DRAFT ITEM NO: C2(A)
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DRAFT ITEM NO: C2(a) SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL STRATEGY (LNRS) AND ACTION PLANS 2006-2010 DECISION-MAKER: CABINET DATE OF DECISION: 20TH FEBRUARY 2006 REPORT VERSION No: 6 FORWARD PLAN No: CR01211 KEY DECISION? YES STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY Not applicable WARDS/COMMUNITIES AFFECTED: All wards, but primarily those with Priority Neighbourhoods SUMMARY Southampton Partnership’s Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 2006 – 2010, entitled ‘Closing the Gap’ and its detailed Action Plans for the 11 Priority Neighbourhoods set out how all agencies in the city will work together to reduce disadvantage. They will enable the Southampton Partnership to secure faster improvements in the Priority Neighbourhoods thus closing the gap between the quality of life in these neighbourhoods and the rest of the city. Through this report the Southampton Partnership is formally asking for the Council’s support for the updated LNRS and its Action Plans in terms of the approach, the priorities and the actions, and specifically in terms of taking the lead in the delivery of specific Council Actions across the Priority Neighbourhoods, and contributing to the delivery of Actions led by other organisations. The draft LNRS is attached at Appendix A. The Draft Action Plans and the summary of consultation responses for the 8 Action Plans are available in the Members’ Rooms and on request from the report author. RECOMMENDATIONS: Having paid regard to Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the City’s Community Strategy and in recognition of the contribution that the documents make to achieving the Council’s 5 priorities: (i) To endorse the draft Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 2006-2010 (LNRS) including the 5 priorities as detailed in appendix 1; (ii) To endorse the draft Action Plans; (iii) For those Actions where the City Council has been identified as lead organisation in either the LNRS and/or its Action Plans: 1 a) To agree to deliver the actions that can be achieved within existing resources and those covered by delegated powers; b) To actively explore external funds (for feasibility and/or actual delivery) for those Actions that cannot be achieved within existing resources and, following the appropriate decision making route, to deliver the Actions when funds are available; (iv) To support, where appropriate, the successful delivery of Actions that are being led by other organisations; and (v) To delegate authority to the Head of Communities & Regeneration to agree the final versions of the LNRS and the Action Plans, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Regeneration. REASONS FOR REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The LNRS and its Action Plans are a key element of the approach to meeting the Community Strategy’s Key Challenge to reduce disadvantage and raise aspirations in the Priority Neighbourhoods. All SCC Directorates have a part to play in meeting this challenge. 2. The proposals in the LNRS and Action Plans will contribute to achieving all of the Council’s 5 key priorities and will thereby contribute to the economic, social and environmental well-being of the city. 3. Minor changes may arise from consultation and discussion with agencies and the Neighbourhoods Partnerships. It is proposed that the Head of Communities & Regeneration be authorised to make changes to the documents for reasons of accuracy, consistency and clarity. BACKGROUND 4. One of the Key Challenges in the Community Strategy is the need to reduce disadvantage and raise aspirations in the city’s Priority Neighbourhoods in order to close the gap of disadvantage (measured across a number of indicators) between these neighbourhoods and the rest of the city. The LNRS and its Action Plans set the framework for how this will be achieved across all agencies from 2006 to 2010. 5. The first LNRS was approved by the Southampton Partnership in 2002. It identified the most disadvantaged parts of the city (the 11 Priority Neighbourhoods) and secured agreement that the key agencies in the city would seek to improve service delivery for people in these areas thus providing the opportunities for residents to improve their own life chances. It also secured agreement for the Partnership to prepare a detailed Action Plan for each Priority Neighbourhood, working with local residents. 6. The LNRS has now been updated. It details the overall approach to tackling disadvantage across the city and contains actions to improve educational attainment and employability that apply to all Priority Neighbourhoods. The remaining 8 Action Plans have also now been prepared. These set out additional actions to address issues of local importance which have been discussed and agreed with the relevant Neighbourhoods Partnerships. 2 CONSULTATION 7. The Neighbourhoods Partnerships have had a key role in developing the Action Plans. They looked at local issues and their underlying causes and they identified the priorities that would really make an impact on reducing disadvantage in their areas. To spread the discussion to a wider audience additional consultation was carried out. As a result over 600 people from across the 8 Action Plan areas have put forward their views. The following methods were used: • Consultation with local groups – commissioning of TWICS (a local organisation) to lead a discussion at group meetings. 