Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells

Contact: Jenny Wilkinson  Tel: 01835 825004 Email:  jjwilkinson@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Mr David Farries (Scottish Fire & Rescue), Mr John Raine (NHS) and Ms Rita Stenhouse (Waverley Housing).

2.

Minutes of Meetings of the Community Planning Strategic Board pdf icon PDF 137 KB

(a)        24 November 2016; and

(b)        9 March 2017.  (Copies attached.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

2.1   The Minute of the meeting of the Community Planning Strategic Board held on 24 November 2016 had been circulated. 

AGREED to approve the Minute.

 

2.2     The Minute of the meeting of the Community Planning Strategic Board held on 9 March 2017 had been circulated.

AGREED to approve the Minute.

3.

Action Tracker pdf icon PDF 62 KB

(Copy attached.)

Minutes:

The Action Tracker had been circulated. 

Noted. 

4.

Local Outcomes Improvement

Presentation on:

(a)        Draft Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP); and

(b)        Locality Plans.

Minutes:

4.1     Colin Banks, SBC Lead Officer for Localities, gave a brief overview of the requirements within Part 2 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, for each Community Planning Partnership to publish a Local Outcomes Improvement Plan and report progress annually; and divide the area of the local authority into smaller areas, identifying those experiencing significantly poorer outcomes than those elsewhere, and publish a Locality Plan for each area, reporting on progress annually.  These Plans required to be published by 1 October 2017.  The Plans also needed to show an understanding of local needs, circumstances and aspirations of communities; how participation by communities, business and the third sector had helped to develop and influence this understanding; clear and agreed priorities for improving local outcomes and tackling inequalities; short (1 year), medium (3 years) and long term (10 years) outcomes; and how community planning partners were deploying resources in support of the agreed outcomes.

Noted.

 

4.2     Draft Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP)

Mr Banks continued with his presentation on the Draft LOIP which covered the Vision for the Plan “by working with our communities and through targeted partnership action the quality of life will improved for all who live in the Scottish Borders” which was set against the context of population projections.  There were 5 themes in the Plan:  our ageing population; our children & young people; our vulnerable adults and families; our health and wellbeing; and our economy and skills.  The LOIP looked at Borders-wide issues, while Locality Plans would look at specific issues within particular communities.  A range of information sources - including national and local statistics, community views, and professional knowledge and expertise - was used to help identify inequalities and differences to give an understanding of the key issues and challenges and arrive at the outcomes for each of the 5 themes in the Plan.  An example was then given of an outcome.  To support the delivery of the outcomes, the Partnership would also adopt a number of principles/ways of working.  In February/March 2017, community views were sought in a variety of ways – the Scottish Borders Household survey; community events and breakfasts; our place surveys; Instagram; and graffiti wall posters (like, dislike, change) from youth groups.   There was a need to look further into greater use of social media in future, with an example given of the approach being taken by Perth and Kinross Council which was mainly on-line, dynamic and interactive.  Feedback would now be requested from the Strategic Board, with public consultation on the LOIP starting in mid-July to the end of August.  Timescales were flexible but Plans had to be published by the statutory deadline of 1 October 2017.

 

4.3     Locality Plans

With regard to Locality Plans, a similar approach and template would be used as that of the LOIP.  This would include local evidence and resources, as well as local outcomes and priorities, which could differ from those in the LOIP.  The draft Plans would need to be presented to the Strategic Board  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Integrated Children and Young People's Plan in the Scottish Borders 2017 - 2020 pdf icon PDF 5 MB

Consider Plan.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

A copy of the Integrated Children and Young People’s Plan in the Scottish Borders 2017 – 2020 had been circulated.  SBC Service Director Children & Young People, Donna Manson, presented the Plan, which set out the strategic direction for services, with clear priorities to create opportunities and conditions so that children and young people had the best start in life.  The Plan had been developed through the Children and Young People’s Leadership Group, comprising key stakeholders who delivered services, including from the Council, NHS Borders, Police Scotland, Scottish Children’s Reporters Administration (SCRA) and the Third Sector (Youth Borders).  As well as giving details on the vision and priorities for integrated services in the next 3 years, the Plan also gave details on workforce planning, resourcing and commissioning, ensuring priorities were achieved and outcomes improved, along with engagement and consultation.  A huge commitment had been shown by young people to the development of the Plan.  An example was given of how the Child Protection Committee had completely changed the way it engaged with young people, with set dates for the Chair to meet with young people and the development of priorities, which contained challenges e.g. young carers may not want to be identified as such.  All in all, the Plan represented a much more inclusive approach with children and young people.

