Minute
North Lanarkshire Council · 6 February 2023
Back to Communities Committee — 6 February 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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COMMUNITIES - 6 FEBRUARY 2023 62 6 February 2023 at 10 am. A Meeting of the COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE PRESENT Councillor Stevenson, Convener; Councillor McBride, Vice-Convener; Councillors Ashraf, Barclay, Baudo, Beveridge, Burgess, Campbell, Fisher, Fotheringham, Hughes, Keltie, Khan, McCluskey, B. McCulloch, McLaren, McNally, Mitchell, Nolan, Patton, Robb, Smith, Toner and Williams. ALSO PRESENT In accordance with Standing Order 64(A) Councillor Logue attended as a substitute for Councillor Jones. CHAIR Councillor Stevenson (Convener) presided. IN ATTENDANCE The Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement); Chief Officer (Education – South); Active and Creative Communities Manager; Business Partnership Manager; Engagement and Communication Lead; Area Community Partnership Managers, and Democratic Services Manager. APOLOGY Councillor Jones. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC. (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000 1. Councillor Smith, by virtue of being a Director of Cumbernauld Theatre Trust, declared a connection in respect of paragraph 9 – Grants Awards Programme 2023/24 – and left the meeting during consideration of that item. Councillor Williams, by virtue of her involvement with some organisations involved in the delivery of the work detailed in the Appendix to the report, declared a connection in respect of paragraph 6 – North Lanarkshire Partnership Strategic Leadership Board: 2021/22 Annual Oversight and Outcomes Report - and left the meeting during consideration of that item. Councillor Williams, by virtue of historic and present involvement in the Northern Corridor Local Development Programme, declared a connection in respect of paragraph 8 – Community Board Local Development Programme – but further declared that she considered the interest so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude her participation in that item. MINUTE OF MEETING OF THE PETITIONS SUB-COMMITTEE - 2 NOVEMBER 2022 2. There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Petitions Sub-Committee which had taken place on 2 November 2022. Decided: that the Minute of the meeting of the Petitions Sub-Committee held on 2 November 2022 be approved.
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COMMUNITIES - 6 FEBRUARY 2023 63 DRIVING DIGITALLY LOCALLY 3. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) (1) explaining that the Council was aware of its responsibility associated with providing secure and accessible online solutions to serve communities across North Lanarkshire; (2) providing an update on the progress to date on the development of the Driving Digitally Locally framework amongst key stakeholders, communities and Elected Members; (3) reporting on the community benefits arising out of the Council's contractual relationship with Comsworld, the appointed contractor for delivery of the framework, and (4) detailing a number of next steps including the progress of the established Driving Digital Locally Digital Sub-Group and the success of progress of the intergenerational project within retirement complexes in conjunction with local primary schools. Decided: (1) that the contents of the report be noted, and (2) that the next steps outlined within the report be endorsed. PO48.1 - INTEGRATION OF ACTIVE AND CREATIVE COMMUNITIES INTO EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 4. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – South) (1) providing an overview of the integration of Active and Creative Communities into the broader Education, Children and Families remit; (2) outlining progress to date and a number of planned next steps; (3) reporting that the integration of services supports the provision of a broad, general education to support health and wellbeing, pride of place and creation of pathways into employment and further education, and (4) outlining the financial position of the funding arrangements which may be coming to an end and confirming that work is ongoing to identify an alternative, more cost effective option, for the Active Team programme. Decided: (1) that the progress to date, and approved planned next steps as outlined in the report, be noted, and (2) that, otherwise, the contents of the report be endorsed. PO48.1 - ACTIVITY TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT LEVELS ACROSS NORTH LANARKSHIRE 5. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – South) (1) providing an update on recovery within Active and Creative Communities linked to overall efforts to increase participation and engagement through a range of social, cultural and leisure activities; (2) explaining that this activity supports work by Active Scotland, which focusses on a vision where more people are active, more often and in a range of ways which exercise the body and the mind; (3) providing a statistical analysis of attendance and footfall at specific Active and Creative themed venues, and (4) providing a narrative in relation to the financial position for Active and Creative and the impact upon the budget which variances in participation rates have had. Decided: (1) that the attendance/active participant numbers during the recovery period of 2021/22 be noted; (2) that the ongoing plans to increase participation, as noted in the report, be endorsed, and (3) that, otherwise, the contents of the report be endorsed.
