To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Committee held on 6 October 2021, as a correct record.

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the People & Places Advisory Committee held on 6 October 2021 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interest not already registered.

There were no additional declarations of interest.

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder gave her update on the business of her portfolio, including a number of items which appeared on the agenda for the meeting.  In particular she explained that progress was being made on the White Oak Leisure Centre project and that there would be a presentation from the new provider Everyone Active.

The Portfolio Holder explained that the Queen’s Green Canopy project would be in place in time to celebrate the Jubilee next year.  She also set out that the Big Community Sing would be taking place as planned.

The Portfolio Holder set out the work of the departments within her portfolio including the work of Community Safety and Economic Development.  She advised that the Council’s video to combat Violence Against Women and Girls as part of the White Ribbon initiative would be shown as part of a later item.

There were none.

The Chairman welcomed Duncan Cogger, Hasan Romel and Ashley King from Everyone Active, the leisure operator for the new White Oak Leisure Centre. They gave a presentation which included their strategy for pre-sales prior to the new centre opening, launch day plan, approach to digital innovation, community programme (including an explanation of ‘Tag Active’ and the ‘Good Boost’ swimming programme) and targets for local employment.

A Member asked about the progress of the TUPE transfer and was advised that this was proceeding well.  Another Member asked about Tag Active and in response a brief explanation of the popularity and utilisation levels for the activity was given.

A Member asked for a link to the presentation to be provided in the minutes and another asked about those who were not in education or training.  Members were advised of ongoing work with local schools, colleges and job centres.  Another Member also asked about shared sporting activities for older adults.  Members were advised that these would be provided, including walking football.  Another question about hard to reach adults with issues around fitness was asked and Members were informed of the attempts made to bring the facilities of the centre to the wider community, including those in particular need of exercise.

Resolved:  That the report and presentation be noted.

The West Kent Partnership Manager updated Members on the skills activities undertaken by the partnership. Members were updated on the work of the West Kent Partnership in general, Kickstart scheme, West Kent Enterprise Advisor Network & Public Realm.  Members were reminded that Kick Start West Kent was delivered through the Council.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Community Projects and Funding Officer presented the report which outlined proposals to introduce a Community Lottery. A society lottery of the type proposed in the report has been successfully implemented by many other local authorities. The Community Lottery would focus on delivering proceeds locally, maximising benefits to the community, minimising the costs so the scheme was largely self-financing, delivering winners locally.

A partnership with an existing deliverer of lotteries in the market place known as an External Lottery Manager was included in the proposal. Their responsibilities included managing the prize fund and associated insurance, providing marketing materials and conducting the draw. The Council would not handle any transactions other than receiving its share of the income on a monthly basis.

Sevenoaks District based charities, clubs, associations and societies are all groups that would be eligible to register as a local good cause with the Community Lottery provided they meet the terms and conditions.

Members made comments and asked questions about the cost of marketing, the projects the fund could support, the composition of the Local Strategic Partnership and comparisons with other budgets.  The Community Projects and Funding Officer set out the details requested, which were also included in the report.  Members also expressed their views relating to the safeguards in place to prevent excessive gambling and the Officer clarified the measures which would be put in place, including a limit on ticket numbers.

A Member expressed further concerns about the Council being considered as promoting a form of gambling.  The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer for People & Places responded and noted the views of the Member, including those relating to experience at an adjacent Local Authority.

Other Members expressed their support for the scheme and highlighted that it was about raising money to help local charities.  It was argued that no project would be risk free but that it was a good idea for the Community Lottery to be approved. 

The Portfolio Holder for People & Places spoke on the item in support and indicated the engagement with the District’s Voluntary Sector Forum would help ensure the project’s success.

Public Sector Equality Duty
Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That it be recommended to Cabinet that

a)    the establishment of a local community lottery, be approved;

b)   the use of an External Lottery Manager that has worked with other Local Authorities running similar schemes for greater assurance, be approved;

c)    the eligibility criteria for good causes to participate in the Sevenoaks District Lottery, be approved;

d)   with delegated authority given to Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Officer – People & Places and Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Officer – Finance & Trading to negotiate and finalise the agreement, the appoint of an External Lottery Manager, be approved; and

e)   in order to demonstrate best practice and to provide access to free membership services on legal and compliance issues, the Council’s membership of the Lotteries Council, be authorised.

The Health & Communities Manager presented the video on Violence Against Women and Girls as part of this item and answered questions on the implementation of the scheme.  Members expressed their support for the project and their support for the aim of the video, while also mentioning support for men who were the subject of domestic abuse.

The Health & Communities Manager then presented the report and presentation on Community Empowerment which updated Members on the development of a Community Planning and Empowerment Toolkit. Community Empowerment was about ensuring individuals and communities are equipped, informed, skilled and confident in their abilities in order for them to define their priorities and achieve better outcomes for all.

It was proposed that a Community Planning and Empowerment toolkit would be developed to enable an empowered community and help develop a new relationship between public services, local elected members and the wider community. It would be a series of steps and examples of good practice which build on existing successes.

Members were shown a further video on the Care for Our Community Scheme and those who had volunteered to help during the global Covid-19 pandemic.  Members expressed their thanks to the Health & Communities Manager for the work which had been undertaken.  Members thanked her for her report.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Health & Communities Manager gave a presentation on digital exclusion within the District and the work of the Council, Kent County Council and local organisations to promote digital inclusion. The two socio-demographic groupings most likely to be digitally excluded were ‘mature older people’ and ‘working age on low income’ which made up 16.1% and 8% of households within the District respectively. Although there were less digitally excluded populations in Sevenoaks compared to the rest of Kent, broadband speeds were a concern, particularly in rural areas.

The Council had secured £79,000 funding to deliver a project with Compaid to support the most vulnerable homeless customers. Digital inclusion had been adopted as a priority for the Sevenoaks District Local Strategic Partnership and Community Wellbeing Fund. Kent County Council had been awarded funding to deliver the government’s ‘Project Gigabit’ Programme aiming to improve broadband connectivity.

Following queries, Members were reminded of the length of the project and given more details on the work which was being done to reach all necessary groups to enable digital inclusion.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The work plan was noted.