Community Planning Partnership Update
Perth and Kinross Council · 2 November 2022
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 2 November 2022 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL HOUSING AND SOCIAL WELLBEING COMMITTEE 2 November 2022 COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP UPDATE Report by Head of Cultural and Community Services (Report No 22/261) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report provides an update on the work of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) since the previous report on 7 September 2022. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that Council notes the following CPP activity: • approval of the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan • the submission of a bid for a Cash First Partnership • work on fleet management and public transport through the Climate Change Working Group • the publication of a Digital Participation Action Plan • finalisation of joint training sessions for CPP partners. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) and Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Governance • Section 5: Cash First Partnership • Section 6: Climate Change • Section 7: Digital Participation Research • Section 8: Joint training for CPP Partners • Section 9: Conclusion • Appendices 4. LOCAL OUTCOMES IMPROVEMENT PLAN (LOIP) AND COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP (CPP) GOVERNANCE 4.1 The final version of the LOIP was approved by the Community Planning Partnership Board in September 2022. The new LOIP was also approved by Full Council on 28 September 2022.
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4.2 The existing structure of the CPP was established prior to the first LOIP in 2017, with: a Board, an Executive Officer Group; a series of Outcome Delivery Groups; and seven Local Action Partnerships. The new LOIP has a deliberate focus on specific inequalities, meaning that the CPP needs to review and update its governance. This will ensure that the actions within the LOIP can be delivered effectively and efficiently. Governance will be a key focus for CPP Board in 2023. 4.3 CPP Board further agreed to focus on three immediate issues over the winter period: 1. Cash First Partnership (more in Section 5). 2. A “Cosy Spaces” initiative to provide venues and activities for people who may find heating their homes financially difficult. 3. Food insecurity to support community foodbanks and larders to meet the expected increase in demand over the winter. 5. CASH FIRST PARTNERSHIP 5.1 CPP Board has approved a proposal to submit an application to pilot a Cash First Partnership (CFP) in Perth and Kinross. CFPs bring services together in order to move away from a model in which food banks are often the first or sole point of referral, to a model which focuses on income maximisation. Referrals to food banks would continue where appropriate, however, the ambition would be to help individuals and households maximise their income and ultimately give them the dignity of choice. This would mean that when someone seeks emergency support, the CFP will help them to apply for a crisis grant and complete a benefits check to ensure that they are maximising their income. The CFP can also provide a referral to partner organisations such as food banks if required. This process requires training and additional resourcing, which is being made available as part of a Scottish Government funded pilot initiative. 5.2 Scottish Government have made funding available to support 10 pilot CFPs in Scotland and a bid, led by the CPP will be submitted once the deadline is confirmed. A variety of Council services, including the Welfare & Benefits Service will be at the centre of this proposal. Updates on the bid for a CFP will be reported through the Cost of Living Working Group and CPP Executive Officer Group. 6. CLIMATE CHANGE 6.1 The Climate Change Working Group, which was set up as the CPP’s forum for collective action around climate change, met on 26 October 2022 for a discussion focused on transport. Members invited other officers with a role in transport and fleet management to the meeting to contribute to the discussion. TACTRAN presented their plans for a public consultation, with the intention of gathering feedback on how barriers to using public transport could be removed. This will form part of the new Regional Transport Strategy for TACTRAN.
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7. DIGITAL PARTICIPATION RESEARCH 7.1 In March 2021, the Digital Participation Working Group commissioned Nicki Souter Associates to undertake a study of digital participation in Perth and Kinross. The intended outcomes of this study were to: • provide a baseline for current levels of digital participation in Perth and Kinross; • identify the main barriers to people accessing or using digital media/sources; and • develop an Action Plan setting out how these barriers could be mitigated, reduced or removed. 7.2 The consultant used a mix of doorstep and online surveys to complete a representative total of just over 1,000 surveys. The report provided baseline information on participation levels for Perth and Kinross as a whole, and a breakdown based on age and geographic location. The consultant also undertook a series of interviews with organisations who support minority groups with digital connectivity. This information has been used to identify themed actions which can tackle those specific issues. 7.3 Examples of the key research findings and proposed actions are summarised below. Some of the actions require continuing support for national programmes, whilst others require a Perth and Kinross or local community response. Research Findings • 91% of participants have internet access in the home. The national average in Scotland is 88%. • The Council wards with lowest levels of internet access are: o Perth City Centre (83.7%) o Blairgowrie & The Glens (84%) o Highland (86.2%) • Those who have no access to the internet cite the following reasons: o no interest is using it (79.6%) o lack of confidence and skills (19.4%) o lack of a suitable device (11.8%) • The following points were highlighted as enablers to increased levels of participation: o faster broadband (27.5%) o more reliable broadband (25.3%) o 4G and 5G connectivity (8.5%)
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Proposed Actions • continue roll out of fibre broadband and 4G/5G Networks • provide funding support for access to digital technology and training to those in most need • recruit additional Digital Champions to provide support for digital skills • Develop Digital Inclusion and Accessibility Factsheets covering: o Capacity building support o Access to technology and connectivity o How software and technology can be adapted for specific needs 7.4 The full Action Plan is being considered by the Digital Participation Working Group on 4 November 2022 and will form the main focus of the Working Group for the short to medium term. The Working Group will also review its own membership and governance to ensure it can take these actions forward effectively. 8. JOINT TRAINING FOR CPP PARTNERS 8.1 As part of the development of the LOIP, partners agreed that joint training and awareness raising opportunities would help to enable better partnership working. To that end, a programme of training focussing on poverty / cost of living, mental wellbeing and domestic violence / hate crime is being developed through the Council’s Organisational Development team, with input from other partners. The programme was finalised and shared with CP partners w/c 10 October. The first session took place on 26 October, with a focus on mental health and wellbeing. 9. CONCLUSION 9.1 This is an update on Community Planning related activity in Perth and Kinross, since the last update on 7 September, covering the LOIP, CPP Governance, Cash First Partnership, Climate Change, Digital Participation Research and Training. Author(s) Name Designation Contact Details Lee Haxton Community Planning Team Leader Communityplanningpartnership@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 21 October 2022
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION, AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal None External None Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 The Improvement Actions identified in the report may impact all of the strategic objectives but are likely to be most relevant to: (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economy (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations Corporate Plan 1.2 The Improvement Actions identified in the report may impact all of the strategic objectives but are likely to be most relevant to: (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economy (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations
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2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 Not applicable. Workforce 2.2 Not applicable. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 Not applicable. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Proposals that have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) are assessed as not relevant for EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 Proposals have been considered under the Act, and no further action is required as it does not qualify as a PPS as defined by the Act and is therefore exempt. Sustainability 3.3 Not applicable. Legal and Governance 3.4 Not applicable. Risk 3.5 Not applicable. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 Staff in Communities Service have been consulted during the preparation of this report. External 4.2 Not applicable.
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5. Communication 5.1 Not applicable. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No additional documents have been relied on in preparing the report, other than those committee reports already referenced within the main body of the report.