Minutes:
Councillor Michael Payne (Public Protection and Communication)
· Crime continues to reduce in the Gedling Borough Council area, however concerns were expressed regarding the increase in certain serious crimes and a number of recent high profile major crimes that had taken place in the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire area.
Councillor Payne left the meeting at 12.55pm.
Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth (Health and Housing)
· New software for choice based lettings is due to go live in November. Information for applicants and Councillors will be reissued.
· Work is progressing on reviewing the suitability of temporary accommodation.
· Congratulations to staff member, Cathy Evans, who recently received an award from Nottinghamshire Police.
· The 3rd Landlord’s Forum will be held on the 7th of November and Nottingham Credit Union will be attending.
· The “Sharing is Caring” initiative, part of the campaign to end loneliness, has been very successful, helping around 1450 people.
· The Council is working hard on “Alzheimer/dementia friendly” processes, with the hope of becoming a “Dementia Friendly Council” by 2015.
· A Health and Wellbeing Delivery consultation meeting will be held on the 4th of November.
Councillor Kathryn Fox (Community Development)
· On the 26th of October a Halloween event, big draw and guided walk will take place at Arnot Hill Park.
· The Council have been successful in bidding for £20,000 funding from the Community Covenant, to support World War 1 commemoration.
· Locality Plans for Newstead and Netherfield have been produced and endorsed.
· Netherfield Community Safety Week has taken place with partners from the Police, Neighbourhood Wardens, Fire Service, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Nottingham Credit Union and energy providers.
· Netherfield “Keep Tidy” week has taken place, and Netherfield Primary School children who took part in the activities will be rewarded for their involvement.
Councillor Peter Barnes (Environment)
· Gedling Recycling Centre is the busiest in the County.
· An update was provided on the progress with the Druid’s Car Park.
· A cross party Members’ Focus Group is being created over the coming weeks and will be extended to include local groups and members of the public.
Councillor John Clarke (Finance and Performance)
· Attended a number of Gedling Conversation events with Officers and Members of the Council.
· Consideration is being given to the Council’s budget for next financial year. A report will be brought to Cabinet in February for referral to Council.
· Happy to see that local churches are getting involved in investing in Nottingham Credit Union.
· Will be meeting soon to look at how we can work with partners to make local food banks sustainable.
· Bonington Theatre is now open and the new frontage will soon be installed.
Councillor Clarke invited the Policy Advisors for Young People and Older People to provide an update on their work.
Councillor Roxanne Ellis (Policy Advisor for Older People)
· Thanks to Councillors Weisz and Hollingsworth for their support and the work that they have done previously in the area.
· Took part in the Gedling Conversation with older people and noted that the wider Gedling Conversation events were attended by large numbers of older people.
· Looking at concerns over the digitalisation of services and how this might exclude older people.
· Spent time over the course of the year talking to current older person’s service providers and intention to contact remaining groups.
· Intention to revamp the Council’s “Fit over 50’s” leaflet.
· Intention to set up a resources network for older people in the Borough.
Councillor Henry Wheeler (Policy Advisor for Young People)
· Spent time over the past few months visiting schools across the Borough, promoting involvement in the Youth Council and elections will be held in February 2014.
· Brought some young people to the Gedling Conversation event at the Bonington Theatre, who were very positive and engaged. Will aim to hold three “Gedling Conversation” style events just for youth in the near future.
· Unfortunately a recent “Saturday Skateboarding Jam” was cancelled due to bad weather.
· Warren Hill now has a youth services provision on Friday’s but attendance is low so far. Gedling Village is still lacking provision.
· Looking at ways to democratise the Scrutiny Advisory Board to allow young people to question Councillors and get involved in budget setting.