My Report to Council

Posted By: Mohammad Sharif
Date Posted: 15/01/2010

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Regeneration & Community Cohesion Portfolio.

REGENERATION & RENEWAL

In Focus In depth resident questionnaire commissioned and interviews now taking place (to give a baseline for improvements).

Information session given on health & services available through the NHS. Next meeting to focus on Children’s Services & Surestart – particularly provision for under 5s.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

The Economic Affairs Unit continues to provide support for residents and businesses – particularly those affected by the recession.

Since my last report, Rochdale unfortunately continues to have the highest JSA claimant rate in Greater Manchester. However, between September and October, the Borough saw a small decrease in JSA claimants. This is good news, in line with the national trend. We have also seen a general increase in the number of vacancies and fewer redundancies.

The excellent work of Employment Links and Junction 21 has contributed to this reduction. The volume of clients accessing the enhanced LSC ‘Next step’ service at Employment Links has resulted in them achieving their annual target within 7 months – making them the “top of the leader board” across all Greater Manchester Nextstep providers.
Equally, J21 continues to exceed its targets for job outcomes and training provision.
Both organisations have contributed towards the 50+ stretch target of the Local Area Agreement, which is on course to be met by the end of the financial year.

Further attention is being focussed on the development of skills, to improve choices for adults and young people across the Borough. This considerable challenge is being taken very seriously at all levels within Rochdale Council and by the Economic Partnership.

The Kingsway Business Park currently has a number of strong enquires and the decision by Ebor/CR Lawrence (an internationally recognised company) to relocate onto the site, is good news for the Borough.

Other good news for the Borough is the successful implementation of the Rochdale Future Jobs Fund. This has provided 67 people with new jobs the first phase and will see a further 150 placements between January and March 2010. The six month opportunities created are across a whole range of council and voluntary sector services and will provide valuable experience and training for those involved. We have been the most successful local authority to date in Greater Manchester in creating these new jobs.

We continue to offer support to those wishing to start a business or social enterprise, through our free workshops and events. Activity to promote education and learning is also on going with the successful training of Literacy Champions.


SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

The 3 Area Directors are making useful links across all services engaging with all service heads and some of their Senior Management Teams. Linkages are clear in respect to the LSP structures; the Performance and Development priorities and the Council’s Cross Cutting agenda and a range of other services.

The opportunity of considering how best to achieve Sustainable Communities for the targeted neighbourhoods of ECR/ IR; Langley and Kirkholt is actively taking place. All future proposals are being considered in line with expected HMR allocation and impacts on future RMBC funding.

Delivery Plans covering 2010- 2014 are in preparation ready for the New Year.

Langley
In spite of the unexpected illness of Area Director - Steve Bloomer – work is taking place to ensure that the Langley programme remains on track. There has been support from officers and teams across a wide range of services to exist the Langley Team in its delivery targets for this year and future years.

Main areas of activity / expenditure will be taking place in the new year – Tower blocks demolished; Environmental improvements etc.

Kirkholt

In Kirkholt the development of the sustainable communities, linked to the HMR programme is ongoing with the programme developing on a number of fronts. Two early win development opportunities are in progress and are likely to be on site next calendar year.

The first development is for the construction of 6, 2 bed bungalows on the site of existing garages on Romney Avenue which is due for submission to planning by late December 2009. The scheme includes the demolition of 6 garages and one house (for site access). The development will be carried out by New Horizons on behalf of RBH.

The second early win development is for 30 units on Curzon & Cumberland and involves the demolition of 41 units, the majority of which are two bedroom flats. Of the targeted demolition four are owner occupiers and the remainder RBH. The development of the new units will include up to 5 for sale. The residents in the existing properties will be re-housed by end December 09 with a schedule for demolition by Feb 10 and start on site, based on planning approval, in March 10.

In addition to the housing elements the Sustainable Communities Programme in Kirkholt is also progressing on a number of other fronts, most notably:

Health Provision and Health and Wellbeing

The new equitable access centre (health centre) was opened at the end of October. This is a high quality temporary structure developed until the location and development of the permanent facility is completed. It comprises one and a half doctors, practice nurse, out of hour’s provision etc.

To support this, the land area for the healthy growing plot (a pilot project looking at linking residents to growing and the healthy eating) has been identified. The site is undergoing soil investigation to establish its suitability. It is located adjacent to the new equitable access centre.

Quality of Place

First drafts of the commissioning brief being finalised with HMR to include developments not covered in the original masterplan. Expected to be issued for tender in January, with appointment of consultants in February 2010.

The Sustainable Communities team are meeting to assess the viability of a number of sites in Kirkholt for additional “quick wins” to take to the market. An initial draft prospectus of sites should be ready by February 10.

