Author/Owner Debbie Gibbs Classification Unclassified File Name VSSG 210915 Minutes Issue Status Final Version 1.0 Page 1 of 11 Date of Issue 15/12/2015

Voluntary Sector Strategy Group 21st September 2015 Minutes of Meeting

Present: Rob Leak (Chair) – LBE (RL) Councillor Yasemin Brett – LBE (YB) Shaun Rogan - LBE (SR) Niki Nicolaou - LBE (NN) Michael Sprosson – LBE (MS) Doug Wilson – LBE (DW) Sharon Scott - LBE (SS) Paul Davey – LBE (PD) Debbie Gibbs – LBE (DG) Sabena Ahmed – LBE (SA) Jenny Mazarelo - Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group (JM) Chandra Bhatia – Enfield Racial Equality Council (CB) Hamida Ali – Enfield Children & Young Persons’ Services (HA) Ginnie Landon – Enfield Women’s Centre (GL) Jean Passley – Enfield Women’s Centre (JP) Jill Harrison – Enfield Citizens Advice Bureau Services (JH) Lesley Walls - One-to-One (Enfield) (LW) George Nahlis – Enfield Disability Action (GN) Pamela Burke – Enfield Carers Centre (PB) Paula Jeffery – Enfield Voluntary Action (PJ) Tim Fellows – Enfield LGBT Network (TF) Tony Seagroatt - Age UK Enfield (TS)

1. Introductions and Apologies Action 1.1 RL welcomed all in attendance to the meeting and introductions

were made.

1.2 Apologies for absence were received from Ilhan Basharan, Bindi Nagra, Mary O’Sullivan, Graham MacDougall, Liane Burn.

2. Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising 2.1 The minutes of the meeting of 22/6/2015 were agreed as a correct

record.

2.2 Item 4.1 Library Development Plan • SR will seek clarification from Kate Robertson about sharing

facilities with voluntary and community groups and proposed increased use of volunteers.

• YB attended the reopening of Palmers Green library on 21/9/15.

SR

3. Housing Update – Paul Davey 3.1 PD gave a presentation on Council Housing Services. The

presentation is attached in Appendix 1.

3.2 The Council has set up a company to buy local houses to provide homes for people in need of emergency accommodation. Over 100 properties have been purchased, renovated and let on rolling 12 month contract. This project will help to reduce temporary accommodation costs.

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3.3 PD will contact Sally McTernan (SM) for clarification about support for families that are being offered housing outside Enfield. GL explained that Enfield Women’s Centre is interested in supporting these families. RL suggested GL/PD/SM discuss further outside VSSG.

PD

3.4 PD explained that some existing properties are being adapted for improved disabled access and new builds will make provision for wheelchair accessibility in order to improve disability access issues. PD will clarify further and advise HA.

PD

3.5 PD explained that Enfield’s 12 community halls are now under Council management. Regarding the use of community halls as a support service for emergency accommodation, PD explained that it may not be a feasible option.

3.6 In response to a query from TS about available research into the future housing and support needs of older people, PD explained that the increase in need for good quality residential care for older people had been recognised within Enfield’s Older People’s Strategy and the Council is looking at a wide range of elderly people accommodation.

3.7 RL thanked PD for his presentation. 3.8 PJ advised that on 21/7/2015 EVA hosted a presentation,

consultation and discussion workshop on the future of Housing for Older People in Enfield, led by Kate Prior, Information and Research Officer at Enfield Council.

4. Update from Health Housing & Adult Social Care – Doug Wilson

4.1 • Increasing population has implications for the Council and health services for the cost of providing care

• Focusing on prevention - looking at the type of support we can provide and what support we would look to the voluntary sector to provide

• The Council will be arranging several engagement events with the VCS

• HHASC is working closely with colleagues in CCG • Enfield Adult Social Care Transport Consultation closes on

13/10/15 • The Council is building a new facility to provide 70 bed spaces

of care and accommodation for older people. Estimated completion by October 2016

• A Health & Social Care market engagement event was held on 23/9/15 at Civic Centre

• The cap on care costs due to be introduced as part of the second phase of the Care Act has been delayed until 2020, due to the funding pressures faced by Local Authorities

• The Council has established an electronic Marketplace to support individuals with health and social care needs to look at and purchase a range of services, support and activities that best meet their needs to support their day-to-day living. VCS groups are encouraged to advertise the range of services and

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support they offer. The service is being promoted via VCS organisations recommendations as well as wider advertising. RL asked DW to explore further options to publicise the service.

