Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from the following:

Paul Head                              -Phil Gowan substituted

Martha Osamor

Michael Thompson

Members of the Board must declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests with respect to agenda items and must not take part in any decision made in relation to that item.

No declarations were made.  

The Board received the draft Enterprise Commissioning Prospectus, which covered the Board’s Area Based Grant (ABG) allocation for 2009/19 and 2010/11.

The Board was reminded that at the previous meeting it had been agreed that an Enterprise Commissioning Prospectus should be developed in order to deliver partnership priorities and LAA outcomes. The Prospectus also set out the process by which people would apply for funding from the ABG.

As part of the assessment process a panel, consisting of members of the Board, would be convened to consider applications for funding.

In response to concern that the document did not make enough reference to early interventions in relation to literacy and innumeracy, or equipping people with ‘soft’ skills, the Board was advised that there were a number of initiatives that were being undertaken with schools in terms of early intervention. As part of the North London Pledge there were also workshops to support people who had recently entered employment. At present mentoring schemes were also being considered.

There was agreement that the documents should be amended to reflect the initiatives above.

It was noted that the Community and Voluntary Sector were often able to access funding streams that were not available generally and that this may beneficial to the partnership and this may be particularly relevant in terms of addressing the current economic climate. The Board was advised that there had been discussion with representatives from the Sector in relation to this and that this was being considered.

In response to a query the Board was advised the Compact Proofing tool developed by the Corporate Voluntary Sector team was in draft form at present. However, officers had been advised that it was fit for purpose and it had been applied to the Prospectus.

The Board discuss how new initiatives aimed at addressing the needs of people recently made unemployed may have an impact upon the long term unemployed. Concern was raised that people who had been unemployed on a long term basis may be further pushed out of the job market with the influx of ‘white collar’ workers who had been affected by the current economic down turn.

The Board was advised that eighty per cent of the measures aimed at helping people into employment were targeted at the long term unemployed and there was agreement that this should be highlighted in the Prospectus.

In response to concerns that the contingency fund, which had been established to fund initiatives to address issues arising from the current economic climate, the Board was advised that work was already being carried out to determine how this could be used most effectively.

The Chair noted concerns around the need to ensure that the Partnership responded to the recession promptly. However, as the information emerging at present suggested that areas of the Borough, which were usually considered to be more affluent were the most effected by changes to the economic climate, there was a need to weigh up how the Partnership should respond and direct its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

To discuss any items of AOB raised.

No items of AOB were raised.

Please note that the next meeting is due to take place on 9 March 2009.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Board was due to be held on 9 March 2009.