PAPER A

 

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE MEETING OF THE ISLAND FUTURES LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP HELD ON FRIDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2005 AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT, COMMENCING AT 4.00 PM

 

Members Present:

 

Andy Sutton CC                    Isle of Wight Council  - Chairman

Barry Abraham CC               Safer Island

Val Anderson             Healthy Island

Tim Hunter-Henderson CC  Leisure Island

Stephanie Morgan                Hampshire Constabulary

Kevin Smith                           Private Sector (deputising for Brian Bailey)

Val Taylor                               Community Sector

Chris Wells                            Connected Island (deputising for Steve Porter)

 

Advisors Present:

 

David Bartlett             Business Link - Wessex

Ken Dueck                             Economic Partnership

Paul Bingham                        Healthy Island

Jane Wilshaw                        Healthy Island

John Bentley                          Isle of Wight Council

Mike Fisher                            Isle of Wight Council

Prue Grimshaw                     Isle of Wight Council

Sue Lightfoot                         Isle of Wight Council

Keith Mitchell                         Isle of Wight Council

David Pettit                            Isle of Wight Council

Keith Simmonds                   Isle of Wight Council

Philip Taylor                           Isle of Wight Council

Lesley Williams                     Isle of Wight Council

 

Apologies:

 

Brian Bailey                           Private Sector

Graham Elderfield                 Healthy Island

Mike King                               Thriving Island

Steve Porter                          Connected Island     

 

 



9.                  MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2005 be received and confirmed as an accurate record.

 

10.             Local Area Agreement update

 

Members noted that following agreement at the last meeting of the Executive, on 15 September, of the key outcomes and targets that formed the core of the Local Area Agreement (LAA), the proposals had been finalised and submitted to GOSE on 30 September. 

Excellent progress had been made in developing the proposals set against a very tight time schedule and thanks were expressed to the wide range of people and organisations involved. It was anticipated that feedback would be received from GOSE towards the end of October. However initial concerns indicated that some of the proposals needed to be more challenging.  The LAA Board, in the meantime, were therefore focussing their attention on completion of a number of areas of work to refine the LAA proposals.  This work covered, in particular, prioritising LPSA targets; establishing arrangements for the pooling/aligning of funding streams; the finalisation of freedoms and flexibilities; a feasibility study to assess the need to establish a Public Service Board and the elimination of gaps in some of the baselines and targets. Upon completion of the areas of work identified and following any action in response to feedback from GOSE, a revised LAA would be submitted by mid-November. 

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT the progress be noted.

 

11.             LPSA2 PROPOSALS

 

Members were referred to Paper C, which set out in detail progress, as part of the LAA submission, on the identification of potential targets to form the basis of a Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) running from 2006 – 2009.

 

This would be the second round of the programme and additional funding of approximately £900K over 3 years would be received by way of a pump-priming grant to support the identified targets.  Subject to full achievement of all the targets a reward grant of £4 million would be payable in 2009, at the end of the Agreement.  However, the LAA Project Board had identified 13 potential LPSA2 targets totalling £1.5 million against the £900K available.

 

Members noted that the first round of the LPSA programme would end in March 2006.  It was estimated that approximately £1.7 million would be received in reward grant payable in two equal instalments, in 2006/7 and 2007/8.

 

At the recent meeting of the Island Futures Support Group it was proposed that the identified targets be split into two groups.  Schedule 1, which sought pump-priming of £996K and comprised of 8 key ‘stretch’ targets, would form the core of the LPSA2 programme and represented a balance across the 4 LAA blocks. Schedule 2, which comprised of 5 targets, would utilise part of the LPSA1 reward grant funds and comprise of a “reserve” list for the LPSA2 programme.  Details of the prospective targets and two schedules were outlined in Annex 1 and 2 of the report. 

 

Consideration was then given to establishing some principles for the use of all reward monies generated through LPSA2.  It was suggested that 75% of the reward monies be allocated to Island Futures and 25% to the lead delivery partner.  At the end of 3 years, all partners would be able to submit a bid for additional funds on top of the 25% directly retained.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                 THAT Schedule 1 (Annex 2) form the core of the proposed LPSA2 programme within the Local Area Agreement;

 

(ii)               THAT the targets detailed in Schedule 2 (Annex2), be approved as the ‘reserve’ list for the LPSA2 programme and otherwise be supported through the use of LPSA1 reward funds;

 

(iii)             THAT a 75/25 split be applied to the use of LPSA2 reward monies ie. 25% to the lead delivery partner and 75% to Island Futures for allocation in line with the priorities in April 2009.

 

12.             AREA-BASED CPA ASSESSMENTS

 

In September 2005, the Audit Commission published a number of consultation reports on the future of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) inspection regime for local authorities.   Specific reference was made as to the future potential for introducing area-based assessments of public services.  Thereby in addition to assessing the performance of local authorities, other bodies such as the police, health and fire authorities would also be included.

 

The Commission had indicated a wish to seek volunteers to aid the pilot area-based assessment work and the Isle of Wight Council had written expressing an “in principle” interest.  To become a pilot area, however, required the support of other partners who would potentially fall within the scope of the initiative.  Support was expressed for the Island in participating as part of the pilot scheme.  However, due to pressures on officer time resulting from the current number of inspections taking place, members raised concern that, prior to any firm agreement, confirmation should be sought that any area-based inspection regime would replace existing inspection arrangements rather than simply adding to them.

 

 RESOLVED :

 

THAT the proposal to volunteer to help in the pilot area-based assessment work be supported, subject to confirmation that an area-based inspection regime would replace existing inspection arrangements rather than simply adding to them.

 

13.             DETAILS OF AN EVENT TO BE HELD ON 7 NOVEMBER 2005, AT WINCHESTER GUILDHALL

 

Members received, for information, details of an event to be held at Winchester Guildhall on Monday, 7 November for members of Local Strategic Partnerships.  The presentation by Mr M Friedman, Director of the Fiscal Policy Studies Institute, USA would explain how focusing on outcomes improved collaboration and offered opportunities to deliver change much more quickly.

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT details of the event be noted.

 

 

Meeting closed at 4.45pm.                                                                

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN