Agenda item

(1)       Mr Hill and Ms Honey updated Members on the issues listed in the paper circulated with the agenda and answered questions from Members.

Australian Athletics use of Tonbridge School 2012 - Signing (21 September 2010)

(2)       Mr Hill reported that the Australian Athletics Olympic squad would be using the facilities at the Tonbridge School in 2012.   He confirmed that Kent had more Olympic training camps than any other County.

Kent Alcohol Strategy Launch (5 October 2010)

(3)       Mr Hill stated that the Kent Alcohol Strategy had been launched on 5 October 2010.  This strategy had been developed by the Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team (KDAAT) from the work carried out by the Select Committee on Alcohol misuse.  It had strong support from colleagues from the Health Service and he hoped that it would be a useful tool.

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)   (9 October 2010)

(4)       Mr Hill referred to the recent visit by the Chief Executive of the MLA.  Every County was currently looking at its library service to see how to adapt the service and policies in light of various factors including the digital revolution.  

Youth Takeover Week - Shadowing (11 November 2010)

(5)       Mr Hill mentioned the shadowing opportunity that was taking place this week for young people, a number of whom were shadowing Members.

Opening Folkestone Library and History Resource Centre (28^th October 2010)

(6)       Mr Hill referred to the recent opening of the Folkestone Library and History Resource Centre, the new facility had been very well received by the people of Folkestone and members of the Local History Society.

Turner Contemporary handover (8^th December 2010)

(7)       Mr Hill reminded Members that the handover of Turner Contemporary to the Trust would take place on 8 December 2010 and that all Members of the Committee had been invited to attend.

National changes relating to Communities Services

(8)       Ms Honey set out the fast moving policy environment that Community Services was operating in at the moment.  Key areas included the de-ring fencing of budgets and the abolition of a number of the Quangos who worked with the Directorate, including the National Treatment Agency and the Youth Justice Board. She referred to the £250m of funding allocated nationally for adult apprenticeships. Also the issues of personalised work programmes for the long term unemployed and the importance of trying to influence how this would work in Kent.  The changes to the housing benefit system had the potential to cause a move in population from London to some of Kent disadvantaged communities.  In relation to the Big Society there was the potential for a greater role for the community sector.  She also referred to the £470m nationally for capacity building in the voluntary sector over the next 4 years.  Ms Honey referred to the Big Society Bank and the proposals in Bold Steps for Kent.

(9)       Reference was made to the new Select Committee on the Student Journey and the importance of this Directorate’s work on apprenticeships being included.

(10)     The importance of recognising that there was a lot of work in the community that was not part of any formal voluntary sector organisation was discussed.  There was a need to provide some support so that the informal part of the voluntary sector was also able to take advantage of the opportunities that would become available.

(11)     Concern was expressed about the impact that the lost of funding from District/Borough Councils would have on the voluntary sector.  Also it seemed to be the same being involved in community/voluntary sector work rather than new volunteers.

(12)     Ms Honey undertook to produce a policy briefing for Members on national changes relating to the Communities Directorate.

Young People’s Housing Strategy and Emergency Accommodation protocol

(13)     Ms Honey informed the Committee that there was a move to have a protocol for emergency accommodation for young people, especially 16 & 17 year olds.

(14)     In response to a question on accommodation for young people who had been released from prison, Ms Slaven explained that this would be addressed within the emergency accommodation protocol.  The Local Authority was responsible for vulnerable young people between the ages of 16 & 18.  It was necessary to clearly set out responsibilities between the tiers of local government for example it was important that the housing authority and the social services authority worked closely together.

Cultural Strategy

(15)     In relation to the Cultural Strategy, Ms Honey stated work was being undertaken on the criteria to set up a Cultural Board for the County.

Tell Us Once – Countywide Roll Out

(16)     Ms Honey referred to the successful “tell us once” pilot which was now being rolled out across the county in relation to the notification of deaths.  Mr Bainbridge gave details of how the pilot worked and stated that as well as linking with other public sector bodies there was also private sector interest to reduce insurance fraud.

Forward Plan, Key Decisions

(17)     Mr Hill gave brief details of the following Key Decision which were on the current Forward Plan:-

This was awaiting planning permission from Sevenoaks District Council.

This decision had been put on hold pending the re-arrangements within the Library Service.

This related to the reorganisation of the service to fit into the new centre.

Self issue (Libraries and Archives)

(18)     Mr Hill referred to a visit to Bromley to see the self issue system which they had been using for 2 years with very few problems. This system was liked by the service users. He confirmed that KCC would be getting an updated version of system.

(19)     RESOLVED that the update be noted.