MINUTES

OF THE MEETING OF THE

Community Services Policy

AND Scrutiny Panel

Wednesday 5th November 2003

HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET.

Meeting Commenced: 2.30 p.m. Meeting Concluded: 4.00 p.m.

PRESENT: Councillors Andy Cole (Chairman), Ian Bates (Vice-Chairman), Ian Baker, Greta Lewis, Chanel Stevens (substitute for Bob Bateman), Audrey Telling, Clive Webb, and Andy Wright.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Bob Bateman.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Councillors Bob Coleman, Sally Tabrett and Nat Tucker (Nailsea Swimming Pool Interest Group).

The Chairman advised Panel Members of the re-ordered agenda; item 6.3 following after agenda item 4.1.

COM 11

Public Discussion (Agenda Item 2)

Mr. Nat Tucker, Chairman of the Nailsea Swimming Pool Interest Group addressed the Panel. The following points were covered by the Development and Environment Directorate representative.

§ The Sport England stock take is not yet known. This can be referred to the local Sports Council by North Somerset Officers. Members of the Panel would be circulated briefing papers for interest.

§ There is a swimming representative on the North Somerset Sports Council.

§ The Swimming Pool Strategy includes private facilities but the main focus is on public facilities.

COM 12

Declarations of Interest by Members (Agenda Item 3)

A member declared the interest below:

Councillor Ian Baker a Code of Conduct interest as his wife is an employee of the Library Service, with reference to agenda item 6.3 Best Value Review of Partnerships.

COM 13

Minutes of the Meeting held on 10th September 2003 (Agenda Item 4.1)

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

COM 14

Verbal Feedback on Best Value Review of Partnerships (Agenda (Item 6.3)

The Chief Executive Officer’s representative gave a short presentation on feedback from the Best Value Review of Partnership Working. A copy of the presentation would remain in the minute book.

(1) The background to the best value process was re-visited, focusing on outcomes and practical service improvements.

(2) The key messages were covered from stakeholder workshops/Policy and Scrutiny Panels and officer workshops. The aim of the review was to put together an Improvement Plan which would go to the next Executive Meeting.

(3) Suggested actions to improve partnership working arrangements were highlighted. All partnership activities were currently being collated on a database, once fully developed partnerships would be assessed on their effectiveness. The North Somerset Partnership (comprising 29 partners) had produced a Draft Community Plan, the plan set out a 20-year vision for North Somerset, with priorities and actions for the next three years.

CONCLUDED: that the content of the presentation be noted, that copies of the Improvement Plan be sent to all Members of this Panel prior to the report being submitted to the Executive to endorse. Panel Members to have the opportunity to give any feedback on the report through the Panel’s Chairman or relevant Executive Member and that Panel Members be invited to a Council focus group meeting on 27th November 2003 for inspectors to talk to Panel Members on their views.

COM 15

Update on ‘Leisure Management 1’ and ‘Leisure Management 3’ Contracts (Agenda Item 6.1)

The representative of the Development and Environment Directorate reinforced the Leisure Management update and referred to the Swimming Pool Strategy on page 8 of the report. A timetable had been produced to undertake the study of swimming pool provision. A copy of the report to remain in the minute book.

Discussion ensued on the pre-tender questionnaire and valuation procedures. Tenders were objectively assessed. It was noted that the Finance and Resources Policy and Scrutiny Panel were looking at the tender process.

CONCLUDED: That a swimming pool provision brief be produced by mid-November to allow consultants to be employed by January 2004 and a report be brought to this Panel for the February 2004 meeting and presented to the Executive at their meeting on the 9th March 2004 and that further investment in Backwell or a new provision in Nailsea would need to be addressed by members over the next few months.

COM 16

Presentation on Young People’s Leisure Time, Representative of the Director of Development and Environment (Agenda Item 6.2)

The Director`s representative gave a presentation to scope the parameters of a Working Party to consider the leisure time needs of young people in North Somerset. A copy of the report, brief note and presentation to remain in the minute book.

The topic of young people and their leisure time was acknowledged as a vast area of interest that required in-depth exploration with well defined parameters for the Panel to scrutinise. The content of the report was covered with particular reference made to the following points:

§ the under 16 age group of 38,000 in North Somerset, spend only 18% of their waking time at school;

§ comparisons were made to young people and all respondents when participating in leisure activities although no in-depth study had been undertaken in North Somerset;

§ the new anti-social behavioural policy was envisaged to increase tension with young people;

§ a lot of policies for young people do not address the broad aspects and create an imbalance;

§ the Youth Forum identified access to travel, cost of leisure activities and housing in North Somerset as key issues affecting the youth;

§ 16 – 19 year olds need more sophisticated facilities in clubs in Weston and Bristol with safe access;

§ the service to young people in Weston was described as fragmented by members;

§ the Panel could engage with Youth Forums to gain information;

§ Sally Tabrett, expert witness, queried what liaison had been undertaken with youth/voluntary organisations and services currently supplied by North Somerset. She questioned whether the Youth Parliament, Youth Council, Youth Clubs and homework clubs been involved;

§ the national average age range for young offenders was 18, however, North Somerset’s average was a lower age range;

§ youngsters seen on the streets in Weston-super-Mare were estimated to be within the age range of 12 – 15 years;

§ youngsters were more likely to drop out of organised activities during the 12 – 13 age range;

§ youngsters had responded in questionnaires to request a warm, safe environment where they could meet with their peers;

§ tremendous efforts had been made to engage with the voluntary sector. It was extremely difficult to liaise with local groups as these organisations do not have the capacity to deliver dialogue only offer services

§ the availability of new services was fractured;

§ the election from the UK Youth Member of Parliament will be held in the next two weeks;

§ post coded ballots will be held to reach all youngsters in North Somerset;

§ the Youth Bus was discussed as giving a limited facility;

§ rural villages are met with health and safety regulation hurdles when delivering facilities for the youth;

§ the issue of transportation was recognised as an obstacle to young people’s leisure time;

§ more local research was needed on young peoples` thoughts and views

§ the Nailsea Youth House and the Methodist Youth Centre of Nailsea (MYCON) Youth Club were discussed. The Nailsea Youth Club was sponsored by the Methodist Church with a fixed membership open five nights a week.

§ the Nailsea Youth House was a drop-in facility with a very low programme threshold. There was access to staff, computers, television and quiet rooms. Adults were available to address concerns with the young people. This facility was used during the day as a youth support service for youngsters who had left school and were searching for employment. Both facilities were available on buses and were well used.

§ the successful Nailsea Youth House model could be used elsewhere.

§ MYCON, had requested increased funding each year, grant aid was not cut but increased last year.

§ a review of all facilities in North Somerset was discussed with how to support and improve existing facilities and set up desired facilities.

§ the Chairman asked for three Members of the Panel to form a Working Party on Young People’s Leisure Time, to pick out the key issues discussed and report back to the Panel in February with their findings.

CONCLUDED: that Councillors Chanel Stevens, Audrey Telling and Andy Wright be appointed to the Working Party on Young People’s Leisure Time to pick out the key issues discussed and report back to this Panel in February 2004 and that Councillor Sally Tabrett be invited to attend the Working Party to benefit from her extensive knowledge of working with young people.

________________________________

Chairman

________________________________