Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Operational Delivery

Purpose of report

To consider the activity and achievements of the Brighter Futures in Banbury Programme in 2015/16; the partnership activity and areas of focus for 2016/17.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note both the Brighter Futures in Banbury Programme progress made in 2015/16 and the areas requiring continuous improvement.

1.2       To support the priorities for focus in 2016/17.

Resolved

(1)          That both the progress made in 2015/16 in the Brighter Futures in Banbury Programme and the areas requiring continuous improvement be noted.

(2)          That the priorities for focus in 2016/17 be supported.

The Director of Operational Delivery submitted a report to consider the activity and achievements of the Brighter Futures in Banbury Programme in 2015/16; the partnership activity and areas of focus for 2016/17.

Resolved

(1)          That both the progress made in 2015/16 in the Brighter Futures in Banbury Programme and the areas requiring continuous improvement be noted.

(2)          That the priorities for focus in 2016/17 be supported.

Reasons

The Brighter Futures partnership has for several years continued to work effectively in focussing the best use of resources on those most in need. Harnessing work related to the six themes is proving valuable but continuous improvement eludes in some areas; specific areas of concern, which are well below comparative averages, remain

The context in which the partnership is operating is changing in relation to population, funding, and organisational change. Organisational and service change in a partnership context is particularly challenging.

The relatively recent 2011 census information has identified changes in the make-up of the ward population in relation to a big increase in private rented households, an increase in single adults, lone parents and HMOs, increasing ethnic diversity, and specific issues such as a lack of qualifications of lone parents. Of particular concern is the comparatively high level of child poverty in our wards.

It is important to periodically review the Programme and in light of the challenges described above, now is an appropriate time. There is a need to take account of current strengths and to consider what other partnership opportunities there are, along with specific issues which are relevant to the people of the wards being supported. This is why the continued focus proposed for partnership activity concentrating on child poverty, educational attainment, supporting the most vulnerable and health inequalities are all inter related, relevant to the Brighter Future’s Programme’s objectives and capture other partnership opportunities which are in place.  

The Brighter Futures partnership has for several years continued to work effectively in focussing the best use of resources on those most in need. Harnessing work related to the six themes is proving valuable but continuous improvement eludes in some areas; specific areas of concern, which are well below comparative averages, remain

The context in which the partnership is operating is changing in relation to population, funding, and organisational change. Organisational and service change in a partnership context is particularly challenging.

The relatively recent 2011 census information has identified changes in the make-up of the ward population in relation to a big increase in private rented households, an increase in single adults, lone parents and HMOs, increasing ethnic diversity, and specific issues such as a lack of qualifications of lone parents. Of particular concern is the comparatively high level of child poverty in our wards.

It is important to periodically review the Programme and in light of the challenges described above, now is an appropriate time. There is a need to take account of current strengths and to consider what other partnership opportunities there are, along with specific issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28