Minutes of the Community Empowerment Fund Steering Group

6.00 pm Monday 23rd September 2002 at Sefton House

 

 

 

Present:

Andy Guile (Chair), Ann Culverhouse, Bill Edwards, Christine Heesom, Peter Cowley, Liz Hindley

 

In attendance:

Sauren Ghosh, Joe Devaney, Ben McCall

 

1.     Apologies

Apologies were received from Michael Gelling, Nora Rimmer, Yinka Yesufu, Debbie Dalby and Alison Gleave.

 

Joe Devaney apologised for the late change of date for the meeting which was due to a double booking by HVA.

 

2.     Minutes of the Meeting of the 29th July 2002

The minutes were corrected to include Bill Edwards who had attended.  A further correction was that in item 5 the community website was agreed.

 

 

3.     Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

 

4.     Mapping Exercise Sub-Group 12/08/02

The minutes of the sub-group of the 12th August 2002 were noted.  Joe Devaney said that the group will reconvene to consider the final draft of the mapping exercise questionnaire.

 

5&8          Name of Network and Communication Strategy/Website

 

Joe Devaney made a presentation on the various options available for the name of the description line for the Network.  After a long debate it was agreed that the Network would be called:

 

Halton Together – The Voluntary and Community Network

 

Sauren Ghosh and Ben McCall reported that the website had much more text and the deadline for text and images was the end of September.  A draft would be ready by the end of October and the draft site would be presented to the next meeting of the Steering Group.  Sauren Ghosh said that as part of his SRB remit we was going to give voluntary and community groups a name, therefore an example would be namedgroup@haltontogether.org.uk.  He also said that he was continuing to distribute computers and would be giving quarterly update reports to the Steering Group.

 

6.     LSP Draft Community Engagement Strategy

 

Joe Devaney said that the indication from the LSP was that this was a genuine consultation exercise and they were keen to get it right.  It was agreed that he would write to the LSP to say that the response to the draft from the Network would be produced at the Steering Group’s next meeting.

 

Ann Culverhouse said that the Lancaster University research did point out that people felt isolated and all members of the Steering Group strongly believed that communications between the LSP, the Steering Group and the community needed improvement.  It was agreed that the Engagement Strategy would be considered in detail at the next meeting and a formal response sent to the Halton Partnership.  It was also agreed that the two sector representatives on the Partnership be asked to produce written reports to the Steering Group and to the HVA Newsletter.

 

A further discussion followed on the Poverty and Deprivation SSP.  Andy Guile reported that there was a possibility of underspend in the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for 2002/03 and that proposals might be reconsidered.  The Poverty and Deprivation Working Party was to go through all 93 proposals prior to the Halton Partnership Board meeting on the 16th October.  Andy also said that the process for determining NRF projects for 2003/04 would shortly be getting underway and that the Poverty and Deprivation SSP would be looking at priority themes.

 

7.     Network Development Worker Report

The report was noted.

 

9.     Community Champions/Chest

A written progress report was considered by the meeting and it was strongly felt that the Community Chest administration was inadequate.  Members of the assessment panel were getting the information too late and all systems needed to be improved.  Peter Cowley reported that he had been to the training session.  The meeting on Friday 27th September would consider 55 Halton Community Chest bids.

 

10.   October Network Meeting

It was agreed that the full meeting of the Network would be on Wednesday 13th November 2002.

 

11.   Brook Chambers

A report was presented to the meeting and it was agreed that the Community Empowerment Centre should be developed with as many options as possible explored.  The Centre Administrator and the Network Development Officer should be moved there as soon as possible.  The Steering Group also agreed that a small working party be set up to prepare a business and action plan for the Empowerment Centre and would report back to the next meeting.  Membership of the working group would be Ann Culverhouse, Alison Gleave and another Steering Group member (to be determined).

 

12.   Youth Participation Project Update

Andy Guile introduced the topic saying that the purpose was to set up a shadow LSP which would involve young people and give them a say.  He was particularly concerned that the 18-25 age group had no real voice.  It was agreed that Ben McCall and Andy Guile would meet and report back to the next meeting.

13.   Other Relevant Business

Joe Devaney presented a draft skills/experience requirements list for representatives on the Poverty and Deprivation SSP.  He reported that it had been drawn up between Michael Gelling and himself (with some initial work from Alan Gough) and that it had been referred to the Steering Group by the Poverty and Deprivation Working Group.

 

It was agreed that the documents be fully considered at the next meeting.

 

                       Ben McCall reported that Halton FM 105.9 would be broadcasting for 28 days from the 11th October and would be inviting people into the studio in Brook Chambers.  He also said that the station was broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the web.

 

14.   Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held at 6.00 pm on Monday the 11th November 2002 at Sefton House.