4.2 JH advised that she had experienced technical difficulties in registering CAB with E-marketplace. JH to forward details to DW.

JH/DW

4.3 GL explained that some of their clients would rather not use an online service.

4.4 LW reported feedback from the Learning Difficulties Partnership Board that had raised concern about the implications of means-testing people for the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance. RL asked DW to provide further clarification on this. DW/LW to discuss outside VSSG.

DW/LW

4.5 Following a discussion about decommissioning health & adult social care services, DW confirmed that the notice period for ending or reducing funding to the VCS is a minimum of 6 months. RL asked DW to clarify when decommissioning may take place to enable the groups to undertake forward planning. DW/PJ/LW to discuss tendering process outside VSSG. JH requested confirmation of whether notices would be issued to organisations the following week, given that there are two quarters left of this financial and 6 months' notice is required. DW confirmed that no notices would be issued next week, but engagement events would be held with voluntary organisations during October to communicate the Council's commissioning priorities and begin to assess how and which organisation would "fit" these. DW further confirmed that following these events, it was the Council's intention to formulate and issue tenders for voluntary sector projects and services which meet their priorities.

DW DW/PJ/LW

4.6 PB, speaking on behalf of the Enfield Carers Hub, requested an extension to the transport policy consultation period. This was in view of the fact that the easy read version had only recently been issued, creating the pressure on voluntary groups which supported LD service users to fully understand and communicate their responses. DW indicated that there would not be an extension, but that he and his staff were willing to meet with any voluntary organisations or groups of service users in the month that remained of the consultation period to assist with communicating the proposed changes.

4.7 PJ will arrange a meeting between MS and the chair of Enfield Voluntary Action before HHASC engagement events take place.

PJ/MS

4.8 NN asked that dates for future VCS events to be checked before confirming meetings to avoid a clash of meetings that VCS representatives should attend.

5. Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group – Jenny Mazarelo 5.1 The Council and CCG are working together to engage with children,

young people and families, the providers of mental health services, and other stakeholders on a draft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Strategy. The draft Joint Strategy is

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available on the CCG’s website. It is a working document to be used for consultation and engagement. The CAMHS survey is available online at http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/P408J/ deadline 27/11/15.

5.2 There may be money available to invest in existing VCS infrastructure organisations – total amount to be negotiated.

5.3 The CCG has established a VCS Stakeholder Reference Group focussing on health commissioning intentions. JM will check and advise LW on the membership criteria of this group.

JM

5.4 JM will check and advise PB on requirements of the Local Transformation Plan.

JM

5.5 RL thanked JM for her presentation. 6. Update from Schools & Children’s Services (SCS) – Sharon

Scott

6.1 It was noted that SCS intend publishing their commissioning intentions on the same day as the CCG publish theirs. They will be published in the Council’s website and an email will be sent to all providers telling them about the publication. It was also noted that this was Sharon Scott’s last meeting as her contract had come to an end. Any queries regarding contracts should be referred to the commissioner related to those contracts and any other queries should be refererred to Tony Theodoulou, Assistant Director, Children’s Services. Jenny Tosh is the responsible officer for children’s transport.

6.2 RL thanked SS for all the work she had done to support the VSSG and wished her success for the future.

6.3 RL left the meeting at this point and SR chaired the remainder of the meeting.

7. VCS Team Business Update – Niki Nicolaou 7.1 The Council’s Third Sector Development Team is looking at

introducing a donations page on the Council website where people can make a donation online to an Enfield charity. Further details to be advised in due course.

7.2 The Council is working in partnership with local businesses, such as Waitrose, Pearsons, Royal Bank of Scotland, to set up a Give and Gain Day for companies to support their local community through employee volunteering. The first project is being arranged with Mind in Enfield. NN asked VCS representatives to consider any further ideas they may have for future volunteering events and activities.

8. AOB 8.1 PJ explained EVA’s new parents support project funded by The

Tudor Trust. The empowerment programme, to help parents be able to better assist their children in their educational development, starts in November for 8 weeks. Accommodation will be provided free of charge by children’s centres. The project is based in Edmonton but parents will be invited from all over the borough. PJ distributed leaflets about the project and further details will be available in EVA’s newsletter.

8.2 JH advised that the CAB’s information & advice service and fuel

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poverty advice service are up and running and encouraged groups to refer their clients in need of support to these services: The CAB and Enfield Women’s Centre are working in partnership to provide a domestic violence advice and support service, funded by Charles Hayward Foundation.

