Prosperous Community

							   Prosperous Community Community Plan Delivery Group
                    Monday 13 October 2008, 3.30 – 5.30 PM

                  Professional Development Centre, Room 108
                        English Street, London E3 4TA

CORE MEMBERSHIP
                                                        *Indicates members in attendance
Name                      Organisation / Group                  Position
*Councillor Alibor        Councillor                            Lead Member, Employment &
Choudhury (Co-Chair)                                            Skills

*Liam Kane (Co-Chair)     East London Business Alliance         Chief Executive, ELBA

*Paul Evans (COO)         LBTH, Development & Renewal           Interim Corporate Director

Deborah Clarke            LBTH / Primary Care Trust             Joint Director, HR

Gay Harrington            Canary Wharf Group                    Chair of Business Forum

*Derek Harvey             Jobcentre Plus                        External Relations Manager

Dr Jennifer               Metropolitan University               Director, The London
Sommerville                                                     Enterprise Office
Nigel Relph               Queen Mary University                 Corporate Affairs

Nicole Francis            Learning and Skills Council

*Sheila Bentham           Tower Hamlets College

Mary Durkin               LBTH, Youth & Community               Service Head, Youth &
                          Learning                              Community Learning

*Rosie Holcroft           London Development Agency             Senior Regeneration Manger

Paul Brikell              Leaside Regeneration                  Chief Executive, Leaside
                                                                Regeneration

Mike Tyler                Tower Hamlets Education               Chief Executive, Tower
                          Business Partnership                  Hamlets Education Business
                                                                Partnership
June Morton               Tower Hamlets Housing Forum           Managing Director, Old Ford
                                                                Housing Association

*Deborah Cohen            LBTH, Adult Services                  Service Head, Disability and
                                                                Health
To be advised            Chair of Third Sector
                         Employment Network

*Andrew Attfield         Tower Hamlets Primary Care
                         Trust



Others in attendance

Chris Holme, Service Head, Resources
Sue Hinds, Access to Employment Manager
Jackie Odunoye, Head of Strategy & Development
Hanif Osmani, Ocean New Deal Communities
Shaynul Khan, Assistant Director, London Muslim Centre
Toni Meredew, Third Sector Employment Network
Kevin Kewin, Policy Manager
Shazia Hussain, Interim Director, Tower Hamlets Partnership
Jamal Uddin, Partnership Support Officer

Apologies

Deborah Clarke, Joint Director, HR – LBTH / PCT
Nicole Francis, Learning Skills Council
Anita Spindler, Leaside Regeneration
Gay Harrington, Canary Wharf Group
Mike Tyler, Chief Executive, Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership
Mark Grimley, Joint Assistant Director, Organisational Development
Susan Ritchie, Interim Head, Participation & Engagement



1.0    Welcome and apologies for absence

LK Co-Chair of the Prosperous Community Delivery Group opened the
meeting and welcomed everyone to the first Community Plan Delivery Group
for Prosperous Communities.

The following apologies were announced;
Gay Harrington, Nicole Francis, Deborah Clarke, Mike Tyler, Mark Grimley,
Anita Spindler and Susan Ritchie.

Introductions were made round the table.


2.0    Terms of Reference

SH provided the group with some background information regarding the
refresh of the community plan 2020 and outcomes of new government policy.
SH explained briefly the Partnership structure and informed the group that
there would be greater accountability as delivery groups will be required to
report back to the Partnership Executive Group, whom in turn will provide
strategic guidance. They will also be required to showcase work activities and
achievements to the Partnership Board for greater transparency.

The chair at this point asked, how realistic it was to expect support and
guidance from the Partnership Executive Group, especially when you
consider the groups objective around cross – borough working.

SH responded by informing the group that there would be an additional
support function provided by an officer group. The Partnership Executive
Support Group will provide policy and strategic advice and support to the
Partnership Executive.,

It was further noted that previously the group’s (CPAGs) main focus was its
strategic responsibility of allocating NRF and delivering the Community
promises. The group was reminded that NRF has now come to an end and a
new round of Working Neighbourhoods Fund will be made available to the
Partnership but will not replace NRF.

The main focus of each delivery group is to deliver the key LAA and
community plan commitments and targets.

