP agreed

(i)                 the NRF programme for 2006/7, as set out in Appendix A of the Report, and

(ii)               the allocation of the balance of the Top Slice.

The Board was given a presentation by the LSC which outlined its London Learning and Skills Plan and some of the broad targets the LSC have in raising learning achievements foryoung people and adults in an effort to tackle a perceived skills gap within London. During a lengthy discussion about the presentation and the issues raised by it, the Board heard that the LSC give more detail on the top-ten targets it is working towards, and that the LSC would welcome the chance to take part in a Council led Scrutiny Review. The Board were informed that in partnership with the College of North East London (CoNEL), the LSC were able to offer a range of creative and innovative providers that attract a range of community groups, including black Caribbean boys who had been identified as requiring particular attention in terms of raising achievements. The Board heard that although there were issues relating to budgetary challenges within the learning and skills sector, this would not affect the priority areas within the Learning and Skills Plan. However, funding for other areas would only be achieved through partnership working.

There were concerns raised during the discussion relating to securing provisions of skills trainings, ensuring that that LSC is focussed to local issues, and recognising that other working class groups require attention in terms of skills achievements. In response to these concerns, it was established that a robust monitoring system has enabled the LSC to ascertain what the priorities are in terms of funding, and where other funding will come from in order to ensure that gaps in skills are exposed and dealt with effectively. In respect of ensuring that the LSC is focussed, the concerns had been raised as a result of a re-organisation of the LSC which had caused some tensions. However, the Board were assured that a local focus was desirable and that future activity will be to settle these tensions. Evidence of this is that the new structure of the LSC was locally focussed by the use of local intelligence which would be fed back to the Board at its future meetings. It was agreed that attention on other working class groups such as Turkish and Somali boys was also an area of focus for the LSC.

RESOLVED:

The HSP agreed

(i)                 that the presentation be noted

(ii)               that the LSC, in conjunction with the CoNEL, be the subject of a Council Scrutiny Review

(iii)             that the LSC targets and deliver channels, and CoNEL Haringey ward based statistics and targets be reported to the HSP at its June 2006 meeting.

A plan for developing a new Strategy post-2007.

The Board were informed that the Council would be renewing it Community Strategy for ratification from 2007. A Report outlining the background, and the role of the HSP in developing and delivering the next Community Strategy was summarily discussed. It was established that a Council-led officer working group would be set-up and extended to partners to be engaged and that formal consultation was planned. There was some concerns raised over the ownership of the new Community Strategy and it was stated that its strength would be based on robust community engagement. The Board was informed that a workshop to engage on the agenda side of the Community Strategy would ensure ownership and that the officer working group would start the process of integration and partnership working. The governance of the Strategy would be shared and therefore all input would be welcomed in a planned and controlled environment resourced by the Council. Final ratification of the Community Strategy would lie with the Council. Partners largely agreed with this approached and pledged to engage in the process of developing the Strategy. The Board was informed that NRF monies could be used to finance certain development costs and that although some funds could also come from CoNEL, the starting point in the development of the new Strategy (brain-storming) needed wider input, in order to pave the way for continued shared vision and direction.

RESOVLED:                                                   

The HSP agreed to

(i)                 provide comments on the Report to the Council’s Policy and Partnerships Team, and

(ii)               support the overall direction and indicative project plan.

The Board was asked to comment on the SSCF agreement due for submission to Government Officer for London (GOL), a summary of which was outlined in the Report that the Board received. The Board briefly discussed the four elements to the SSCF agreement that would form the basis for the further development and performance management of the SSCF over the coming year. The Board were also informed that the support of the HSP and the relevant thematic partnership boards was important to the development of the Local Area Agreement.

RESOVLED:

The HSP agreed to:

(i)                 comment on the SSCF as a whole and in particular the four elements and the proposed freedoms and flexibilities

(ii)               the draft SSCF agreement subject to any comments

(iii)             comment on the draft statement of community engagement

(iv)              note that a meeting to negotiate the SSCF with GOL will take place on 29 March with key partners

(v)                that the final SSCF is signed off by the Chair of the HSP and reported back to the next meeting of the HSP

(vi)              consider the development of key targets particularly on neighbourhood working, community engagement and worklessness outcomes.

To update the HSP on arrangements for the CPA and the JAR due to take place in June 2006.

The Board was informed of its role during the forthcoming CPA/JAR inspections in June 2006. The Board heard that the Children’s Service would be approaching partners to participate in the Neighbourhood Study for the JAR, which enables inspectors to assess how local services contribute to, and work together, to improve outcomes for children and young people. This would take place shortly after 3 April 2006.

RESOLVED:

The HSP agreed to:

(i)         note the requirements and arrangements for the CPA and the JAR which will take place at the same time.

·                    Better Places Partnership

·                    Haringey Well-Being Partnership Board

·                    Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board

·                    Enterprise Board

·                    Safer Communities Executive Board

The Board had received written updates from the Better Places Partnership, the Haringey Well-Being Partnership Board, the Children and young people’s Strategic Partnership Board, the Enterprise Board, and the Safer Communities Executive Board.

RESOLVED:

The HSP agreed to:

(i)                 note the updates in order to ensure that the thematic partnership boards are open and transparent.

(i)                 Response to ODPM Consultation on Local Strategic Partnerships (for information). (attached)

AOB/Agenda Item 12a:                          

RESPONSE TO ODPM CONSULTATION ON LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS:

RESOLVED:

The HSP agreed to:

(i)                 note the responses that will be submitted as part of the ODPM Consultation.

AOB/Agenda Item 12b:

The Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust raised the issue of the benefit of achieving a consistent approach to budgeting amongst the HSP partners and called for a three-year budgeting. The Board heard that it would be necessary to make a strong case through LAAs.

AOB/Agenda Item 12c:

The Haringey Peace Alliance will be involved in a Leadership Breakfast to focus on health care issues on 12 May 2006. The Council will be represented by its Chief Executive, and partners will be informed of the outcome of the event.

Proposed dates to be confirmed by the Partnership:

·                    12 June 2006, 6pm

·                    4 September 2006, 6pm

·                    11 December 2006, 6pm

·                    26 February 2006, 6pm

The date of the next HSP meeting was confirmed as 6pm, Tuesday 20 June 200pm (venue tbc).

The Council’s Committee Secretariat will be informing partners of the future dates for the HSP and all of its thematic partnership boards in due course.

To consider any new items admitted under Item 2 above.

None.

The Chair expressed his thanks to all partners and their representatives for their contributions to the HSP. The Board also thanked Gill Hawkins, Joint Head of Partnerships, Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust and Haringey Council who will be leaving her post in May 2006 and has made significant contributions to the Board.

The meeting ended at 19:55 hours.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:  Partners wishing to put forward items for a future agenda are asked to contact Nicolas Mattis, Principal Support Officer (Council) at nicolas.mattis@haringey.gov.uk

_____________________________________

Councillor CHARLES ADJE

Chair, Haringey Strategic Partnership

Date:_________________________________