Minutes of meeting
North Lanarkshire Council · 19 August 2024
Back to Communities Committee — 19 August 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Communities Committee - Monday, 19 August 2024 1 Monday, 19 August 2024 at 10:00 AM. A Meeting of the COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE PRESENT Councillor Woods, Convener, Councillor Patton, Vice Convener, Councillors Ashraf, Barclay, Beveridge, Burgess, Duffy, Fotheringham, Harmon, Hughes, Jones, Khan, McBride, McCluskey, McCulloch, McLaren, Nolan, Smith and Toner. ALSO PRESENT In accordance with Standing Order 64(A) Councillors Ballinger, Carragher and McCrory attended as substitutes for Councillors Keltie, Mitchell and Shevlin respectively. CHAIR Councillor Woods (Convener) presided. IN ATTENDANCE Chief Officer (Business and Digital), Chief Officer (Community Operations), Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement), Area Community Partnership Managers (2), Active & Creative Communities Manager, Facilities Support Service Manager and Democratic Co-Ordinator. APOLOGIES Councillors Crichton, Keltie, Mitchell, Shevlin and Williams. Convener's Remarks On behalf of the Committee, the Convener thanked Councillor Stevenson for his hard work and leadership during his time as Convener and wished him all the best in his new role. 1 Declarations of Interest In Terms of the Ethical Standards In Public Life Etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 Councillor McBride, by virtue of attending a Community Meeting, declared a connection amounting to a declarable interest in respect of paragraph 13 "Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests Annual Report for 2023-24" and left the meeting during consideration of the item. 2 Community Pitch Review June 2024 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Community Operations) (1) advising that in 2022 the Council engaged consultants to develop a Community Pitch Review (CPR), focusing on an up-to-date analysis of supply and demand for sports pitches (grass and artificial) in the local authority area; and (2) provided a summary of the key highlights and recommendations contained within the consultancy report. Councillor Hughes, seconded by Councillor Smith, moved an amendment: -
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Communities Committee - Monday, 19 August 2024 2 "That an additional recommendation be added that "Local consultation to take place at the next cycle of Community Boards meetings on the pitch strategy, as detailed in Appendix 1, which includes use of red ash (blaes) pitches.", which was agreed. During discussion on this matter, a question was asked in respect of which Officers committed to respond outwith the meeting. "Does the Council assist with sports pitch lining, in particular the Wishaw American Football Team pitch." (Councillor Burgess) Decided: (1) that the outcome of the Community Pitch Review be acknowledged; (2) that the strategic recommendations and next steps as outlined in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 be approved; and (3) that Local consultation take place at the next cycle of Community Boards meetings on the pitch strategy, as detailed in Appendix 1, with particular focus on red ash (blaes) pitches. 3 ACC Strategic Framework 2020-2024 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Community Operations) (1) providing an update on the Active & Creative Communities Strategic Framework, which had been agreed by the Community Empowerment Committee on 20 August 2020; and (2) demonstrating the overall impact on participation, and outlining plans on the future commitment to increase physical activity. Decided: (1) that the progress made within Active & Creative Communities towards achievement of the strategic priorities outlined in the 2020-2024 framework be acknowledged; and (2) that the Council’s commitment to working with NHS Lanarkshire, in a whole systems approach to tackle challenges of physical activity, be acknowledged. 4 ACC and Community Facility Usage and Footfall – Q1 24-25 and Q1 23-24 There was submitted a report by Chief Officer (Community Operations) providing an overview of usage at a range of sports, culture, leisure and community facilities, together with a comparison between quarter 1 of 2024-25 and quarter 1 of 23-24. During discussion on this matter, a question was asked in respect of which Officers committed to respond outwith the meeting. "The three Mobile Libraries have not been in use due to maintenance issues. Could an update be provided on when the Mobile Libraries will be back in use?" (Councillor Barclay) Decided: that the usage and footfall associated with the Council’s sports, culture, leisure and community facilities be acknowledged. 5 Annual Review of the Community Safety Strategy 2023-2024 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Community Operations) (1) providing an update on progress made on the strategic priorities and actions contained in the Annual Review of the Community Safety Strategy 2023-2024; (2) setting out the progress on the Community Safety Strategy Actions and Performance Indicators; and (3) attaching in Appendix 1 to the report the
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Communities Committee - Monday, 19 August 2024 3 annual breakdown of footfall during quarter one of 2023/24 as compared to quarter one of 2024/25 for Active NL, Community Libraries, Creative Resources and Venues and Museums. During discussion on this matter, two questions were asked in respect of which Officers committed to respond outwith the meeting. In respect of the "Annual Review of the Community Safety Strategy Performance, can Members be provided with a breakdown of statistics, in particular E-scooters." (Councillor Burgress) "What statistics do Police Scotland produce in respect of community safety?" (Councillor Beveridge) Decided (1) that the progress made in relation to the action contained in the Community Safety Strategy for the period 2023-2024 be acknowledged; and (2) that the Annual Review of the Community Safety Strategy 2023-2024 be approved. 6 Community Boards and Partnership Communications Strategy There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) providing an update on key progress linked to supporting the development of the Community Boards model, including updates from cycle 15 of the Community Boards meetings which took place during May/June 2024. Decided: that the work being undertaken to continue to develop and improve the integrated approach to supporting the local Community Board model be recognised. 7 LOIP Performance Report 1 October 2023 - 31 March 2024 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) providing a snapshot of the progress linked to key priorities for each of the 9 Local Outcome Improvement Plans (LOIP) for the period from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024. During discussion on this matter, a question was asked in respect of which Officers committed to respond outwith the meeting. "Can you confirm when the consultation workshop with Young People took Place?" (Councillor Hughes). Decided: (1) that progress on the delivery of the key LOIP priorities and the individual outcome reports, attached at Appendix 1, be acknowledged; (2) that the ongoing work to develop, strengthen and embed the supporting partnership delivery approaches be endorsed; and (3) that the efforts and ongoing dialogue to ensure that there are accountability mechanisms across the Council and within individual partner organisations, to drive local action and delivery responsibility, be supported. 8 Community Board Local Development Programme There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) providing an update on the progress of the Community Board Local Development Programme
