NLP Board Minutes: 8 September 2004 (1)

Cllr Smith welcomed all to the meeting, in particular noting Chief Superintendent John Neilson's appointment as Divisional Commander of Police, and David Campbell's as Depute Divisional Commander at the Fire Brigade's East Command.

G Whitefield outlined the background and rationale for the creation of a new Unit within the Council to lead the integration of the range of initiatives and funding streams in support of NLP's community planning objectives.

He recommended that the Board endorse the establishment of this dedicated community regeneration unit subject to further reports being submitted on the financial and operational arrangements.

The Board agreed to the recommendation.

These were agreed as an accurate record.

1. Action Plans 04/ 05 – some work had progressed on improving parts of the Action Plans. It was acknowledged that in some cases these were still being refined in relation to the targets set under each theme within the Community Plan.
2. Evaluation of the Local Community Planning pilots – it was recommended that this be integrated with the wider community engagement strategy development currently underway.
3. Integration of Children's and Young People's strategies – draft guidance was expected shortly from the Scottish Executive. A partnership workshop will be organised when this was received.

The approach by the Scottish Executive to the new Community Regeneration Fund was outlined. Funding of almost £10 million has been announced for North Lanarkshire in 2005/ 2006 to be targeted on 'datazones' or communities prioritised through the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

NLP will now be required to identify how these resources will be deployed through a 3-year Regeneration Outcome Agreement. It was recommended that the Board note the current position and seek a further report on the emerging proposals at its meeting in October. This was agreed.

S Mackay summarised the background and process adopted in the Sustainability Review undertaken on all SIP funded activity within Motherwell North and South Coatbridge Inclusion Partnerships.

Each of the individual projects noted below was the subject of specific recommendations in relation to future funding arrangements and were considered individually:

• Focus Youth Project (Viewpark)
• Outdoor Activity – Focus Project Viewpark
• NL Federation of Food Co-ops
• Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre
• Forgewood After School Service
• Bellshill Out of School Service
• Viewpark Family Centre/ Out of School Care
• CVS Consolidated Funding Application
• Motherwell North Children's Activity Programme
• Youth Provision in Orbiston
• Youth Provision in Orbiston, Bellshill YMCA
• Motherwell North Stress Centre
• Breakfast Club activity Motherwell North and South Coatbridge
• Get Active Programmes
• Young Person's Health Team
• Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre
• Parent Action for Safe Play, Kirkshaws
• Coatbridge Citizens Advice Bureau
• Healthy Lifestyles Project
• Infant Mental Health – Supporting Families

In addition, recommendations were made regarding a series of projects/ programmes for which no further Community Regeneration funding would be required.

In response to a query regarding the sums related to the CVS Consolidated Funding application, S Mackay acknowledged an error with regarding to tapering of funding over three years. This would not apply in this case.

With this amendment, the Board approved the series of recommendations made in the paper.

The Board acknowledged that this was an excellent and essential piece of work providing a sensible solution to the sustainability issues surrounding regeneration projects. Communities Scotland supported the approach recommending that future regeneration proposals be closely linked to national and Community Plan priorities.