NLP Board Minutes: 20 April 2005 (1)

Cllr McCabe welcomed all to the meeting, particularly Brian Lister who was attending for the first time representing the Consortium of FE Colleges, and Paul Ballantyne from Communities Scotland.

These were agreed as an accurate record.

Any matters arising would be reflected in the agenda.

P Ballantyne gave a presentation outlining the role of Communities Scotland's Centre for Regeneration which aims to transfer knowledge and experience of successful regeneration approaches and provide a focus for improving practice across Scotland.

He proposed the use of Masterplanning as a means of attempting to join up the range of plans and ringfenced funding streams that are often interconnected. Masterplanning is usually associated with physical development, but the approach may be a useful way to extend this to other social and economic activity. An exploratory meeting with the NLP Officers is planned to look at the opportunities and drivers for change that could be included in this approach. Service improvement on the ground connected to the overall Community Plan priorities is the ultimate aim.

The output from this work will be to design a process that allows NLP to improve practice particularly as it rolls out neighbourhood management. This can then be disseminated throughout North Lanarkshire and indeed across Scotland if appropriate.

The Chair noted that there was a lack of core skills and need for relevant training to support people into work. The prevalence of short-term ringfenced initiatives did not provide a solution. Diversification in skills development is needed for the future. The blanket approach of Scottish Executive initiatives did not allow us to reflect North Lanarkshire's circumstances.

D Pigott noted the range of mechanisms below North Lanarkshire level where spending decisions are made. This process would need to add value. The NLP agencies need supported to ensure regeneration takes place through all our plans.

P Ballantyne agreed commenting that regeneration should be part of the mainstream. Linking the ROA to the Community Plan themes is worthwhile but we need to make it work in delivery terms.

G Whitefield supported the masterplanning idea but ring-fenced budgets with separate outcome agreements are applied by the Scottish Executive at local level. How will it affect Scottish Executive policy? There is an opportunity for Communities Scotland to influence future policymaking at national level.

L Connolly supported the notion if added value would result. For example, the impact of new European funding regime after 2006 could be determined, feeding this into the Scottish context.

M Castles felt that mapping new initiatives and funding arrangements was fine, but we needed practical outcomes for North Lanarkshire showing how it might work. It was challenging but with the Scottish Centre for Regeneration's help it could be the first in Scotland. The Chair welcomed the opportunity to influence the Scottish Executive.

S Mackay recommended that the Officers Group return to the next Board meeting with a proposal on the way forward following the planned workshop. This was agreed.

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