Agenda and minutes

Councillor Cochrane welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Apologies had been received from Prof. Griggs (SOSE).

(a)     Consider Minute of Meeting of 3 March 2022.  (Attached)

(b)     Consider Action Tracker.  (Attached)

2.1       Copies of the Minute of 3 March 2022 had been circulated. 

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute.

2.2       Copies of the Action Tracker for the Strategic Board had been circulated.

DECISION

NOTED.

Update by SBC Director Resilient Communities and Communities & Partnership Manager.  (Discussion paper and appendix attached)

3.1       With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 3 March 2022, copies of a discussion paper on the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) review and an Improvement Plan had been circulated.  SBC Director Resilient Communities, Mrs J. Craig, gave a presentation on progress:

• The CPP Improvement Plan had been approved at the meeting on 3 March 2022.  There were 3 main areas of action:  prioritise, governance and performance.  It was also agreed that a Task Group be formed to progress this Plan. 
• The Task Group membership included a range of partners and had now met 3 times. 
• Improvement Plan Action 1 (Prioritise):  there was a need to refresh the Community Plan to account for the significant changes in the operating landscape as a result of the pandemic.  A rapid review of the existing Community Plan was to be undertaken to reduce this to a few key priorities.  This would require a strong community engagement piece of work and a clear framework for discussion.
• Existing Community Plan (4 themes with 15 outcomes) – during Covid this was extended to 7 themes and many action levels.  As the full impact of the pandemic was not yet known, the Task Group would focus on the emerging cost of living crisis; climate emergency; lack of up to date national statistics; and the responses to the public survey.  There was a proposal to modify and rename the Key Priorities Action Plan to an interim CPP Work Plan to address the current shift in the strategic context for the Borders, the current known impact and effects of the pandemic, and the cost of living crisis, particularly in relation to the increased risk of poverty and inequality.  In parallel, the Group would plan and agree the preparatory work required to undertake a review of the current Community Plan during 2023/24, establishing a strong evidence base to support any proposed changes.
• Proposed CPP Work Plan Themes – the four themes were proposed as:  Enough money to live on; access to work, learning and training; enjoying good health and wellbeing; and a good place to grow up and live in.  There would not be the only areas for the CPP to look at as there would be other matters for the CPP to consider, but this was about the CPP coming together over the next year to work collectively as well as individually in supporting communities.  Members welcomed the themes and the planned way forward.
• Proposals from the Task Group – details were given on the thematic sub-groups, with each chaired by a partner with relevant specialist knowledge, and update reports coming forward to the quarterly Programme and Strategic Boards.  Themes would be worked on by more than one sub-group as there were various aspects to each theme.  It was anticipated that a detailed progress report on each theme would be presented once per year. 

3.2       Members considered a number of aspects relating to the themes, including the role of the Third Sector and trying to ensure there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Presentation by The Bridge Executive Officer.  (Attached)

4.1       Ms Morag Walker, of The Bridge, gave a presentation to the Board on The Third Sector Interface Reimagined.  Ms Walker explained that work had started in September 2021, with support provided by the Scottish Government’s Third Sector Unit, on how to bring together the current 4 organisations to work collectively and talk with one voice.  The role of the Third Sector Interface (TSI) was to provide intelligence to individuals and organisations, to act as a voice and networking link between third sector organisations and statutory bodies, and to help with capacity.   The TSI had 4 partners:  Berwickshire Association for Voluntary Service (BAVS), The Bridge, Volunteer Centre Borders, and Borders Social Enterprise Chambers (SBSEC).  The partners were working towards the creation of a different structure to deliver the TSI.  SBSEC had taken the opportunity through that process to seek an SLA as opposed to being a full partner and the remaining partners were pleased to accede to this with the details to be agreed.  Details were also given on the different work of each of the partners, including their geographic coverage.  To re-establish the TSI in the Borders, a steering group had been established with representatives from each partner organisation and had agreed terms of reference, a code of conduct, schedule of meetings, method for shared communications and updates, and this group continued to work through options for the future.  A draft strategy for 2022/23 had been developed, legal advice had been procured on the options for a new structure, and the impacts of change on services, staff and assets were being examined.  The boards of all organisations had been invited to an event to hear about the Re-imagined project’s progress and to gauge their responses to the future options.  Details were also given of the Borders TSI Draft Strategy’s vision, mission, values and content. 

4.2       Members congratulated the TSI on the work they were undertaking which would give the support and profile of the TSI that the Borders needed in moving forward.  In terms of progress, this was now well on the way to demonstrating the willingness of the TSI to improve.  The draft Strategy was going out for consultation asking:

·         What can we do better to serve you as a TSI organisation going forward?

·         What do you need from us as a TSI organisation?

·         What else would you like to share?

The consultant was due to submit a report at the end of June to Scottish Government and it was hoped to have all changed made by April 2023.  Mrs Hume advised that there was still a long way to go and a lot to think about, including how to balance finances, with funding for next year uncertain. 

DECISION

NOTED.

No other matters were raised. 

The next meetings of the Strategic Board are due to be held online via Microsoft Teams at 2:00pm on:

·       Thursday 8 September 2022

·       Thursday 17 November 2022

The Strategic Board noted that its next meetings were scheduled to take place on 8 September and 17 November 2022 at 2pm.  These meetings would be held online via Microsoft Teams and would be livestreamed.