DU7 POL.RES.CDS1997M Motherwell, 20 August 1997 at 11 am. A Meeting of the POLICY AND RESOURCES (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT) SUB-COMMITTEE PRESENT Councillor Moran, Convener; Councillors Barrie, Combe, Gibson, Hebenton, Leitch, Ross and Wallace. CHAIR Councillor Moran (Convener) presided. IN ATTENDANCE The Principal Administrative Officer, Assistant Chief Executive (Operations) and Community Development Manager. APOLOGIES Councillors Gormill, Lafferty, H. McGuigan, McLaughlin, Maginnis and Pentland. DISABILITY SCOTLAND 4TH ROADSHOW, 28-30 MAY 1998 - REQUEST FOR FUNDING 1. There was submitted a report dated 11 August 1997 by the Chief Executive (1) advising that a request for funding had been received from Disability Scotland to hold a Mobility Roadshow in May 1998 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston; (2) intimating that the previous event held in May 1996 had been mainly supported by the Scottish Office but had also received grant aid of $5,300 from the former Scottish Local Authorities, and (3) advising that approximately five percent of the visitors attending the 1996 event had an area postcode "ML". Decided: (1) that a donation of $265 be approved, this amount being 5% of the grant aid donated by former Scottish Local Authorities in 1996, and (2) that otherwise the contents of the report be noted. WEST OF SCOTLAND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL - EUROPEAN YEAR AGAINST RACISM - REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 2. There was submitted a report dated 5 August 1997 by the Chief Executive (1) advising (a) that a request for Financial Assistance had been received from the West of Scotland Community Relations Council, and (b) that North Lanarkshire Council was represented by the Chief Executive's Department on the Unitary Authority Racial Equality Forum of the Community Relations Council; (2) intimating (a) that the Forum proposed to produce a multi racial, multi cultural calendar as part of its contribution to the European Year Against Racism, and (b) that through Education Departments in each of the Unitary Authorities, the Forum would invite the participation of children and young people in the project, and (3) advising that a contribution of $500 from each of the 12 Unitary Authorities had been requested by the West of Scotland Community Relations Council. Decided: (1) that a donation of $500 be approved, and (2) that otherwise the contents of the report be noted. STRATHCLYDE CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT AGENCY - REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 3. There was submitted a report dated 11 August 1997 by the Chief Executive advising (a) that a request for additional funding in the sum of $3,120 had been received from Strathclyde Credit Union Development Agency (SCUDA) to assist with additional work arising since April 1997 from groups in South Coatbridge, Wishaw and Cumbernauld seeking support in the development of new and existing credit unions, and (b) that the organisation had received $9,500 Social Work Section 10 funding in the 1997/98 financial year. Decided: (1) that additional funding to Strathclyde Credit Union Development Agency in the sum of $3,120 be approved in 1997/98 for the additional work outlined in the report; (2) that a review of operational Credit Unions be undertaken; (3) that development of the Council's Credit Union Development Strategy be approved, and (4) that otherwise the contents of the report be noted. COATBRIDGE CITIZENS' ADVICE BUREAU - REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 1997/98 4. With reference to paragraph 17 of the Minute of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 25 March 1997, when financial assistance, at the same level as 1996/97 totalling $164,839, was awarded collectively to the five Citizens' Advice Bureaux for 1997/98, of which the award to the Coatbridge Bureau was $30,868, there was submitted a report (docketed) dated 1 August 1997 by the Chief Executive (1) advising that a request for additional core funding had been received from Coatbridge Citizens' Advice Bureau to meet increased occupancy costs; (2) detailing the background to the request for additional funding; (3) outlining the position of Coatbridge Citizens' Advice Bureau in relation to applications for mandatory and discretionary rates relief in 1996/97 and 1997/98, and (4) advising on Council support to mainline information services, voluntary advice and information projects and urban funded programmes including an outreach advice service managed by Coatbridge Citizens' Advice Bureau. Decided: (1) that a strategic review of the provision of information and advice services across North Lanarkshire be undertaken and reported to the Sub-Committee; (2) that the request for additional funding in 1997/98 received from Coatbridge Citizens' Advice Bureau be noted and a decision deferred subject to the findings of the review of the provision of information and advice services; (3) that the application from Coatbridge Citizens' Advice Bureau for mandatory and discretionary rates relief in 1997/98 be supported and the Director of Finance advised accordingly, and (4) that otherwise the contents