Agenda and minutes

Contact: Iram Malik 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

WELCOME

Minutes:

The chairman of the Board extended a warm welcome to all those present at the meeting and thanked them for their attendance.

2.

APOLOGIES

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs L Clarke (OBE) and Councillor B Pearce.

3.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

To approve the minutes of the last meeting as a true record

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 November 2020 be confirmed as a true record.

4.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive any declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest

5.

MENTAL HEALTH HUB EASTON ST pdf icon PDF 852 KB

Donna Clarke, Service Director, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust - 15 mins

Minutes:

A presentation was conducted regarding the Mental Health Hub at Easton Street by Donna Clarke, Service Director at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Other presenters included Zoe Moorhouse and Wayne Heal.

 

Members were informed that transfer of their services to the new hub would be complete by July 2021.  This was considered to be an important move for both patients and the public in terms of accessibility and visibility, and it was hoped that the changes would create a centre of mental health excellence.

 

A Member raised the question as to how excellence would be driven by the move to a new building and asked how it would be staffed and the outcomes measured. She was informed that much work had been done on recruitment and retention of staff and that feedback had indicated that being based in Bucks would be an attractive feature to staff.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted

6.

WINTER GRANT FUNDING SCHEMES

Minutes:

Gill Harding Welfare Lead Buckinghamshire Council, gave a presentation on winter grant funding schemes.  This had consisted of provision of activity bags to three schools and three Year 3 groups for vulnerable children, in collaboration with the Clare Foundation and LEAP. The aim had been to engage people in taking part in physical activity and to develop a physical activity programme. Members were also informed of the care leaver`s gift cards where close collaboration with the voluntary sector had taken place to provide support to care leavers between the age of 18-25 years living within their own accommodation.  The gift cards were provided in the week leading up to Christmas 2020.

 

The presenters emphasised that the gift cards had been a very touching gesture and had been wonderfully received. 

 

Sincere thanks were conveyed to the Board for their contribution in making this happen

 

Following the presentation a Member asked regarding the provision of longer term support for care leavers in terms of coping with everyday issues and general life skills. He was informed that work with Children`s Services was ongoing to help provide additional support. Furthermore there was much emphasis on family connections and relationships to help guide the care leavers towards a fulfilling independent adult life.

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

7.

BE YOUR OWN BOSS START UP

Minutes:

Philippa Batting Managing Director, Bucks Business First, provided information to the Board on a new initiative which would provide assistance to those who wished to set up a new business or to those who were in the early throes of starting a new business. Advice would typically be provided on what was deemed to be good practice, early business planning and the basics of accountancy. This was with the intention of setting up new businesses which had a viable chance of survival and existence within a 3-4 year timeframe.

 

When asked about ongoing support for the businesses it was confirmed that there was continuous help and support throughout the journey and close relations were maintained with all those who had participated in the course. In addition there was a synergy in working with Red Kite who provided similar functions and with whom they worked with collaboratively.

 

 

 

8.

INTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT PROJECT

Minutes:

Inspector Steve Bobbett from Thames Valley Police provided details with regard to a partnership programme which would result in an engagement problem solving initiative. This aimed to identify problems in the community of Castlefield and would continue for a period of some 40 weeks.  This would involve door to door contact outreach work with the community. The area had been chosen based on one of many localities with high levels of crime, poverty, and education attainment. This it was emphasised was the launching place of the initiative and could well be extended to other areas in the future.

9.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL UNITARY UPDATE

Nick Graham, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Buckinghamshire Council (5 minutes)

Minutes:

Nick Graham Director of Legal and Democratic Services informed Members that the publication of a report on the annual review of unitary progress, successes and achievements was imminent.  Community Boards would subsequently have an opportunity to provide comment and feedback on the report.

 

It was stated that within the new Council a whole raft of new developments had been brought into effect within many service areas example, the establishment of 16 Community Boards, changes within Housing and Social Care, Public Health, the development of Local Plans and e- scooters. It was highlighted that more challenges lay ahead, but that staff had worked within the constraints of the pandemic to bring all services together and to continue with the improvement and development of all service areas.

 

              RESOLVED: That the report be noted

10.

COMMUNITY BOARD ACHIEVEMENTS

Cllr Arif Hussain - Community Board Chairman - 10 mins

 

Minutes:

The Chairman provided an overview of the work that had been undertaken over the past several months. There were some excellent projects underway with more in the pipeline. He stated that everyone had reached out to work together for the benefit of local residents and that this had fostered a deep sense of community spirit.

 

Attention was drawn to the Keep Britain Tidy Award which had been won by Bucks. This was contributable to the hard work put in by local residents, and voluntary groups over a long period of time.

 

The Chairman took the opportunity to convey his sincere thanks to all for their involvement and assistance and to those on the front line who had worked tirelessly during this very difficult time.

 

 

11.

FUNDING UPDATE AND AGREED FUNDING APPLICATIONS

Fay Ewing, Community Board Coordinator - 5 mins

 

·       Winter grant funding schemes overview - Gill Harding, Localities Welfare Lead, Buckinghamshire Council - 5 mins

 

·       Leap Boredom Buster activity bags - Mark Stokes, Children and Young People Development Manager Leap - 5 mins

 

·       Gift cards for care leavers - Gemma Jones, Assistant team Manager, Children’s Services, Buckinghamshire Council - 5 mins

 

·       Be Your Own Boss Start-up - Philippa Batting , Managing Director, Bucks Business First  - 5mins

 

 

 

Minutes:

A funding update with those applications that had been agreed were circulated for information and comments were invited.

 

Attention was drawn to the three different funding streams which included community area priorities, health and wellbeing and local infrastructure. Each one having different criteria for the funding application.  The spreadsheet presented also showed the variety and types of applications received with a number falling under the heading of youth related matters.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted

12.

UPDATE ON SUB GROUPS

Minutes:

Reports on the sub groups had been circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.

 

RESOLVED: That the information be noted.

13.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - 9 JUNE 2021

14.

UPDATE FROM SUB GROUPS pdf icon PDF 153 KB

Additional documents: