Minutes of meeting of the Compact Project Group on 23rd May 2003 at The CREATE Centre
Present
Derek Dodd - BCC
Bill McKitterick - BCC
Jenny Turner - The Care Forum
Lyssa Randolph - The Care Forum
Barbara Coleman - Bristol North PCT
Jean Erskine - Voscur
Apologies
Jo Grant - West of England Connexions
Ayannah Griffiths - BDA
Ariaf Hussain - Black SW Network
Dawn Woods - GO-SW
Ben Barker - Voscur
Derek distributed copies of the national compact newsletter, Compact – What’s New?
1. Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2003 were agreed.
The role of contracting within the Compact was discussed. It was confirmed that the Compact requires contracting arrangements to meet the same standards and cannot be seen to invalidate the compact. The funding implementation guidance will note the necessity to spell out the reasons for any short-term funding terms in order to retain “Compact compliance”. Bill to seek legal guidance on this issue regarding “external factors”.
2. Drafting the Compact
Derek had not completed the introduction to the document. It was agreed that this should include a statement linking its accountability back to the Bristol Partnership and a commitment to a review after 1 year’s operation. Derek to complete this in consultation with Jenny.
Derek presented the updated Funding section. It was agreed to add a separate point regarding notice for withdrawal of funding. The draft guidance regarding landlord-tenant relations was circulated.
Jean presented the Consultation section and implementation guidance. This has been discussed with the Council’s consultation officer and will result in amendments to the BCC policy regarding Black and minority ethnic communities and other developments. There was a discussion on the nature of “engagement”, as this term is used by the health services. It was agreed that this was in fact a mixture of consultation and information gathering.
Ayannah had not produced the redrafted section on Volunteering. Bill to follow up this with her. It was agreed that the national Volunteer Charter would be used as the guidance for this section.
Lyssa introduced the redrafted section on Dispute Resolution. Derek had received a comment from Bristol Mediation. This was discussed and amended accordingly, but removing direct reference to Bristol Mediation. Derek to update this section.
Jenny had chased Rupert regarding a potential section on Accountability however no draft had been produced. It was agreed that at this stage it was not practicable to produce this section but that the review of local structures and partnerships be included in the review of the Compact. Voscur to discuss with members (eg Community at Heart and Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership).
Bill to chase Helen Ball regarding redrafting the section on Equalities.
It was agreed to complete remaining writing by 6 June. Derek will then compile a final document which would go to the press office to check it is coherent and readable. Some Voscur members had asked for a further round of consultation on the Compact. It was agreed that the document should now go to the Bristol Partnership and its constituent bodies would formally consult on it.
The final draft will go to the Bristol Partnership at its meeting in late June (date to be confirmed) and after consultation by members finally agreed at a subsequent meeting. The launch will therefore happen in August or September. Derek to draft a covering report for the Bristol Partnership meeting in June.
3. Funding Working Group
The first meeting of the funding working group has been set for Wednesday 25 June @ 10am at the Community Development Unit, 6 York Court, Wilder Street. Derek is convening this.
Next meeting
It was agreed that no further meetings of this group were needed at present!
Action.