|
FUNDING PANEL
MINUTES OF FUNDING PANEL HELD
ON 2nd OCTOBER 2007 IN HAYS BUSINESS
CENTRE, EDINBURGH.
PRESENT
Cllr Mike Bridgman - CEC (Chair)
Cllr Maureen Child - CEC
Paul Nolan - Community
Representative
Honor Flynn - Community
Representative
Norrie Davies - Community Representative
IN ATTENDANCE
Susan Mooney - CEC Services for Communities
Jane Rough - CEC Children & Families
Derek Welsh - CEC
Children & Families
Susan Carr - Neighbourhood
Alliance
Mike Bell - Capacity Building Project
David Walker - Capacity Building
Project
Graham Rowan - Craigmillar Partnership
Faye Gray - Craigmillar
Partnership
OBSERVERS
Gail Ross - LPAG
Elizabeth Barron - LPAG
Mima
Kelly - LPAG
1 APOLOGIES
Apologies were
tendered from Cllr Hawkins and Mick McNulty
2 Minutes of 24 August 2007
Page 4. Item 4.4.1 Women
onto Work. At Councillor’s Child’s
request the final sentence should read “Maureen agreed we should seek
clarification on figures”.
3 Matters Arising
3.1 CBP
Susan reported that although the report on CBP is in the
final stages it is not yet complete. Paul
asked for confirmation that those individuals who had been interviewed would
be given the opportunity to check for accuracy prior to finalisation. To date he has not seen a copy of his
statement and asked Susan to check to confirm this would still be the case. Susan agreed to confirm the procedure for
feedback prior to finalisation.
3.2 WISE
Graham confirmed
that CEC link department support to WISE has been received.
4 BALANCE OF 2007-08
4.1 Bingham Allocation
Graham reminded members that the money
allocated to CPB for work in Bingham had been returned. This money has been ring fenced for Bingham
and it had been agreed that a small grant fund would be set up inviting
groups to apply for grants up to £3,000.
To date only 2 applications have been received. A meeting will be held on 10th
October to consider applications.
In response to a question from Norrie as to who had been
contacted, Graham advised he had contacted all organisations /groups and
individuals known to him and advertised in the Bingham Community Centre.
Derek reported that he had been in contact with several
groups also, he was aware that one other application was in progress and asked
for an extension of a further week to enable any other bids to be
included. Maureen suggested that the
kids soccer project may wish to make a bid.
In response to a question as to whether schools could apply it was
agreed that they could be considered with all other bids.
It was agreed to
extend the closing date to enable all application to be considered on 10th
October.
4.2 Childcare in Craigmillar
The balance remaining from the Craigmillar Childcare
Services award is £156,000.
Graham referred to the application from Children and
Families to provide childcare provision for Craigmillar children. The numbers are less than expected and the
amount requested is £79,365. The
application identifies the Partnership Support Team to administer the award rather
than a council department.
David Walker asked what the timescale was for returning a
childcare facility to Craigmillar.
Jane replied that plans have been drawn up but they have no funding to
progress further at this stage. The
dilemma is that until a decision has been made regarding the continuing of Community
Regeneration Funding it is difficult to proceed further. A service specification has been produced
and once a decision on CRF is known they will be ready to proceed with the
procurement and tendering process.
It was agreed to
award £79,365 to Children & Families to provide Childcare for Craigmillar
children. The award is to be
administered by the Partnership Support Team.
4.3 Women onto Work
The application was circulated at the board meeting when
clarification was sought on the high cost of childcare for the course.
The figures have now been re-assessed and are based on
actual numbers rather than projected.
Premises for the crèche are being provided by the council at no cost. The amount required has been reduced from
£11,000 to £939.
It was agreed to
award £939 to Women onto Work for childcare provision for a course for
Craigmillar Women.
Recommending the above awards leaves a balance of
£75,696. Graham suggested that
organisations in Craigmillar be invited to make an application for funding.
Paul felt that this was not the best way to use the
available money. He reminded members
that this money was originally allocated to provide childcare provision and
suggested that Communities Scotland be asked to consider allowing the money
to be carried forward. Graham said he
had already been in contact with the council finance department to ascertain
if this would be possible. He said the
response was not positive although it was not a formal refusal.
It was agreed that Graham would formally request that the
money be carried forward and ask for a written reply from Communities
Scotland.
In view of the timescale Graham asked for agreement that
if the response was negative he should proceed to invite applications from
within the community. He confirmed
that all applications should meet the regeneration outcome agreements.
It was agreed to
proceed to invite bids if Communities Scotland do not allow the money
to be carried forward.
5 AOCB
5.1 European Applications
Graham referred to the recent correspondence regarding the
opportunity for local projects to make a bid to the Edinburgh Partnership to
be included in a city-wide application.
The timescale is very short, outline bids must be sent to
Norma Cuthbertson by tomorrow morning as the meeting to discuss bids is in
the afternoon (3rd October).
The main priorities are employability (ESF) and
regeneration (ERDF). Both Worktrack
and the Business Incubator/Cre8te will be included in other city-wide bids.
Paul said that Café K and Jack Kane Centre are hoping to
prepare a bid but are not clear if it is ESF or ERDF as it is in relation to
environmental changes and sustainability.
The proposal would be for the construction of a wind turbine to reduce
and provide energy to the Jack Kane Centre.
The process of learning how to do this would be ESF with possible job
opportunities to follow in the construction stages. They are currently looking for a commercial
partner.
5.2 Craigmillar Childcare Assets
Norrie asked for information regarding the assets of the
project. Graham reported that he had
sent a letter to the manager who replied she was no longer employed and
referred him to the management committee.
Paul was asked what the position was regarding the assets. He replied that most of the assets had been
donated to local schools. He was asked to provide a written list of assets
and who had received assets that have been distributed.
5.3 LPAG
Honor asked for clarification with reference to a letter
she had received regarding a potential underspend in the LPAG award. Mima advised the meeting that LPAG did not
receive the grant until late in the year and had made a request to keep money
back to finance the gala day, this had been agreed. Gail said that they had been careful not to
spend too much because they thought they might be overspent. They anticipate invoices shortly for the
use of the building. This will reduce
the balance considerably.
It was agreed to ask LPAG and Derek to meet again to
discuss the situation and work out an expenditure profile. Derek was asked to provide a report to the
next Funding Panel.
5.4 Neighbourhood Partnership Board
Derek asked what the future of the Funding Panel would be
in relation to the new Neighbourhood Partnership board.
Susan replied that meetings will be held with the
Craigmillar Partnership to discuss this and other issues. Graham added that it was clear that if CRF
was to continue the funding would go to the Edinburgh Partnership and then to
the Neighbourhood Partnership.
Paul said that as the Craigmillar Partnership are the
employers of the support team there will be staffing implications which will need
to be considered. He asked what would
happen to the existing staff.
Susan responded that the council are taking considerations
of TUPE on board with respect to all Partnership teams. They will be going through a formal process
and writing to organisations as a first step. The council need to identify
the functions currently carried out by staff and see if it applies to the
requirements of the Neighbourhood Partnership in terms of the management and
administration of the CRF and delivery of the Regeneration Outcome Agreements. Paul asked about other staff and Susan
replied that this would only apply to core staff and that TUPE would not
apply to other project workers.
Regarding timescale Susan said letters will be sent out to
the relevant organisations requesting a response within 2 weeks. She added that they are working on the assumption
that there will be Community Regeneration Funding and would hope to bring a
position statement to the next board meeting.
6 DATE OF NEXT FUNDING PANEL MEETING
It was agreed to hold the next meeting on Wednesday 31st October 2007 at 10am in the Hays Business
Centre.
MINUTES OF
FUNDING PANEL HELD ON 24th AUGUST
2007 IN
HAYS BUSINESS CENTRE, EDINBURGH.
PRESENT
Cllr
Stephen Hawkins - CEC (Chair)
Paul Nolan - Community Representative
Honor Flynn - Community
Representative
Norrie Davies - Community Representative
Cllr Maureen Child - City of Edinburgh Council
Andy
Dick - Representing Mick McNulty
IN ATTENDANCE
Susan Carr - Neighbourhood
Alliance
Mike Bell - Capacity Building Project
David Walker - Capacity Building Project
Graeme Fairbrother - CEC
Services for Communities
Linda Cunningham - CEC Services for Communities
Derek Welsh - CEC
Children & Families
Graham Rowan - Craigmillar
Partnership
Faye Gray - Craigmillar
Partnership
OBSERVERS
Gail Ross - LPAG
Elizabeth Barron - LPAG
Nicky Lyall - Member
of Public
Stephen chaired the meeting in the
absence of Cllr Bridgman. He thanked everyone for attending and apologised
for the late change of venue. He
expressed concern over the reasons for needing to change.
