CPP Board Minutes
North Ayrshire Council · 15 May 2024
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 15 May 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 15 May 2024 Council Title: North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board: Minutes of Meeting held in March 2024 Purpose: To submit the Minutes of the meeting of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Board held on 15 March 2024. Recommendation: That Council the Council notes the Minutes contained in Appendix 1. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 It was previously agreed that the Minutes of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board be submitted to North Ayrshire Council for information. The key matters arising from the minutes have been highlighted for the attention of Council and are detailed in Section 2.1. 2. Background 2.1 Minutes of the meeting of the CPP Board held on 15 March 2024 are appended. This meeting focused on the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) ‘Work’ priority and digital projects across the CPP. Particular matters for the Council's attention include the following: Meeting of 15 March 2024 Agenda Item 3 CPP partners received their annual update from the thematic group supporting the LOIP ‘Work’ priority- the Local Employability Partnership. This included an overview of key trend data, the ‘Your Next Move’ careers event which took place on 5th March 2024 and was attended by 700 young people, and plans for Employability Week which takes place between the 27th and 31st May 2024. Agenda Item 4 This is currently a standing item. CPP partners received an update on the work of the Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board. North Ayrshire Council has allocated £1.2 million over a three-year period to the Child Poverty and Cost of Living Fund, with a total of £400k allocated each year. In 2023-24, £231k has been allocated to date for school meal debt (£61k), school devices (£170k) and a small amount for promotional materials
Page 2
for the No Wrong Door campaign. The CPP Board were also updated around potential proposals for future funding: • Lend and Mend initiative • Financial education in schools • Rainbow house – families and young people with disabilities • Food larders Agenda Item 5 CPP Partners received an update around current Single Shared Assessment and data work resourced through Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Funding (CPAF) awarded in October 2023. North Ayrshire Council currently provides a wide variety of services and supports, however different benefits and grants must be applied for separately. The purpose of the Single Shared Assessment project is to collect as much information about the customer as possible, with their permission. This, with their consent, can be used to determine what a person is entitled to, what they currently receive and how the Council and other partners can help and support them, providing a more person-centred approach. This will act as a tool to further support our community. The immediate next steps include an officer workshop to scope the next stages of the project and development of a detailed delivery plan. Agenda Item 6 Partners received an update on development and implementation of the new North Ayrshire Community Directory via the CPP website. During the pandemic, Locality Community Books were published on the CPP Website which signposted people to help and support. Rather than have a printed version of supports available, the team were tasked to develop a new digital Community Book solution. This led to the updated CPP website and new Community Service Directory. The Directory has been developed using ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) open data which allows the community and partners to take ownership of the data and update local information themselves. The interface can be filtered through key words, distance from an address or North Ayrshire Locality. Next steps include: • Working with colleagues to launch the new directory with community and partners • Working with HSCP to support the move of data from CARENA to ALISS database • Staff training around the new site and uploads to ALISS 3. Proposals 3.1 That the Council notes the Minutes contained in Appendix 1. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial
Page 3
4.1 None. Human Resources 4.2 None. Legal 4.3 None. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 None. Environmental and Sustainability 4.5 None. Key Priorities 4.6 The CPP activities detailed within this report support the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan. Community Wealth Building 4.7 None. 5. Consultation 5.1 No consultation was required. David Hammond Executive Director Communities and Housing For further information please contact Jacqui Greenlees, Senior Manager (Policy, Performance and Community Planning), on 01294 324415. Background Papers Appendix: 1 CPP Board Minutes, 15 March 2024