Jobs and Prosperity
The next phase of the Jericho project (a hands on skills development project linked to the upgrading of housing units for NEETS) is due to start in January 10. The initial phase resulted in 20 candidates completing the scheme of which a number have moved to further education, gained employment and the remainder have not been recorder a=in any trouble since the completion of the project.


New Heart for Heywood NDC Partnership
Key Details
• The NDC Succession Strategy has now been submitted and we are awaiting feedback from DCLG on our delivery plans and proposals. It is planned to bring a full copy of the plan and appendices to Cabinet for endorsement. The Accountable Body is also developing a risk register for the council in this respect.
• As the programme tapers, the NDC team is reducing to meet the requirements of the work programme. There is a planned process for this.
• The NDC Recession Task Group has approved a package of £99,000 of additional funding to support the skills and work programmes and this appears to be making a difference.
• We have recently appointed skills and work champions who are community volunteers working with the outreach team in hard to reach community areas.
• The steering groups for the NDC projects are being aligned into the new Heywood Partnership for Jobs, Skills and Prosperity. This should help share the learning from the NDC approach.

PHOENIX CENTRE
• Opened to the community in October and official opening week and celebration in November 2009.
• New Legacy group in place made up of community members who will help continue to shape services now and in the future.
• The partnership work has been shortlisted in the National Community Partnership awards for best community partnership and best project

Heywood Town Centre Programme
• The scheme to improve the block of shops that front onto Market Street and back onto Dawson Street started has been completed. Feedback from the public and shopkeepers has been very positive – there is a feeling of a transformed appearance which should lift the trading prospects of the town centre.
Sports, Culture and Leisure Village
• The building work is well under way, with the groundworks completed and the steelwork progressing well. A community-led Steering Group is working on the look, feel and use of the building from a community perspective.

Moving Forward from the NDC Programme
• There is a project plan in place for managing the end of the NDC Programme by March 2011. The Heywood Township Manager supported by the NDC Chief Executive is taking forward a clear set of planned actions to develop a strategy (which can be supported by all partners) to sustain the improvements and benefits in the New Heart for Heywood NDC area in a way that is consistent with local/ Heywood priorities, strategies and delivery mechanisms.

COMMUNITY COHESION
• Projects related to the Migration Impacts Fund have now commenced delivery, for example Hopwood Hall College have recruited two part time tutors to deliver free English for Speakers of Other Languages tuition at locations across the Borough and the Citizens Advice Bureau have also recruited an additional part time trainer to train up volunteer advisors.
• In October 2009 Rochdale Borough was awarded £50,000 from the Governments Connecting Communities Fund. The Connecting Communities Fund is a package of support which enables local people to influence, shape and change policies on the issues which really matter in their community - whether that's anti-social behaviour, housing or jobs. In areas where either new migration or separation between established communities is seen as an issue, it will enable myths of unfair treatment to be busted and real problems addressed. It will help ensure that all communities feel that they are treated fairly. So that those who feel their areas are changing feel at home with, part of, and not threatened by these changes. The Kirkholt area of Rochdale Borough was chosen for this funding and specific plans are been drawn up to address local challenges. Solutions too will vary, but in general, there are three major aspects to this programme focused on leadership, giving people a voice and increasing opportunities.
• Work is due to commence on the Governments Challenge Innovation Fund, the Borough was awarded £80,000 to deliver a leadership programme for young British Muslims and a Mosque leaders challenging Extremism project.
• Updates on the progress of the community cohesion and prevent projects are been co-ordinated by the RMBC programme management team. Each of the projects is been undertaken to timescale and budget and an update report is been produced for the community cohesion advisory group.
• The National Prevent conference took place in Birmingham on 8th December, attended by members of the local authority, with strong representation from the youth service. Good practice on empowering female communities, multi-faith citizenship, community development and Mosque governance were showcased. A list of recommendations is being produced by attendees and will be shared with lead partners.
• The community cohesion advisory group are continuing with their good work and are due to undertake a review day of community cohesion in the Borough, and will use this opportunity to refresh the current action plan. A forthcoming meeting will focus on young person’s issues and will have wide representation from young people in the Borough.
• Youth service cohesion related projects such as Fusion have brought together young people from schools across the borough and they currently meet each month to help improve and understand community cohesion. An intergenerational project, in partnership with Groundwork, has also enabled young people and the elderly to share their life experiences.
• Connecting Communities - Kirkholt has been identified for a second wave government pilot focussing on community engagement and cohesion. This is to be delivered along the same lines as In Focus in Falinge.

Cllr Mohammad Sharif

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Community Safety & Leisure Portfolio.