Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 6 March 2013.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Sevenoaks District Kent Locality Board held on 6 March 2013, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the word ‘Some’ being added before ‘Members’ to the beginning of the eighth paragraph of Minute 36.

Any interests not already registered

There were no declarations of interest.

The completed actions were noted.

In May 2013, it was announced that Locality Boards across Kent would not continue in their present form. The Board considered a report that set out the background to Locality Boards and sought approval to work with the County Council to set up a Sevenoaks District Strategic Board.  The setting up of local arrangements to replace the Sevenoaks District Kent Locality Board had the support of the Leader of Kent County Council.  The Board was asked to consider the report and make any recommendations to Governance Committee.

A paper was tabled requesting Members to approve the following amendment to the terms of reference:

amending number 1 to remove the word “Cabinet” to read “…and 7 Sevenoaks District Council Members”

the addition of a new number 2 “The Leader of Sevenoaks District Council will have the power to rotate/amend the District Council membership as appropriate” with sequential numbering appropriately changed.

Members were also asked to agree an amendment that the proposed Strategic Board delivery structure be noted. 

In response to a question, the Head of Business Transformation and Programmes at Kent County Council (KCC) confirmed that the arrangements did not need to be formally confirmed through the KCC committee process. 

The Chief Officer Communities and Business, advised that the funding referred to in the report was received as part of the Performance Reward Grant for Kent received from central government for the Local Area Agreement.  The District Council administered this and partners could bid for project in order to deliver the community plan.  An Officer group appraised the applications according to the Scheme guidelines. 

Action 1:  The Guidelines to be circulated prior to the next meeting.

Members noted that the future of the Sevenoaks District Local Children’s Trust Board within the proposed delivery structure, was yet to be determined.  The Chief Officer Communities and Business advised that KCC were proposing to take forward Local Children’s Arrangements through existing Health and Wellbeing Boards, with district level Local Operational Groups.  This proposal had not yet been formally agreed.  If it was agreed, the ‘Sevenoaks District Children’s Local Operational Group’ was likely to be one of the groups able to assist delivery of the Community Plan and therefore appeared on the organisational structure chart. 

Resolved:  That it be RECOMMENDED to Governance Committee to recommend to Council that:

the creation of a Sevenoaks District Strategic Board which builds on the working arrangements of the previous Sevenoaks District Kent Locality Board, be approved;

the draft terms of reference as amended, be approved; and

the proposed Strategic Board delivery structure, be noted.

Verbal update

The Area Education Officer (North Kent) KCC, tabled an update on education matters within the area.   He confirmed that all projects were on budget and on time.  He had visited Otford Primary the day before, handover was not until 16 September 2013 but a contingency plan was in place.  Sevenoaks Primary had moved in on time and had been able to deliver at the start of the school term.  He requested that he have access to the Sevenoaks District Council Local Housing Plan so that it could be factored into the forecasting for migration / indigenous growth and birth rate. 

Verbal update

The Chief Officer Communities and Business advised that there were Member representatives on both Health and Wellbeing Boards.  The West Kent and Weald Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) were progressing well and were getting out lots of data at meetings to identify priorities.  They had also set up an integrated health and social care group to look at joint commissioning needs.  Task Groups had been set up to look at issues in more depth.  The three groups which had been set up were: tobacco control; childhood obesity; and falls prevention.

The Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCG started later, it had held several meetings informally and the first meeting to be held in public would be in November 2013.   As yet the terms of reference were not yet agreed.  A commissioning group was due to be set up. 

County Cllr. Gough reported that there had been a ‘Mapping the Future Event’  looking at integrated commissioning .  Cllr. Davison advised that the West Kent and Weald Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had held three or four public meetings as it had been the only way he had been able to attend.  The Chairman requested that a map or flow diagram be circulated to Members in order to see how the different groups interacted etc. with details of who attended on behalf of KCC and SDC.

Action 2:  County Cllr. to provide a simple flow diagram to be emailed to Members.

Verbal Update

The Area Youth Officer (KCC) reported that eight months into the new commissioned service regime there were issues in certain areas especially regarding CXK provision.  There was a vacancy at the Swanley Centre, the detached team had been working well in Westerham area.  The CXK team had pulled out of New Ash Green due to aggressive behaviour problems.  They were working with the local PCSO and KCC to address this.  There was to be a meeting the following week to review the contract with CXK.  House in the Basement in Sevenoaks was going well, as was the West Kent Extra Partnership working well in Edenbridge.

Members expressed concern that it had not been possible to recruit to the Swanley Centre.  The Area Youth Officer responded that the assistant to the full time worker position had stepped up, and Dartford were supporting where possible.  However they did not wish to appoint below the desired skill level and unfortunately this had not yet been met.

The meeting that would be held the following week with CXK was to assess whether intervention was needed. 

Local members for New Ash Green were surprised that CXK had encountered problems as they did not believe local organisations such as HAWK ever had.  With regards to the use of the council van by CXK the Chief Officer Communities and Business reported that CXK had advised that they had not yet been able to purchase the van they required and she was reluctant to withdraw its use whilst it was enabling them to do work in our community.  She had investigated charging for its use but this would invalidate the insurance of the vehicle.

Action 3:  Local Members to be kept informed of CXK performance

The Head of Business Transformation and Programmes advised that he would report back to the Director of Service Improvement.

Members considered the update report on the ‘Trouble Families Project’.   The Chief Officer Communities and Business was happy to have a briefing meeting with the project Co-ordinator with the new County Council members, it was agreed that this would be helpful.  The Head of Business Transformation and Programmes praised the Chief Officer Communities and Business in her work supporting the project locally.  There was great expectation on delivery from Central Government yet the reality was that this was about long term sustainable change.

Members considered and noted the Sevenoaks District Sustainable Community Action Plan 2013 – 2013 Annual Report.

Members considered the Quarter 1 Community Plan Monitoring Summary.  The Chairman and Chief Officer Communities and Business had attended a meeting with the new Police Commissioner.  The Chief Officer Communities and Business had spoken with the local Chief inspector and had been reassured that the second quarter would show an improvement.  Burglaries trend garden sheds.  Response teams were still coming out of Ebbsfleet or Tonbridge

The Chief Officer Communities and Business was working on data for respite, support and adaptation.  There had been a slight increase in child poverty but it was too early to look at trends.  Future quarter reports would have trend analysis. 

Members considered the KCC Children’s Centres Document entitled ‘Shaping the future of Children’s Centres in Kent.’  Concern was expressed as to whether resources could be being stretched too far and the outcome be detrimental to service delivery.  A Member was disappointed at the age of the statistics used and queried that projected population figures were down when Education earlier in the agenda were increasing primary intake.

The Early Intervention Delivery Manager (North) KCC, replied that he would look into the projected population figures; the age of the statistics was as a result of when the consultation began.  With regards to staffing, whilst there was a difference to operational delivery he was not aware that there would be any job losses. 

Verbal update

An update on the progress of the future Library Services Programme was tabled.  It was agreed that the Members Working Group should meet one more time.