Norrie asked that it be recorded
that he does not receive any expenses, attendance fees or any monetary
benefit in relation to his attendance at this meeting. Honor asked that it is recorded that she
also receives no money for attending this meeting.
1 APOLOGIES
Apologies
received from Councillor Bridgman and Mick McNulty
2 Minutes of 12 June 2007
Agreed as a correct record. Proposed by Norrie Davies, seconded by
Honor Flynn.
3 Matters Arising
CBP
Graeme advised that a draft report relating to the
investigation on CBP would be finalised today. Paul asked if the people who were
interviewed would be allowed to read the report prior to it being “leaked to
the Evening News”. Graeme confirmed
that they would have access to the report.
Protocol
Derek reported that a report would be made available to
the Partnership Board on 5 September.
David Walker said it was his understanding that this protocol only
applied to LPAG. Graham replied that this protocol applies to
council staff and officers and voluntary and community groups. This would be discussed at the Board.
4 BALANCE OF 2007-08
4.1 Services for Vulnerable
Women
Graham provided background to this
application. The group had been awarded
one quarter funding as an interim while waiting on a report from CEC
Equalities Unit. The Board had set
aside £5,964 to support any proposals.
A report on the counselling service and a breakdown of costs has been
provided.
It was agreed to
award the full £5,964 set aside for a counselling service to Services for
Vulnerable Women, to be administered by the Partnership Support Team.
4.2 WISE (Women Into Social
Education)
It was agreed at the previous meeting to award the balance
of £445 remaining to WISE. It was
later discovered that additional unallocated money is available therefore the
group were asked to make a formal application. The application is for £3,800 and the
balance available is £3,090.
Subject to CEC
support it was agreed to award £3,090 to WISE.
4.3 CBP Bingham Allocation
Derek provided a report which gave the background to the
grant previously made to Bingham for a small grant fund. After all applications were agreed there
remained a balance of £8,000 which was returned to the Partnership for
re-distribution.
It was felt strongly that the £13,151 should still be
focussed on activities in Bingham.
Some discussion took place as to how to reach groups in the Bingham
area as it was noted that all previous needs had been identified and
met. It was felt that some publicity
was needed to ensure all groups who could benefit would be reached. A range
of options as to how to reach groups in Bingham was suggested.
Graham agreed to work with Derek to
start the process. A small group
comprising Mike Bridgman, Honor Flynn, Paul Nolan,
Graham Rowan and Derek Welsh was agreed to assess applications and
make the awards.
4.4 Childcare in
Craigmillar
A letter has been received from Children and Families
requesting £121,485 to enable them to continue to provide childcare to
existing and new parents resident in Craigmillar as an interim measure until
such times as the procurement process is complete. A breakdown of costs was provided.
Honor asked about the transport and summer scheme element
of the request as she recalled that Children and Families stated at a
previous board meeting that they would be meeting these costs. Other members shared her understanding that
these reassurances had been given.
Paul expressed concern that CEC took the decision to
cancel the existing provision and now they ask the Partnership to pay for
their alternative arrangements. He
felt a one page letter asking for £121,484 would not be an acceptable method
of making an application. Another major
concern is that the Partnership is being asked to put public money into
private companies, which he sees this as a major policy shift.
He also wanted a clear ruling on the role of council
representatives taking part in decisions as applications such as this would
mean a clear conflict of interest.
Maureen felt that she has no financial or pecuniary
interest, and if there was a problem she would just refuse to take part in
the decision. She felt the request
should be turned down.
Graham said that it was not unheard of
to give money to the council and stated the partnership arrangement with
Adult Student Link as an example. He
reminded members that Communities Scotland had recently given clear guidance
that Partnership funding should not replace the loss of other Partner’s
funding. Stephen said that the council
could argue that it stepped in as an emergency measure, and that this did not
represent a policy shift.
Some discussion took place regarding the numbers of
children detailed in the report. It
was noted that although 35 families had asked for assistance only 15 took up
an offer for the After School Club. It
was explained that the numbers were based on the number of enquiries. Graham
reported that the numbers were much less than anticipated.
Paul said that Children & Families made no effort to
look at local centres in the community; Derek replied that offers have been
made to parents that they can use local provision but there are no local
providers.
