BURNLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL REPORT TO THE FULL COUNCIL PORTFOLIO: LEADER EXECUTIVE MEMBER: COUNCILLOR GORDON BIRTWISTLE DATE OF REPORT: 8th APRIL 2009 1. Progress on Strategic Objectives L1 Strong visible leadership for the Council and the Borough Action Progress L1a: Make a strong contribution to The Working Neighbourhood Fund Programme Burnley Action Partnership for 2009/10 has been agreed by BAP and the becoming more effective and Council's Executive. The programme sees a large focussed increase in projects that will help to support the local economy. The date for the first BAP conference has been set for 11 May 2009 and as agreed at last Council all Chairs and Vice Chairs of Scrutiny Committees will be invited. L1b: Play a major role in Discussions are ongoing with the North West developing Pennine Lancashire Regional Development Agency and the Homes Leaders & Chief Executives Group and Communities Agency on delegated funding. and. Negotiations are unlikely to be concluded for several months. L1c: Implement actions within the Guidance on Councillor Call to Action has been Local Government and Public published by the Centre for Public Scrutiny and Involvement in Health Act IdeA. The Member Structures Working Group have considered this issue and made recommendations to the Council. Provisions in the Constitution on dealing with petitions are also to be updated. L1d: Continue to ensure Burnley The Pennine Lancashire Housing Strategy has Borough Council influences and now been adopted by the Council and sits as a aligns with regional strategies... key part of the Pennine Lancashire Multi Area Agreement along side the Pennine Lancashire Integrated Economic Strategy. The final part of the Pennine Lancashire Strategic Framework is a "Spatial Guide" which is currently being developed by the Planning Group. The Council is also taking an important role in the development of the Regional Integrated Strategy, being produced jointly by the Regional Development Agency and 4NW (formally known as the Regional Assembly). That Strategy when agreed will be extremely important for future investment and development in Burnley as well as Pennine Lancashire. L2 Developing Opportunities and sustaining ambition of local residents Action Progress L2a: Work with partners to ensure The Council has agreed in principle to be a successful implementation of member of the new proposed Burnley Education Building Schools for the Future Trust which is being set up to raise levels of programme. attainment at the three National Challenge schools in Burnley which are Shuttleworth, Unity, and Sir John Thursby Community Colleges. The new Trust is planned to be in operation in September 2009 and I will keep Members updated on progress in my future reports to Council. L2b: Work with partners to deliver a The first stage of the work to produce the communication programme to Branding Strategy has now been completed, promote changing face of Burnley... Thinking Places, the consultants we are retaining to lead this work, presented their findings and recommendations recently. We are now finalising the next stage of the programme which will be moving on to implementation. L3 Social and community cohesion, engagement & communication are at the heart of the Council's plans Action Progress L3b: Continue to develop The Burnley Good Relations Programme is programme of capacity building & currently working on two cases to positively mediation training for community address relevant community issues, is publicising leaders a range of training opportunities and is working with Elevate on setting up a related programme in Blackburn. L4d Improved services to the homeless & other vulnerable groups in the community Action Progress L4d: Support Lancashire County As part of the recent PCT Health Partnership Day Council in implementing Lancashire for Burnley, one of the sessions looked at the Strategy for an Ageing Population actions that are planned by local partner agencies to meet the needs of older people. These will be combined with work previously undertaken by Lancashire County Council and this Council to form a draft multi-agency action plan. Executive Member: Additional Commentary SP/Leader: Additional Commentary The economic climate remains very difficult. In the period between June 2008 and January 2009, the number of Job Seekers Allowance claimants has more than doubled - with a significant "spike" between December 2008 and January 2009, 233 people being added to the list or an increase of some 12%. Our own estimate of redundancies since last August is 521. We continue to work hard to support businesses: - We are strengthening our partnerships with Job Centre Plus and held a networking event to ensure all the agencies in town, which have a roll helping people into work, are working together and understand the new services JCP have available; - Our Economic Development staff are actively working with a number of businesses that are seeking support and co-ordinating involvement of Business Link where appropriate; - We are supporting Survive and Thrive events being developed by North West Development Agency. .