of the report be noted. CITIZENS' ADVICE SCOTLAND 5. There was submitted a report dated 6 August 1997 by the Director of Administration advising (1) that the Citizens' Advice Scotland had submitted their 1996/97 Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 31 March 1997 and (2) that a copy of the report was available from the Director of Administration. Decided: that the contents of the report be noted. SCOTTISH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS (SCVO) - ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP 6. There was submitted a report dated 11 August, 1997 by the Chief Executive (1) advising that the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) had invited the Council to become an associate member; (2) outlining the work undertaken by the organisation; (3) detailing the benefits of associate membership, and (4) intimating that the current annual membership cost of $250 could be accommodated within the 1997/98 Grants to Voluntary Organisations budget. Decided: (1) that the Council become an associate member of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations at the current annual cost of $250, and (2) that otherwise the contents of the report be noted. POVERTY ALLIANCE MEMBERSHIP - VOTING RIGHTS 7. With reference to paragraph 17 of the Minute of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 25 March 1997, when an annual grant for 1997/98 was awarded to the Poverty Alliance, part of which was allocated by them towards membership providing specific benefits to the Council, there was submitted a report dated 11 August 1997 by the Chief Executive advising (1) that as a member of the Poverty Alliance, the Council was entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting and any other General Meeting of the Alliance, and (2) that the Poverty Alliance had invited the Council to nominate the person entitled to exercise its voting rights. Decided: (1) that the nomination of a member entitled to exercise the Council's voting rights at the Annual General Meeting and any other General Meeting of the Poverty Alliance be referred to the Policy and Resources Committee, and (2) that otherwise the contents of the report be noted. PROGRAMME FOR PARTNERSHIP - MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLANS AND ANNUAL REPORTS 1996/97 8. With reference to paragraphs 3 and 4 of the minute of the meeting of this Sub-Committee held on 11 June, 1997 there was submitted a report (docketed) dated 12 August, 1997 by the Chief Executive providing updated information in relation to the Monitoring and Evaluation Plans and the 1996/97 Annual Reports for the Motherwell North Priority Partnership Area and the Regeneration Programme, in particular (1) advising that the Monitoring and Evaluation Plans for the Priority Partnership Area and Regeneration Programme activity had been forwarded to the Scottish Office by 30 June 1997; (2) detailing the elements of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plans; (3) providing a statement in respect of monitoring and evaluation targets, and (4) indicating that the annual visit by the Scottish Office to the Priority Partnership Area Management Group was expected to take place in late September 1997. Decided: that the contents of the report be noted. PROGRAMME FOR PARTNERSHIP - APPLICATION DETERMINATION PROCESS 9. With reference to paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Minute of the meeting of this Sub-Committee held on 11 June 1997 there was submitted a report (docketed) dated 12 August, 1997 by the Chief Executive (1) outlining the application process in respect of applications submitted for both the Motherwell North Priority Partnership Area and the Regeneration Programme, and (2) advising (a) that as part of the process for Programme for Partnership, priority partnership area funding for four projects, whose funding had previously been extended until 31 August 1997 had submitted applications for further funding, and (b) that of those projects it was recommended that Urban Programme support for Greenspace Action and North Motherwell Community Flat Projects would cease on 31 August 1997 and the remaining two projects would continue to be supported until March 2000. Decided: (1) that Urban Programme expenditure of $150,169 in 1997/98 and $257,432 in 1998/99 to support the two undernoted projects be approved as detailed in the report:- Viewpark Hostel for Young Single Homeless Continue Urban Programme support until March 2000 Viewpark Focus Youth Project Continue Urban Programme support until March 2000; (2) that the Chief Executive's Department arrange a presentation for Members on Priority Partnership Area and Regeneration Programme funding, and (3) that otherwise the contents of the report be noted. VOLUNTARY SECTOR POLICY/STRATEGY 10. There was submitted a report (docketed) dated 11 August, 1997 by the Chief Executive outlining (1) proposals for the adoption of a Corporate Policy Statement on the voluntary sector, and (2) a framework for developing a voluntary sector strategy in partnership with voluntary organisations. Decided: that consideration of the voluntary sector policy/strategy proposals be referred to the Policy and Resources Committee.