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Communities Committee - Monday, 19 August 2024 4 (LDP) projects previously approved by Committee; and (2) seeking approval, in principle, for new projects which have been proposed by local community groups. Decided: (1) that the progress with the remaining projects from the 2022/23 programme and 2023/24 onwards and the projects which have potential for delivery in future financial years depending on availability of budget and community support, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; (2) that the capital budget allocated to the LDP for each Community Board area in the new capital programme from 2024/25 onwards, attached at Appendix 2 to the report, be progressed; (3) that the delivery of play area projects for 2023/24, attached at Appendix 3 to the report, be progressed; (4) that the amendments to existing projects, further project proposals and the project criteria be approved; and (5) that current challenges faced in achieving delivery of the Local Development Programme be acknowledged. 9 Community Grants – Annual Report 2023-24 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) outlining the background to the Community Grants Scheme, which provides funding to Community and Voluntary organisations in North Lanarkshire; and (2) providing details of the applications submitted for funding from the Community Grants Scheme during 2023/24, and the awards made. Decided: that the awards made through the 2023/24 Community Grants Scheme, as set out in Appendices 1 to 7 of the report, be acknowledged. 10 Grant Awards Programme GAP 2024-25 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 Awards Programme (2024/25); (2) seeking approval to allocate funds to Community and Voluntary sector organisations on the basis of the scoring bands; and (3) proposing that the Council allocate £8,161 to Club Sport NL, whilst noting that the service level agreement will end after this year. Decided: (1) that the funding recommendations for the 2024-2025 Grant Awards Programme, as outlined in section 2.6 and at Appendix 1 of the report, be approved; (2) that the cessation of the Club Sport NL service level agreement, as set out at section 2.11 of the report, be approved; (3) that the use of the unallocated funds, as set out in Section 2.13 of the report, be approved; and (4) that the launch of the new Small Grant Award Programme to replace the previous Grant Awards Programme, as set out in Section 2.14 of the report, be acknowledged. 11 Digital North Lanarkshire Programme of Work - Communities Update
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Communities Committee - Monday, 19 August 2024 5 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) (1) providing an overview of the progress on a number of key 'digital locally' activities, and an update on the deliverables targeted for consideration; and (2) setting out in section 2.35 of the report the next steps in the process. Decided: (1) that the widening of the focus of the Programme of Work be acknowledged, and future reports encompass relevant activities contained within the Digital North Lanarkshire Programme of Work which impact on the delivery of digital services within communities; and (2) that the next steps, as set out in 2.35 of the report, be endorsed. 12 Museums & Collections Forward Plan There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Community Operations) (1) providing details of the Museum & Collections Forward Plan 2024-29, which will enable the Council to retain its Museum Accreditation Scheme status; and (2) outlining the planned approach, which sets out a range of key policies for consideration. Decided: (1) that the Forward Plan and associated documents be approved; and (2) that the content of the report be otherwise noted. Prior to consideration of the following item, Councillor McBride, having declared a connection amounting to a declarable interest in respect of Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests Annual Report for 2023-24 by virtue of attending a Community Meeting, and left the meeting during consideration of the item. 13 Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests Annual Report for 2023-24 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Strategic Communication and Engagement) (1) providing an update on the annual progress in respect of Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests in North Lanarkshire; and (2) attaching the Appendices 2 and 3 to the report the Community Asset Transfer Activity Log and Participation Request Activity Log for 2022/2023. During discussion on this matter, a question was asked in respect of which Officers committed to respond outwith the meeting. "Can Members be provided with a list of the 32 Assets that have already been transferred together with the mechanism used?" (Councillor Nolan) Decided: (1) that the progress in implementing the North Lanarkshire Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests approach and the level of support being provided to groups and organisations engaged in the process be acknowledged; (2) that the number of Community Asset Transfer requests agreed or refused, whether they resulted in transfer of ownership, lease or conferral of other rights, the number of appeals, and the number of decisions made by the Council that have been reviewed, and the level of capacity
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Communities Committee - Monday, 19 August 2024 6 building support being provided to groups and organisations engaged in the process, be acknowledged; (3) that the advance data regarding anticipated CAT applications for the 2024/25 period, as outlined in Appendix 2 – Section H, be acknowledged; (4) that the official annual return (2023/24) for submission to the Scottish Government be approved; and (5) that the report and the annual return to the Scottish Government be made publicly available to meet the requirements of Section 95 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to publish an annual report on Asset Transfer Request activity.