Minutes of the Meeting of the

Community Empowerment Fund Steering Group

6p.m. – 29th July 2002 Sefton House

 

 

1.     Attendance:

 

Nora Rimmer, Andy Guile, Ann Culverhouse, Peter Cowley, Michael Gelling, Alison Gleave, Hazel Catt

 

Joe Devaney, Sauren Ghosh, Ben McCall, Alan Gough

 

Apologies were received from Christine Heesom.

 

Hazel Catt opened the meeting

 

2. Election of Chair

Andy Guile (proposed by Michael Gelling, seconded by Alison Gleave) was elected unopposed.

 

3. Minutes of the meeting of 8th July 2002

The minutes were circulated and accepted as a true record.

 

4. Matters arising

Bill Edwards asked if future meetings would be on Thursdays.  Hazel Catt mentioned that the Community Development Workers meeting had been postponed and had been provisionally rearranged for the 10th September.  This was in order to engage the key notes speaker and to increase the attendance at the meeting.

 

5. Structure of Network

 

Joe Devaney presented a report (attached) and a discussion followed.  Michael Gelling asked where Credit Unions fitted into the voluntary sectors groups.  Alison Gleave asked that the word ‘gay men and lesbians’ be used to describe a group.  It was agreed.  Michael Gelling said he had problems with crèches being included because many were attached to schools.  Bill Edwards asked that mens groups and drugs and substances groups be considered.  It was agreed that the list was too long and as well as not being perfect there were issues that could be discussed and resolved.  Joe Devaney said that he hoped that if the structure could be agreed quickly and the mapping exercises completed elections could be held before Christmas.  Nora Rimmer said that some organisations had not received papers for the full network meeting on the 16th July.  Hazel Catt said that the HVA directory database had been used for the mailing and that any groups who had not received notification to immediately contact HVA.  Joe Devaney said it was a long term job to identify all the small groups and when the initial network was set up this would be one of its smaller tasks.  Ben McCall said strides were being made to respond to the desperate nature of the community sector and that he was willing to join with Halton Borough Council’s community development officers to get a clearer picture.  Alan Gough said it must be a two tiered process.  The first would be to create a skeleton network which would develop into a full network.  Hazel Catt said that the next full network meeting will be in October and that the Steering Group has a real opportunity to delivery a detailed structure.

 

6. Terms of Reference for Steering Group

 

Joe Devaney presented a written report (attached).  This was accepted by the meeting.

 

7. Community Mapping Exercise

 

Joe Devaney presented a written report (attached) and added that the pilot exercise in Norton had proved difficult to complete.  There was a lengthy discussion and some members of the meeting felt it was worth pursuing the community groups and Alison Gleave said she would still like to do the exercise in West Bank.  It was agreed a small sub group, comprising Alison Gleave, Nora Rimmer and Peter Cowley, would be formed and that Les Banks would also be asked to join.

 

8. Network Development Worker Report

 

Alan Gough delivered a written report (copy attached).  Michael Gelling said that the Community Chest acceptance or rejection letters had still not arrived.  Hazel Catt said that the problem was with Sefton Community Foundation.

 

9. Communication Strategy/Website update

 

Sauren Ghosh presented a written report (copy attached).  Ben McCall said that the website had been progressing since the last meeting.  Sauren asked that his community group web pages be brought into the website.  Ben McCall said that the draft website would be ready in late August and it was agreed that website decisions would be delegated to him and the Community Empowerment Team, except for major decisions such as e.g. the name of the site.

 

10. Youth Participation + ConneXions

 

Andy Guile gave a verbal report.  He said he didn’t have much to say given the uncertainty over the ConneXions and the Halton Borough Council Youth Service.  He said that progress will remain slow until this issue is resolved.

 

11. Issue from the Urban Forum Conference

 

Ben McCall went through the recommendations.  Hazel Catt said that many of them had already been taken on board.  Ben said he felt very strongly about induction and training and its contribution to empowerment.  It was agreed that key speakers be invited to the quarterly meetings of the network.  Hazel Catt mentioned the Community Matters conference at Lancaster University in September.  Joe Devaney said that anyone who wished to attend to let him know by the end of the week.

 

12. Other relevant business

 

Hazel Catt said that organisations who had applied for ERDF were getting a bill for 1% as a levy by work done by Halton Borough Council.  It was agreed that this should come out of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.  Help with this could be given from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

 

13. Date of Next Meeting

 

The next meeting will be held at 6.00 pm on Monday 16th September at Sefton House.