Agenda item

To submit a report in relation to the above.

The Chair welcomed representatives from the Môn Communities First to the meeting.

Submitted – a progress report on the implementation of the Communities First Programme in Anglesey.

The Council’s Grants Manager (who’s post is jointly funded by Môn Communities First) reported that the County Council is the Lead Delivery Body for £1.658m of funding for the period 1 February, 2013 to 31 March, 2015 whilst Môn Communities First Ltd., is the Delivery Organisation.The breakdown of expenditure for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 budget was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

Môn Communities First has developed rapidly over the last 18 months and there have been increases in the number of staff that is currently employed and the amount of funding that has been secured. The organisation provides a range of support services and activities for the electoral wards of Kingsland, Morawelon, London Road, Porth-y-Felin, Maes Hyfryd and Town in Holyhead as well as Tudur Ward in Llangefni.  Môn Communities First is managed by a voluntary Board of Directors and the Board also includes observer representation from the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Social Services, Head of Housing Services and Grants Manager.

Môn Communities First was chosen by Welsh Government as the only cluster in North Wales to pilot a ‘Workless Households Scheme’ called LIFT. The scheme  will provide £228k funding to March 2016 to specifically target and work with households where adults have been out of work for 6 months or more with a view to getting them back into work, work experience or training.  A DVD is available showing case studies.

The Community Voluntary Academy has gone from strength to strength and can now provide accredited training to people aged 14-64 targeting those who are least likely to attend mainstream college provision.  Môn Communities First is working closely with employers to ensure that the vacancies they have can be matched to the participants at the Academy.

The ‘Pantri Pobl’, food bank, has reached an all-time high during August 2014, with over 1,000 meals being provided.  Both people in receipt of benefits and working people with families are struggling to find enough money to buy food.

Reference was made by the Head of Housing Services to examples of programme bending between Môn CF and Housing Services and that more needs to be done to facilitate this across the Council.

Issues raised by Members :-

•  Members questioned if a more comprehensive budget report is afforded to the authority. The Head of Service (Housing) responded that the yearly statement of accounts if afforded to the local authority and it is also audited by Welsh

Government. She noted that a copy of the accounts could be afforded to this Committee for information or to the Council’s Audit Committee.

•  Members raised that other local communities on the Island are within deprived area i.e. Llanfaes. These areas are unable to attract funding.  Officers from Communities First responded that as these areas are not within the identified deprived areas, as defined by Welsh Government criteria, funding from Communities First would not be available.  However they noted that they would be willing to discuss the matter with the local members to try and alleviated the problems in these areas.

RESOLVED to thank the representatives from Communities First for attending the meeting and to congratulate the whole staff for the work they have achieved.

ACTION :

•  That an invitation be afforded to Môn Communities First to attend this Scrutiny Committee on an yearly basis;

•  The Head of Housing Services to discuss with the Manager of Internal Audit, the scrutiny of Môn CF budget and expenditure;

•  That half a day’s workshop is organised to share with Elected Members and Senior Officers the learning experiences from establishing Môn CF to date, and share good practice;

•  A further visit to be arranged for Elected Members to Môn CF to see key projects, staff, trainees and volunteers.