Noted.

6.

Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan 2017 - 2020. pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Consider report by Chief Social Work Officer.  (Copy report and Plan attached.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A copy of the Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan 2017 – 2020 had been circulated.  Elaine Torrance, Service Director NHS/Social Work Integration, presented the Plan, which was a requirement of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016.  The Plan set out how the community justice partners intended to work together to fulfil their responsibilities in achieving the 7 common community justice outcomes:

·      communities improve their understanding and participation in community justice;

·      partners plan and deliver services in a more strategic and collaborative way;

·      people have better access to the services they require, including welfare, health and wellbeing, housing and employability;

·      effective interventions are delivered to prevent and reduce the risk of further offending;

·      life chances are improved through needs, including health, financial inclusion, housing and safety being addressed;

·      people develop positive relationships and more opportunities to participate and contribute through education, employment and leisure activities; and

·      an individual’s resilience and capacity for change and self-management should be enhanced. 

A significant amount of work had gone on over the previous 18 months and the Plan was now ready for final endorsement by the Board.  Mrs Torrance explained that an Action Plan was included which gave details of improvement actions along with timescales and an annual report would be provided to the Board on progress.  The production of the Plan had used a partnership approach and actions merged with those in other Plans.  In response to a question about putting targets against outcomes on baseline quantitative indicators to allow effective monitoring, it was confirmed that this was being investigated, and further guidance was expected to come out nationally.  The Board considered how more young people could become involved in developing and engaging with this and other Plans.  Ms Logan advised that the Council’s Corporate Management Team had committed to having meetings in schools and inviting pupils to come and talk to Directors about issues within their own areas, not just in schools, and this could be extended to a public engagement exercise.  Other partner organisations could also follow this example.       

Action:

AGREED to endorse the Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan 2017 – 2020.

 

7.

Equally Safe 2016 - 21 pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Consider endorsement of the Scottish Borders Equally Safe Strategy 2016 – 21 for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.  (Copy report and Strategy attached.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A copy of the Equally Safe – Scottish Borders Strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls 2016 - 2021 had been circulated.  Elaine Torrance, Service Director NHS/Social Work Integration, presented the Plan, which had been developed as a local follow up to the Scottish Government’s Equally Safe Strategy 2014.   The Strategy had 4 priorities,  underpinned by partnership activity: 

·         Scottish society embraces equality and mutual respect, and rejects all forms of violence against women and girls

·         Women and girls thrive as equal citizens – socially, culturally, economically and politically

·         Interventions are early and effective, preventing violence and maximising the safety and wellbeing of women, children and young people

·         Men desist from all forms of violence against women and girls and perpetrators of such violence receive a robust and effective response.

Equally Safe aimed to tackle the causes and consequences of gender based violence, holding perpetrators more accountable and addressing the societal attitudes that perpetrated gender based violence.  An Action plan on the delivery of the Strategy would be considered at a future Board meeting.  Superintendent Royan commented on the challenges of the online environment, including social media, which was an emerging issue for the Police.  

Action:

AGREED to endorse “Equally Safe 2016 – 21” – the Scottish Borders Strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls – for implementation.

 

8.

AOCB

Minutes:

Mr Jakimciw referred to a previous meeting of the Board where there had been discussion on the possibility of having a presentation to the Board on horizon scanning of issues affecting the Borders.  Ms Logan advised that a piece of work could be carried out by the Joint Delivery Team to produce this for presentation to the Board.

Action:

AGREED that the Joint Delivery Team would carry out a piece of work on horizon scanning of issues affecting the Borders and bring a presentation to the Strategic Board.

Tracey Logan

 

 

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