43 groups representing different sections of the community were involved • 3 sessions for young people using the Electronic Voting System • 13 local drop in sessions in each neighbourhood advertised through an information leaflet to all households in the Priority Neighbourhoods, and letters to user groups for people with health issues • An on – line questionnaire receiving 66 responses • specific letters (with questionnaires) to key faith groups • Community Centres consultation • SCC Councillors’ survey (Nov 2004) • Publicity through City View 8. The LNRS and Action Plans have been approved by the Southampton Regeneration Executive and Southampton Partnership as drafts to seek formal support from the service providers. In addition relevant Neighbourhoods Partnerships have given the same support. This report requests Cabinet for its support. The PCT, the Police, Job Centre Plus and the Learning & Skills Council have also been asked for their support. 9. The HCR Scrutiny Panel has considered the report and made the following suggestions: • The report should make reference to the elements of the Action Plans referring to parenting skills. • Reference should be made to the importance of involving youth workers in achieving the goals of the strategy. • The location of the word Sholing on the map on page 6 of the LNRS should be adjusted to reflect its real location more accurately. • Whilst it is recognised that the Southampton Partnership is the lead body for the strategy, the documentation should identify clearly the outcomes the Council is responsible for delivering, and who is accountable for delivery. 10. The final version of the LNRS will include reference to the Parenting and Family Support Strategy, as well as the changes to the map. It is accepted that youth worker as well as other community-based workers are central to achieving the goals of this strategy and this will be reflected in the final version of the LNRS. The last point is covered in paragraphs 18 and 19 of this report. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED 11. The Council is being asked for its support to the Southampton Partnership’s 3 document. The City Council has a key role to play in the delivery of the proposed actions and is a key member of the Southampton Partnership The alternative therefore is not to endorse the approach and the individual actions. Adopting this option would mean: • Delay, and the possibility that the LNRS and its Action Plans would not proceed • Some other mechanism will still be needed to demonstrate how well the city is doing in closing the gap of disadvantage • Possible reclaiming by the government of a proportion of the NRF funding already received (in excess of £5M) if the Southampton Partnership is seen to not have complied with the NRF requirement to prepare Action Plans. The money has already been spent and the Council is the Accountable Body. DETAIL Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 2006 - 2010 12. The priorities of the revised Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (2006 – 2010) are: • We will focus on “closing the gap” between the quality of life in the 11 Priority Neighbourhoods and the rest of the city. In particular we will support and ensure delivery of the o Thornhill Plus You Delivery Plan o Outer Shirley Delivery Plan o Bevois and Bargate Action Plan through a dedicated Task Force and o Specific Action Plans for the other 8 Priority Neighbourhoods • Focus on improving educational attainment and employability, thus enabling people from Priority Neighbourhoods to contribute and share in the city’s economic prosperity • Commit to using mainstream resources to achieve the necessary improvements in floor targets in the Priority Neighbourhoods • Develop effective ways to lead, manage and monitor how we are closing the gap • Develop the neighbourhood management agenda through the Neighbourhoods Partnerships, so that local people are empowered to drive sustainable improvements in their communities. 13. The Southampton Partnership has previously considered the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2004 for the city, and mapped where the concentrations of disadvantage are to be found - the 11 Priority Neighbourhoods which are: In the Central Neighbourhoods Partnership area: • Bevois and Bargate • Freemantle and Polygon In the North Neighbourhoods Partnership area: • Portswood and St Denys • Flowers Roads, Hampton Park and Mansbridge In the East Neighbourhoods Partnership area: 4 • Thornhill • Townhill Park • Harefield In the West Neighbourhoods Partnership area: • Outer Shirley • Lordshill • Shirley Estate In the South Neighbourhoods Partnership area: • Weston 14. It is important to note that in general, these areas are well regarded by local residents and the consultation revealed many positive characteristics in each neighbourhood. The strategy is therefore focussed on individual issues that will further improve each neighbourhood.