The group considered its basket of LAA indicators. Particular focus was given
to NI7 – Environment for a thriving 3rd sector. This indicator initially was part of
the indicator set for Great Place for Living Delivery Group. SH outlined that
there was some discussion at the Partnership Executive Group as to whether
this indicator would serve a better purpose in the Prosperous Community
Delivery group. It was agreed at the Executive that this would be given further
thought once delivery plans were ready. This followed some discussion
around the relevancy of moving the indicator. LK indicated the scope of the
group was to highlight employment and enterprise and noted that the 3 rd
sector was a much wider issue. However, co-chair Cllr AC noted at the
meeting of the decision to abrogate the indicator into this group had been
authorised.

The Terms of Reference for CPDG were agreed.

       2.1    Future meeting dates for the Delivery Group

It was agreed that meeting dates would not take place on Wednesdays and
times were indicative of this meeting i.e. 3.30 - 5.30 PM.

       2.2    Membership list

Meeting papers included a suggested membership list based on the pre-
meeting discussion with co-chairs, COO and the Partnership team.

The group was asked to discuss and agree membership.
In the first instance, it was conveyed by LK that it was important that agreed
members attend meetings regularly and discouraged members sending
representatives. Cllr AC added that in some circumstances it would be
understandable if representatives attend meetings to ensure the continuity of
the group but this would need to be agreed prior to ensure the right people
are around the table.

It was noted that the following names would be included in the membership
list – Andrew Attfield, PCT and the Chair of the Employment Network.

In the absence of COF / community employment network, there was some
further discussion around NDCs involvement in supporting the development of
a community consortium. HO noted that Terms of Reference were being
devised. LK upon reflection of the group noted that there were levels of good
practice to be understood from this. He additionally requested SH and other
relevant members to talk with NDC to further understand how this could be
further developed and perhaps address the 3rd sector issues.

JO mentioned that although a representative from the THHF should form part
of the groups core membership – she understood that person could not be
Adrian Greenwood as the list suggested.

SH pointed out that Adrian had already nominated a person and the
membership list would be updated.


3.0      Community Plan Scoping Paper

PE delivered this part of the meeting by pointing out that Tower Hamlets is
third on the Governments Index of Deprivation, yet it has one of the strongest
and fastest growing economies in the country thanks to largely the growth of
Canary Wharf and the closeness to the city. It was noted that making local
people benefit from this economic prosperity would be the key challenge for
the delivery group.

The meeting heard the best way to break the cycle of poverty was to raise the
educational attainment of young people through schools but also improving
access to skills and lifelong learning. There was also significant work with
employers to open up those employment opportunities to local people. It was
also noted that the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games would provide a
further catalyst for growth.

The priorities are as follows;

      1. Supporting excellent learning opportunities for all;
      2. Reducing Worklessness;
      3. Fostering Enterprise;
The following is an assessment of delivery capacity which the group
considered;

      To underpin the Family Support and Parental Engagement strategy
       which, will help deliver different aspects of the prosperous community
       agenda
    Developing a cross-cutting child poverty strategy to underpin the CYPP
       and employment strategy
    Continue focus on progressing English at all stages in the boroughs
       schools. In relation, 2008 GCSE results would provide clear indication
       of where resources need to be targeted.
    Changing economic climate may create a new level of challenge in
       getting families into employment
    Employment sub – group is developing an Employment strategy;
       setting out action to improve employment rate and inter – generational
       worklessness
Action 2; LK was conscious that not everyone around the table would have
seen the employment strategy. He requested JU to ensure that members are
sent copies.
    As one of the 5 borough partners to the City Strategy Pathfinder a
       Single Point of Access model has been developed. Successful
       elements of the model will influence delivery of services in the borough.

To support the development of the groups objectives there was further
mention of developing a Multi Area Agreement across the 5 Olympic host
boroughs which is envisaged to shape the future of resourcing and
commissioning.

It was addressed that appropriate activity be resourced through the WNF to
compliment current activities. The group was asked to consider whether there
are elements missing and where the group needs to draw further attention.

There was some discussion regarding whether in reality any real progress
had been made in terms of economic wellbeing of the local community. FY
added that situation has not changed in TH mainly because we are not
targeting the right people or groups.