Stephen felt that further information is required and that
a full application must be completed.
It is also essential that someone from Children & Families attend
the next meeting.
Paul reminded members that Jane Rough gave a clear promise
that training would continue for 6 childcare staff that were made
redundant. He asked that a written
report be provided to the next meeting.
4.4.1 Women onto Work
Graham gave the background to this
application. WOW has provided training
courses in Craigmillar to local women for several years with Craigmillar
Childcare Services providing the crèche.
With the closure of CCS it has been necessary to seek another crèche
provider and the cost of this amounts to an additional £11,000 for the
duration of the course.
Paul said he was surprised at the cost of this as WOW used
to pay CCS £12,000 for the service and this gave CCS a profit, the amount
seems to have more than doubled. Graham advised that WOW had said it is an increase
of 110%. WOW has been in contact with
Children & Families to ask for assistance but have had no response and
the course is due to start in September.
Maureen suggested that WOW in line with all other requests
for funding must complete a full application for the £11,000. This was agreed.
5 AOCB
5.1 Castlebrae Community
High School
Paul suggested that as the board have an interest in the
proposal to close Castlebrae
School, the next
meeting should be held there when we can get an update from the school. It was agreed to approach Castlebrae to see
if it was possible to hold the next board meeting on 5th September
there.
Gail suggested that as closures affected Lismore Primary
also that a meeting should be arranged in Bingham.
5.2 CRF Funding
Paul felt there was a need to meet once the decision has been
made regarding Community Regeneration Funding. It is anticipated this will be end of
October or early November.
5.3 Complaint against a Director
Gail stated she wished to make a complaint against a
director. Stephen said that this was
not the correct procedure and advised Gail to write to the Chairman of the
Board. After a heated exchange between
Gail and Paul, Stephen closed the meeting.
6 DATE OF NEXT FUNDING
PANEL MEETING
It was agreed to hold the next meeting on Tuesday 2nd October 2007, venue to be confirmed.
MINUTES OF FUNDING PANEL HELD ON 12th JUNE 2007 IN CRAIGMILLAR
COMMUNITY CENTRE, EDINBURGH.
PRESENT
Cllr
Stephen Hawkins - CEC (Chair)
Paul Nolan - Community Representative
Honor Flynn - Community Representative
Mick McNulty - Community Representative
Norrie Davies - Community Representative
IN
ATTENDANCE
Cllr Maureen Child - CEC
Susan Carr - Neighbourhood
Alliance
Mike Bell - Capacity Building Project
David Walker - Capacity Building Project
Graeme Fairbrother - CEC
Services for Communities
Derek Welsh - CEC
Children & Families
Graham Rowan - Craigmillar
Partnership
John Palmer - Craigmillar
Partnership
OBSERVERS
Gail Ross - LPAG
Elizabeth Barron - LPAG
John Wallace - Member
of public
Patsy King - Craigmillar
Childcare Services
Laura Walsh - Craigmillar
Childcare Services
Sam Robinson - Craigmillar Childcare Services
1
APOLOGIES
Cllr Mike
Bridgman - CEC
Graham said the rules for the conduct of
meetings provided by CEC only allow the Partnership Manager or a Director who
is not a community representative to chair the meeting. Cllr Stephen Hawkins agreed to take the
chair.
2 REPORT TO BOARD OF 31st
JANUARY 2007
Graham said this report superseded the
minute of the previous meeting and was circulated to remind members of the
background and of the allocations for 2007/08.
3 MATTERS ARISING
3.1 Complaint against Capacity Building Project
Graeme reported CBP had provided the requested financial
information, which had satisfied Communities Scotland and so that aspect was
closed. As for the substantive element
of the complaint, CEC has now established a procedure to investigate this and
designated an officer, Peter Long, to be responsible.
David said contrary to the report to the Board of 31st
January, Dominique Petitqueux of Communities Scotland had assured the Board
that CBP’s funding was not under threat.
He was also disappointed at CEC’s dilatory approach as there had been
no contact with him since the end of January.
Graeme apologised for the length of time, but various processes had to
be undergone to decide the best procedure.
Paul complained these procedures had not been outlined to
the project. David added they had asked
for a copy of the complaint but had received nothing. Graeme replied there were issues about the
confidentiality of the complainant, but assured the Panel that at the end of
the investigation the substance of the complaint would be made clear.
David further complained that CBP’s complaint to the
Partnership of November 2005 about the behaviour of members of LPAG had never
been investigated. Graham responded that CEC Children & Families
had investigated the various web-sites that CBP had complained about, and had
written in March 2006 saying it was hard to attribute responsibility and that
they had agreed a protocol with LPAG.
The Board had considered this in June 2006, awarded funding to LPAG
and minuted, they considered the matter closed. There were other minuted meetings with
David where he had been similarly informed.
David however felt he had never received a proper reply to their
letter of November 2005 and nobody had come to speak to CBP staff on the matter.
Gail stated LPAG had been investigated and was over. As
Secretary, she took umbrage at this matter being brought up in this way.
It was agreed to ask CEC Children & Families to report to the Board
on how the protocol with LPAG was working.
4 BALANCE OF 2007-08
4.1 Services for Vulnerable
Women
Graham said when Womanzone had closed
CEC had asked its Equalities Unit to come forward with proposals to provide
alternative services for vulnerable women.
The Board had set aside £6,000 to support any proposals. As no proposals had come forward, or seemed
likely to do so, the Board had agreed on a quarterly basis the money could be
used to maintain the counselling service.
This service has continued to be useful and the counsellors have asked
the arrangement continue in this year, using the £5,946 the Partnership still
has available for the general purpose.
There is also a balance of CRF funding of £445 available.
In the meantime, a group of former users of Womanzone have
established a voluntary association, Women in Social Education, which has
been trying to provide some service for vulnerable women. They had hoped to tender for any
alternative work proposed by CEC. They
had recently made a presentation to the Community Council, which had
supported their request for £3,000 to cover administrative and support costs.
After discussion it was agreed to recommend a first
quarter’s award of £1,486 to the counsellors and the CRF balance of £445 to
WISE and to continue to examine this issue on a quarterly basis.
4.2 CBP Bingham Allocation
Graham reported CBP had declined the
award £13,151 made to them to continue their work in Bingham. A letter from David explaining their
reasons had been circulated. This
award was the continuation of an original allocation for work in Bingham that
had also gone to LPAG and the Bingham Community Planning group, chaired by
previous Cllr Berry. The latter had in fact returned money
because they had found no further use for it.
Honor said the money should still be available for Bingham. Paul suggested CEC Children & Families
Community Education be asked to set up a similar scheme to last time, invite
proposals and come forward with recommendations to the Panel in the autumn. Derek said the view of the previous group
had been the needs had been identified and exhausted. However there may well be new initiatives
now requiring funding.
It was agreed to ask CEC Children & Families to establish a process
and identify proposals for spending this money in Bingham and bring these to
a Funding Panel in the autumn.
4.3 Craigmillar Childcare
Services
Paul declared a material interest in this item, and left
the table. He was happy to provide
information if asked.
Graham reported that CEC had awarded one
quarter’s funding and asked for the balance of CRF money to be earmarked for
future services. He circulated a
letter from the CEC Director of Finance confirming their position.
CCS had asked for funding to be provided to meet
redundancy costs, payment in lieu of notice, holiday entitlement and training
completion and future employment assistance amounting to £96,656.
The Partnership has no legal responsibility for redundancy
costs. However its funding has in the past helped with closure costs, when a
project has used its last quarter of funding to wind up. This use of the last quarter’s funding
could not apply in this case as the project was asked to continue to provide
a service. The staff have employment
rights and it would be possible to contribute to the redundancy costs from the
£156,599 left from the CCS grant. He
understood the process of procuring an alternative service would take at
least another three months.
Derek, on Alan Jackson’s behalf, said a progress report
from CEC Directors of Finance and Children & Families to the Council
Executive on 19th June should be available today. The department has contacted partner
providers in the area and are confident there is sufficient capacity to
provide for the children in Haystax.
There are also sufficient after-school places in Gilmerton and
Portobello and the Working For Families service would help parents in finding
new places for their children. The
department recognised there would be major upheaval for everyone, but that
this alternative provision would be in place.
David argued the childcare requirements of local people
have not been addressed. It would take
until December to have an alternative provider in place. This is part of a pattern that would lead
to the closure of Children’s House nursery school and Greendykes Children
& Families Centre.
Derek admitted there are complexities over procurement of
an alternative provider, TUPE legislation and that the CRF funding is very
sh | 