8.3 GL advised that Enfield IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) will be running a series of workshops for the Enfield Women’s Centre. An information session on Universal Credit is being arranged. Awaiting news on funding application to the Big Lottery. GL introduced Jean Passley, the new volunteer office manager at Enfield Women’s Centre.

8.4 PB is engaged in discussion to recruit a Carers Assessor. Enfield Carers Centre has advertised vacancies for a part-time Carers Support Worker and a GP Liaison Officer. DW advised PB to speak to Council Officers, Cenk Orhan/Janice Green about the Council’s Transport Policy Changes. The consultation deadline is 30/10/15.

8.5 LW highlighted One-to-One Enfield’s work with Community Nurses that provide free health checks to people with learning difficulties and the positive partnership working with the Council’s Third Sector Development Team and Learning Difficulties Team.

8.6 HA advised that ECYPS is currently delivery a range of services, such as child protection training, a drop-in service for women and girls who have experienced female circumcision and parenting programmes across primary schools.

8.7 TS advised that Enfield’s Keep Safe Week 2015 begins on 28/9/15. Various local voluntary organisations have organised events and he encouraged members to pass the information on to their service users and networks.

8.8 CB advised that the Black History Month brochure 2015 detailing the wide range of events taking place during October is available to view on the Council's website. EREC will be holding a workshop on Leadership and Participation in political processes by the Black and Ethnic Minority Community. Further details to be confirmed.

8.9 YB met with Thames Water representatives to discuss the smart metering programme that has been introduced in Edmonton wards initially and will be rolled out across the borough in the next few years. Thames Water will engage with community groups to raise awareness of the programme and VCS organisations may assist with disseminating information. The presentation is attached in Appendix 2. YB will be meeting with fellow councillors to set up a community information day and any groups would be welcome to attend. Further details to be advised in due course.

8.10 JH explained that the CAB is working with Age UK’s HEET project on a joint funding application to provide energy debt advice.

8.11 PJ explained that EVA’s AGM will be held on 28/10/15. The programme includes Mark Stone, Enfield Council Assistant Director, speaking about the Enfield 2017 programme.

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8.12 SR thanked all for attending. 8.13 Date of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, 14th December 2015 2.00pm-4.00pm – Community House room 1

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London Borough Enfield

Council Housing Services

Voluntary Sector Strategy Group

September 2015

www.enfield.gov.ukStriving for excellence

Council Housing (1)

• Revenue Budget £60 million• Capital programme

– 2013/14 £35.9m– 2014/15 £35.4m– 2015/16 £38.1m

• 11,000 tenants• 4,700 leaseholders• 70% stock – flats or maisonettes• 55 high rise blocks • 70,000 repairs each year

Council Housing (2)• Housing Revenue Account (HRA)• Self financing • Borrowing cap• HRA 30-year Business Plan • Challenging first 10 years• Significant sums for

reinvestment in housing over 30 years– Capital works– Estate Renewal– Higher specification works

• Significant investment needed

Council Housing (3)

• Decades of underinvestment• Capital Programme and Decent Homes – Total

Spend since 2009-10 - £205m• 2008/9 10,821 properties have received decent

homes works, including:

– 6105 Kitchens– 5476 Bathrooms– 6075 Boilers– 3504 Windows– 2069 Roofs

Council Housing (4)

Enfield Homes Performance

• Delivered £4.6m savings since 2009/10• Third cheapest in London (HouseMark 2013)

• 74% tenant satisfaction (Star Survey 2013)

• Rent collection top quartile for London• 175,000 calls pa – 80% first contact resolution• ECO schemes – British Gas

Council Housing (5)Enfield Homes Performance

• Tenancy and Estate Services• Fragmented service

– Accountability– Estate inspections – Estate ownership

• Review complete• Involvement of Ward Councillors

Appendix 1

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Development & Estate Renewal Schemes

• Highmead• Ladderswood• Alma • Dujardin Mews • New Avenue • Small Housing Sites • Small Sites Phase 2 -projects

identified - includes garages and other HRA assets

Council Homes – Key Challenges Ahead

• Increasing loss of Council stock through RTB

• Progressing the decant programme to enable estate renewal

• 1% reduction in rents each year for next 4 years

Council Homes – Key Challenges Ahead• New R&M contractors

performance• Sale of High Value

Assets to pay for extension of RTB

• Tenants on higher incomes (£40k in London) to pay market rent

Any Questions?

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Appendix 2

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