Page 4
Community Planning Partnership Board Friday 15 March 2024 at 11.15 am Via Microsoft Teams Present North Ayrshire Council Cllr Marie Burns, Elected Member (Chair) Cllr John Bell, Elected Member Cllr Scott Davidson, Elected Member Cllr Alan Hill, Elected Member Cllr Shaun Macaulay, Elected Member Craig Hatton, Chief Executive (NAC) Audrey Sutton, Executive Director David Hammond, Head of Service Department of Work and Pensions Sheila Lynn, Service Leader NHS Ayrshire and Arran Claire Burden, Chief Executive Lisa Davidson, Assistant Director of Public Health Police Scotland Raymond Higgins, T/Chief Superintendent Ayrshire College Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive Scottish Enterprise Brian Connolly, Engagement Partner Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Ian McMeekin, Local Senior Officer Scottish Government Sam Anson, Place Director Scottish Partnership for Transport Allan Comrie, Senior Transport Planner Skills Development Scotland Shona Mitchell, Head of Operations South-West In Attendance Jacqui Greenlees (NAC), Jennifer McGee (NAC), Lesley Dunlop (NAC), Laura Neill (NAC), Sheila Paisley (NAC), Tracy Simpson (NAC), Elaine Nixon (NAC) Apologies Vicki Yuill (Arran CVS), Rhonda Leith (NAC), Caroline Cameron, (NAHSCP), Cllr Timothy Billings, Elected Member, Cllr Margaret Johnson, Elected Member, Julie McLachlan, (Scottish Government), Kaileigh Brown, Executive Director
Page 5
1. Welcome and Apologies The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies for absence were noted. 2. Minute of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the Board meeting held on 7 December 2023 were approved. 3. Local Employability Partnership Update The Chair invited Laura Neill to provide the Board with an update on the work of the Local Employability Partnership (LEP). L Neill advised the Board that her previous update was in September 2023 and she would provide an update on activity and engagement from then until February 2024. L Neill highlighted: Young People (16-24 year olds) Data Hub: improving engagement SLDR Feb: 96.5% positive destinations - 8th highest - Scotland 95.9% Your Next Move: Careers Event: 5th March 2024; 700 young people attended Parents, long term unemployed, people with convictions Skills for Life: 70 people supported Recruitment Events: local employers Parent Group: Service User Involvement/SG Advisory Panel Criminal Justice Employability Mentors Closing the Disability Employment Gap (people with disabilities & long term health conditions) Eglinton Garden SQA Accredited Centre Cycle Maintenance & Recycling Reverse Jobs Fair: 13th March 2024 No One Left Behind Grants Programme 12 Providers: Third Sector 230 new people to be supported: 80 supported Increased reach Ayrshire Growth Deal Working for a Healthy Economy Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund: Ayrshire College Programme, Employer Grants Programme Future Opportunities • The Equal Programme 5th Anniversary: 11th May 2024 • Employability Week 27th – 31st May 2024, range of activities taking place • Skills for Life - Green Jobs Academy, Classroom Assistants, Step into Business, Care at Home, Facilities Management • Youth Programmes • Employability Framework: Contracting • Fair Start Scotland: Referrals end: 31st March 2024 • All Referrals to Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire
Page 6
The Chair invited comments and questions from the Board. • Cllr Macaulay asked about the long term aspect of the positive destinations for young people. S Mitchell informed that SDS compile statistics for school leavers on the first Monday of October and the first Monday of April. L Neill highlighted that the Data Hub is used to compile statistics and continue to mentor the young people on the Hub. • Cllr Macaulay also asked who delivers the Skills for Life programme as there is a programme in Irvine Royal Academy. L Neill informed that North Ayrshire Council delivers the programme and will link in with Irvine Royal. L Neill added that there is a new programme in place in schools for classroom assistants which is a good opportunity for parents as it is term time. • A Cox thanked L Neill for her input and asked about the Green Jobs Academy and if it could align with the Future Skills Hub at Kilwinning Campus. L Neill responded that is in the process of being set up via the Net Zero Accelerator Programme and that the College provides the training. She commented that she would welcome the opportunity to enhance this if possible. • A Cox also enquired how L Neill aligns with the other two LEPs in Ayrshire to make sure there are no barriers due to postcode and that everyone has the same opportunity. L Neill advised that the three LEPs meet regularly and try to deliver regional programmes. • A Comrie enquired about the effect of bus passes for young people and if the cost of transport had been detrimental to them previously. L Neill informed that the bus pass has mobilised young people and that previously transport had been a barrier. Without the cost of travel young people are better off. This has been extended to parents and has had a massive increase in parents participating in work and training. The Chair thanked L Neill for her presentation and acknowledged the opportunities for joint working. 4. Child Poverty and Cost of Living The Chair highlighted that she is very happy with the progress made since the inception of the Board and thanked everyone for their support. Mini enquiries have been very helpful in bringing everyone together. The Chair spoke of A Sutton’s impending retirement, conveyed her thanks and wished her a happy retirement. The Chair also introduced Sam Anson who has been appointed as the new Executive Director for Education and Wellbeing and David Hammond who has been appointed as the new Executive Director for Communities and Housing in the recent restructure of the Council and welcomed them to their roles. Audrey Sutton provided the Board with an update on Child Poverty and Cost of Living. A Sutton highlighted the following: North Ayrshire Council has allocated £1.2 million over a three-year period to the Child Poverty and Cost of Living Fund, with a total of £400k allocated each year. In 2023-24, £231k has been allocated to date for school meal debt (£61k), school devices (£170k) and promotional materials for the No Wrong Door campaign (£168). Proposals for current fund • No Wrong Door + - £50k • Sustainable childcare provision - £20k • Employability travel plans - £50k • Poverty focused Active Schools program - £20k Proposals for future funding
Page 7
• Lend and Mend initiative • Financial education in schools • Rainbow house – families and young people with disabilities • Food larders Reporting Requirements • Cost of Living Cabinet update – May 2024 • Child Poverty annual report to Cabinet and Scottish Government – June 2024 • Children’s Services Plan annual report contribution – June 2024 Child Poverty and Cost of Living Work to Date • Child Poverty Strategy and Annual Reports • Cost of Living – six monthly reports to Cabinet • Mini-enquiry person centred approach to evidence gathering • Development of suite of performance measures • No Wrong Door Concept • Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund: £1.2m over three years • Single Shared Assessment – CPAF award to progress for national benefit • Data sharing pathfinder work with SG, IS etc • Invitation to become involved in the national child poverty pathfinders A Sutton also highlighted some of the work being progressed: No Wrong Door Staff Awareness, comms and monitoring; partners Data sharing pathfinder Work with SG and partners Single Shared Assessment Work with SG and Council services Child Poverty Pathfinder Scope with SG and partners Performance data baselining and collection Complete baseline and develop trend information and narrative The Chair invited comments and questions from the Board. • Cllr Bell acknowledged that it is great to see the amount of work going on and he is sad to see A Sutton leaving as she was fundamental in establishing and progressing the child poverty approach in North Ayrshire. He noted the input to sustainable childcare but highlighted that the changes to early years will have an impact particularly in rural areas. He asked how long it would take to collate the data to match parents to available places that are local to them. A Sutton informed that childcare, and specifically out of school and childminding services, was hit particularly hard due to Covid with people working at home and finding different ways to manage their childcare. A number of providers closed and childminders sought other employment. This is the reason a further £20,000 was received from the Scottish Government to explore rural and island childcare. North Ayrshire Council is trying to encourage people back into the sector. They have funding available to assist and are speaking to people who may be interested. A Sutton is happy to ask L Forsyth and perhaps L Kerr to attend the next Garnock Valley Locality Partnership to give an update. • S Anson highlighted that it was really positive to see the ELC hourly rate confirmed at £12 per hour last week. He enquired if NAC has heard of the Public Health approach to learning at work which is in the early stages. A Sutton advised that work has been taking place around the Health Inequalities Impact Assessment and that Jacqui Greenlees would be really interested to discuss this project with S Anson. The Chair thanked A Sutton for her update.
Page 8
5. Transformation The Board received a presentation from Sheila Paisley and Elaine Nixon regarding Single Shared Assessment and Data Work. S Paisley thanked the Chair for the invitation to today’s meeting and for the support from herself and A Sutton for the programme. S Paisley provided an overview of the Single Shared Assessment work that has been undertaken over the last two years and the reasons for this including: • Access - To understand, listen and work with our customers; responding to their needs and keeping them informed; making it easy for them to interact and access our services and to actively encourage them to be participants in what we do. • Financial Inclusion - To ensure our customers are given the right advice at the right time, whilst maximising benefit entitlements and supporting better outcomes. • The principles behind the assessment such as single point of contact, streamlined customer journey, one assessment for means tested benefits, income maximisation for customer and centralised debt advice and support. • The outcomes include the above-mentioned principles and also improved customer service, standardisation of processes, and single customer record for services among others. S Paisley highlighted the process including: • Finding out what the problem is for both customers and North Ayrshire Council • What we need to do? • The drivers for change • The vision • Risk of no change S Paisley also highlighted that the current pathway is complex with many ways to get support. It is good to have the support available however we need to understand how it works to assist the customer. E Nixon informed the Board that North Ayrshire Council currently provides a wide variety of services however it feels disjointed. Different benefits and grants must be applied for separately. The future plan is to get as much information about the customer as possible, with their permission, and this can be used to determine what they are entitled to, what they receive and how we can help and support them. At the moment we can only use the data for what they provide it for. The purpose of the Single Shared Assessment is to ask consent to use their information to provide a more holistic approach. This would be a tool to further support families and make a difference to them in the future. S Paisley provided an outline of the programme that is in place working alongside partners to support customers. She highlighted progress since the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund (CPAF) Grant was awarded in October 2023. Next steps include: • Further stakeholder engagement • Customer services discussion/options workshop 2 • ELT options/recommendations report and phased plan. The Chair thanked S Paisley for her presentation.
Page 9
6. CPP Website Update The Chair invited Jacqui Greenlees to share her update on the CPP Community Directory. J Greenlees highlighted that during the pandemic Locality Community Books were published on the CPP Website which signposted people to the help and support they may need which led to the development of Cost of Living and crisis resources via CPP website. Rather than have a printed version of supports available the team were tasked to develop a new online Community Book solution. This led to the updated CPP website and new Community Service Directory. The Directory was developed using ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) data which allows the community and partners to take ownership of the data and update local information. Support is provided by The Alliance around development via the ALISS User Group. In order to complete this task the CPP website required to be updated. This update is now complete. J Greenlees shared a short tour of the Community Directory with the Partnership. She explained it is still being tested out and so far no anomalies have been found. The Community Directory can be found on the CPP website via the link below: https://northayrshire.community/services J Greenlees informed of the next steps which are • Working with Comms colleagues to launch the new directory with community and partners • Working with Library service to rebrand and relaunch the Libraries app as the Communities app • Working with HSCP to move data from CARENA to ALISS database • Staff training around the new site and uploads to ALISS Councillor Bell asked if the directory included a database of childminders. A Sutton informed that the No Wrong Door project included redeveloping an information source that included childminders and after school care. The Chair thanked J Greenlees for her update. 7. Partner Updates S Anson highlighted two pieces of legislation that are in process via Community Wealth Building: • Land Reform Bill – this includes improving transparency, working with the community, and community land purchase • Community Right to Buy – this will be launched in summer 2024. S Anson also informed that there will be new census data released next week which will include school support staff, attendance, persistence absence (more than 10% over the school year). I McMeekin asked how far down these statistics will go – will it be Local Authority level or further. S Anson informed that it will be Local Authority level. 8. AOCB The Chair conveyed the thanks of the Board to A Sutton for her contribution to the Partnership over the years and wished her a long and happy retirement.
Page 10
A Sutton highlighted that the work around communities and Locality Partnerships has been dear to her heart in North Ayrshire and is underpinned by the relationships in the room today and the CPP benefitted from this. The support has been incredible. A Sutton thanked every partner who made it possible and thanked the Chair and Chief Executive for their support over the years. The next meeting of the North Ayrshire CPP Board will be held on Tuesday 11 June 2024 at 11.30 am in Fullarton Connexions, Irvine.