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COMMUNITIES - 6 FEBRUARY 2023 64 Councillor Williams, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of her involvement with organisations involved in the delivery of the work listed in the Appendices, left the meeting during consideration of this item. NORTH LANARKSHIRE PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP BOARD: 2021/22 ANNUAL OVERSIGHT AND OUTCOMES REPORT (PROGRAMMES OF WORK 56.2 and 75.1 PART 6) 6. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) (1) explaining that the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 aims to strengthen community engagement and empowerment through a range of statutory duties on public bodies and other organisations which range from increasing levels of community participation in the planning and delivery of public services through to community management or ownership of buildings or land; (2) indicating that the Act requires all public sector bodies to work together, and to engage with local communities on the issues that matter the most to them, so as to improve outcomes with a particular emphasis on addressing inequalities, poverty and social economic disadvantage in local areas; (3) informing that community planning partners have an obligation to report publicly on their progress, including where outcomes have been improved through joint planning, collaboration and effective partnership working; (4) advising that the Oversight and Outcome Report 2021/22 highlights where community planning in North Lanarkshire is making a positive impact in strengthening partnership working and improving outcomes in line with the Plan for North Lanarkshire’s shared ambitions; (5) reporting that self-evaluation activity will be undertaken during early Spring 2023 across community planning structures, including the Strategic Leadership Board, the nine Community Boards and the recently formed Local Partnership Teams and that this exercise would provide an opportunity to reflect on progress to date and, importantly, identify where improvements and targeted action should be undertaken to strengthen Community Planning and joint working arrangements, and (6) attaching, as Appendices to the report, further details on the Community Planning Partnership Working Arrangements in North Lanarkshire and the Oversight and Outcomes Improvement Report 2021/22. Decided: (1) that the North Lanarkshire Partnership Strategic Leadership Annual Oversight and Outcomes Report 2021/22, as attached as an Appendix to the report, be approved, and (2) that the planned self-evaluation activity to be undertaken in early 2023 involving the Strategic Leadership Board, Community Boards and Local Partnership Teams be noted. PO56.2(3) COMMUNITY BOARDS AND PARTNERSHIP COMMUNICATION STRATEGY 7. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) providing an update on key progress linked to supporting the development of the Community Board model including updates on the 9th cycle of Community Board meetings which took place throughout November and December 2022; (2) reporting that the work of the nine Community Boards are provided to the Committee relating to each Committee cycle and that progress is also reported to the North Lanarkshire Community Planning Partnership Strategic Leadership Board to reflect the statutory nature of the Boards in community planning terms in providing local governance for the Local Outcome Improvement Plans (LOIPs), and (3) indicating that the process and focus of reporting on the work of the Community Boards would continue to be reviewed and elements included within the LOIP Monitoring and Management Framework from 2022/23 onwards. Decided: that the work to continue to develop and improve the integrated approach to supporting the Local Community Board model be recognised. Councillor Williams, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by her historic and present involvement in the Northern Corridor Local Development
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COMMUNITIES - 6 FEBRUARY 2023 65 Programme, had further declared that she considered the interest sufficiently remote that it did not preclude her participation in consideration of this item of business. COMMUNITY BOARD LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 8. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) providing an update on progress with the Community Board Local Development Programme (LDP) projects previously approved by Committee; (2) seeking in-principle approval for new potential projects as proposed by local community groups; (3) providing an outline of the criteria for the LDP application process required to be undertaken by applicants; (4) reporting on a number of challenges in relation to delivery of the LDP including ongoing cost inflation, labour shortages and market capacity and demand, and (5) attaching, as Appendices to the report, details of the Community Board Local Development Programme 2022/23 onwards, budgetary information and a play area development list 2022/23. Decided: (1) that the progress with the remaining 2022/23 programme onwards be recognised; (2) that projects which have potential for delivery in future financial years depending on availability of budget and community support, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; (3) that the capital budget allocated to the Local Development Programme for each Community Board area for the next five financial years, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be recognised; (4) that amendments to existing projects and further project proposals and project criteria be approved, and (5) that the current challenges faced in achieving delivery of the Local Development Programme be acknowledged. Councillor Smith, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of being a Director of Cumbernauld Theatre Trust, left the meeting during consideration of this item. GRANTS AWARDS PROGRAMME 2023/24 9. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) providing details of applications submitted for funding from the Council's Grant Award Programme 2023/24; (2) explaining that the programme seeks to support community and voluntary organisations' contribution towards achieving outcomes included in The Plan for North Lanarkshire; (3) providing details of the guidance and criteria for the Grant Award Programme which reflect the priorities within The Plan for North Lanarkshire; (4) providing details of the process for allocation of funding based on scoring as outlined within the report, and (5) explaining that ClubsportNL is a North Lanarkshire wide organisation providing a One Stop Shop to support the voluntary sports sector and proposing that the Council allocate £9,856 to this organisation with the Service Level specification to be reviewed in 2023/24. Decided: (1) that the funding recommendations for 2023/24 Grant Awards Programme as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report be approved, and
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COMMUNITIES - 6 FEBRUARY 2023 66 (2) that an allocation of £9,856 to ClubsportNL for its Service Level Agreement with the Council be approved. VOLUNTARY ACTION NORTH LANARKSHIRE (VANL) SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT 2023/24 10. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) advising the Committee that Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) is the third sector interface organisation operating within North Lanarkshire and operates as an umbrella organisation providing information, advice and support to the third sector including voluntary groups/organisations and volunteers; (2) advising that VANL also represents and facilitates representation from the third sector and community planning and partnership working; (3) providing details of the strategic aims for VANL, and (4) seeking approval of funding for VANL for 2023/24 of £191,532.50 as part of a three year Service Level Agreement until March 2024. Decided: that the proposed allocation of £191,532.50, as the level of funding for 2023/24 for VANL, as set out in the report and as previously approved by the former Community Empowerment Committee as part of the three year Service Level Agreement until March 2024, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved. LOIP SIX MONTH PROGRESS REPORT - APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2022 11. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) reminding the Committee that following the creation of the Local Outcome Improvement Plans (LOIPs) across the nine Community Board areas, a Management and Monitoring Framework and Local Partnership Team was now in place to drive local delivery and reporting; (2) providing a snapshot of progress linked to key priorities for each of the nine areas for the period April to September 2022, and (3) providing an update on progress with implementation of the Framework and work to develop the role of the Local Partnership Teams. Decided: (1) that the progress to date with the delivery of key LOIP priorities be acknowledged; (2) that the work to develop and implement the supporting partnership delivery approaches be noted, and (3) that the future priorities in strengthening and embedding the approach across the partnership, and with local communities, be endorsed. CONTRACT AWARD FOR PANTOMIME PRODUCTION AT MOTHERWELL THEATRE 12. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – South) (1) seeking approval for the award of a contract for pantomime production at Motherwell Theatre, and (2) advising that the contract was for an initial period of 36 months, anticipated to commence on 1 March 2023, with the Council reserving the right to extend the contract for additional periods up to a maximum of a further 24 months with the contract value to not exceed £1,564,168.43, exclusive of VAT. Decided: that the award of the contract to Spillers Pantomimes Limited at the maximum value of £1,564,168.43, exclusive of VAT, following the completion of a completed procurement procedure where the tender has been evaluated as providing the most economically advantageous tender in terms of cost and quality for the Council be approved.
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COMMUNITIES - 6 FEBRUARY 2023 67 CONTRACTS AWARDED BELOW COMMITTEE APPROVAL THRESHOLD 13. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Assets and Procurement) notifying the Committee of contracts awarded between 1 October to 31 December 2022 with a value below the financial threshold requiring Committee approval. Decided: that the contracts awarded below Committee approval threshold between 1 October to 31 December 2022, as per the process within the Council's General Contract Standing Orders, be noted.