Agenda item

To provide a presentation to the Panel on ‘locality working’, a community-based approach that aims to better address need in local neighbourhoods, reduce inequalities and build better outcomes with and for residents.

Cllr Connor introduced this item, explaining that the Panel had recently visited the Northumberland Park Neighbourhood Resource Centre where there had been useful discussions about the locality working approach. The slides provided in the agenda pack were noted by the Panel and proceeded straight to questions.

Cllr Peacock requested that the local ward Councillors for Northumberland Park be more closely involved in this initiative. Charlotte Pomery noted that there had been some engagement events held but said that she was happy to engage further with the ward Councillors.

Cllr Connor asked about the safety of the external environment to the Neighbourhood Resource Centre given concerns about crime/anti-social behaviour which could put some vulnerable clients off from attending. She also asked about the involvement of the local Police and whether any support for the initiative was being provided by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club which was close by. Charlotte Pomery emphasised that the initiative was a geographically based approach so wasn’t just about the building. She added that the next stage was to work with the community, not just on the design of the building, but on what else they’d like to see in terms of partners. They were already working with the Regeneration Team on this because it was recognised that the wider environment would impact on the ability of staff and residents to engage in the work. There had also been early conversations with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and the local voluntary and community sector on how they could be part of the wider offer.

Asked by Cllr Demir whether local organisations such as the Mental Health Trust or providers of adult education classes could use the space, Charlotte Pomery confirmed that this was the type of use that was envisaged and noted that Barnet Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust (BEH-MHT) was currently reorganising their community offer. Their staff could use local resources such as this which would be closer to users and build on integrated working alongside local authority staff. It was intended that the use of the building would have three strands:

• Enable and encourage integrated working.
• Offer a workspace hub for staff from the Council and other partners.
• Increase community use to support health and wellbeing outcomes.

Asked by Cllr Demir about the safeguarding of staff, Charlotte Pomery said that security measures were being built into the design of the building such as exits and alarms.

Asked by Cllr Blake what this approach would mean for young adults, including those in contact with the criminal justice system, Charlotte Pomery said the intention was that all ages would be able to participate in provision at the Neighbourhood Centre and that they were engaging with Early Help Service colleagues about the engagement of young adults.

In response to concerns from Ali Amasyali about difficulties in accessing the Neighbourhood Centre by public transport, particularly for wheelchair users, Charlotte Pomery said that there were public transport links into Northumberland Park and that the building itself would be fully wheelchair accessible. She also noted that the nature of the locality-based approach meant that people using the Centre would be local and so would not have to travel far. Cllr Connor suggested that a transport survey could be carried out, commenting that there would still be some travelling required and that if local buses were very busy then they could still be difficult for wheelchair users to access. Charlotte Pomery said that she would be happy to take this suggestion back of part of the development of the programme. (ACTION)

Asked by Cllr Connor about the involvement of the NHS and major local providers, Charlotte Pomery said that there had advanced conversations with both the North Middlesex and Whittington Hospitals, with the Whittington looking at a locality method of delivering community health services, as well as the engagement with BEH-MHT as previously discussed.

Cllr Connor summarised the recommendations of the Panel as:

• A review of public transport links to the Northumberland Park Neighbourhood Resource Centre.
• Early discussions on partnership working and funding for improvements in the surrounding area to the Neighbourhood Resource Centre including the Police, NHS partners, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and the Council’s Regeneration Team.