SB pointed out that there are multiple issues that need addressing and a
range of interventions for different communities as a result. She further added
that the groups responsibilities need to be very clear i.e. the Terms Of
Reference should be more specific to the scope of each delivery group. Few
others agreed to this notion. However, it was mentioned in response that the
scoping paper is to provide each delivery group with clear guidelines as they
begin to develop delivery plans around the key driver / focus of LAA targets.


Cllr AC wanted some clarity as to why the scoping papers did not explicitly
address accountability and transparency.
AC was assured that new Partnership structures include means to ensure
transparency and accountability of all strands of the Partnership as a key
feature. Delivery groups are required to report progress to the Partnership
Executive Group on a quarterly basis and in turn 3 times a year the
Partnership Board will hold them all accountable and ensure activities and
progress is transparent.

LK noted that this feature reflects the poor communication in the past. It is
important that key messages are received by appropriate agencies or groups.
LAPs were an example used.
Action 3: It was noted that communication protocols are to be discussed at
the next meeting.

LAA Delivery / WNF

PE informed the meeting that Cabinet agreed commissioning for the allocation
of WNF to address the following 3 goals;

   1. The short terms imperative to get 4,000 local residents into sustainable
      employment
   2. The long term goal to prevent our current large population of young
      people becoming the workless of the future – early intervention and
      prevention
   3. Targeted work with excluded groups with a clear focus on moving
      people into employment

5 programme streams were identified to address the three strategic goals
above.

These are;

      Family focused engagement
      Pre-employment skills and support to access local jobs
      Accelerating improvement in educational attainment
      Early intervention with young people at risk of worklessness
      Support for socially excluded groups to help them move into
       employment

The limited resource of WNF is to be targeted towards;

      Interventions where we have clear evidence of what works
      Innovative approaches which supplement mainstream programmes
      Areas which are not already being addressed by the key funders in
       relation to employability and skills, Jobcentre plus and Learning & Skills
       Council

A tender document will be produced by end of October. The document will
request proposals in line with the 5 programme streams and reflect the criteria
agreed in the strategic statement on Working Neighbourhood Fund,
encompassing the agreed priorities.
         Tender process will ensure tenders are advertised in early November –
          proposals must be returned by Friday 21st November 2008
         Appraisals would be carried out during the period of January 2009
         Interventions will be commissioned by 1st April 2009

There was some discussion around how proposals would be assessed to
ensure transparency. It was understood that every proposal would be judged
on its own merit.

LK pointed out the amount of WNF available in Tower Hamlets is around
£10.4 million and noted that each directorate would have some funding ring
fenced. Some members were confused as to how WNF would be allocated.

Refer to document (Appendix A) for further information.

Development and Renewal Update on Key Research and Statistical
Projects

Sue H briefly updated the meeting with key research and statistical projects
commissioned by the Directorate. Many of the projects will be completed by
December 2008. This has been driven by the LAs duty to develop an
Economic Assessment of their areas in 2010.

It was noted that the economic downturn has implications for the Directorate’s
targets and it has therefore been vital that we quickly develop our
understanding of what this could mean for the boroughs economy.

Refer to document (Appendix B) for further information on research projects.


Draft Terms of Reference – Enterprise Task Group

In the absence of GH it was noted that the Enterprise Task Group would be
acting as a sub group of the Prosperous Communities Delivery Group.

The group was not able to go through the Terms of Reference in any detail.
Action 4: However, the meeting noted that updates of this group would be
brought to the meeting regularly.


4.       Any Other Business

         Healthy Challenge Fund

The meeting was informed of how the PCT, LA and local community
organisations have submitted a second stage bid for up for up £5 million to
the Healthy Community Challenge Fund for a multi-agency programme to be
delivered between January / February 2009 – March 2011
The bid was submitted at the end of September 2008.

The purpose of the national fund is to ‘test and evaluate different approaches
to making regular physical activity and healthy food choices easier for local
communities, with the aim of preventing overweight and obesity in England’.
This ties in well with the Boroughs community plan commitments.

      The next Prosperous Community Delivery Group is planned for
       Thursday 15 January 2008, 3.30 – 5.30 PM, at Oxford House,
       Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG.