Voscur Reps Reports - January 2007
Your Reps Speak Out
Voscur’s members have a say on a range of strategic partnerships through the Voscur reps – elected from the membership by the membership. Voscur reps Elaine Flint and Mike Timmins answer some questions on how the work of their delivery groups has influenced the Local Area Agreement (LAA).
Mike Timmins - Environment Delivery Group (EDG)
Q. There is growing concern about the impact of Climate Change - how do you think the measures in the LAA will contribute to reducing carbon emissions?
A. The EDG Action Plan for 2006/7 has a number of actions that are associated with climate change. In fact, there is a specific action line entitled 'Tackle the causes of climate change'. Within this line there is a series of sub-actions, including a target for all Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) partners to sign a declaration on climate change and commission research into the impact of such initiatives as the Local Development Framework and the Joint Local Transport Plan on greenhouse gas emissions. Further sub-actions include the requirement to produce reports on recycling and land filling of waste in Bristol.
Q. Sustainable development is a key principle across the LAA targets. How will the Sustainable Development Action Group make sure it is delivered?
A. Sustainable development continues to be an underpinning theme. Improving the quality of the built and natural environment links to another key EDG objective of 'create sustainable communities and neighbourhoods'. Consultation takes place at chair level with the Sustainable Action Delivery Group (SDAG) to seek ways of the EDG and SDAG collaborating, since both groups have a remit to promote their particular specialist interests across the Partnership.
Q. What impact do you think the environmental voluntary and community groups have had on forming the LAA targets?
A. As with many of the Delivery Groups, targets in the EDG largely reflect mandatory targets set by government. It is very difficult to influence these targets from any one sector, and the voluntary and community sector is a case in point. What the sector can do, however, is to influence how the targets are approached, and temper some of the more over-enthusiastic and rigid approaches with what affected communities can deal with in reality.
Elaine Flint - Economic, Strategic Development and Transport Delivery Group
Q. How will the social economy sector benefit from the LAA economy section?
A. The two key themes for the LAA economy section are employment and enterprise. There is a focus on the reduction of unemployment. In particular the reduction of at least one percentage point in overall benefits claim rates and a reduction of Job Seekers Allowance and Invalidity Benefit claimants in Neighbourhood Renewal wards. Clearly Job Centre Plus will be leading on these targets, but there are many social economy organisations who will contribute to the achievement of these objectives. The IEEI (Integrated Enterprise and Employment Initiative) programmes in Neighbourhood Renewal areas has limited funding to deliver support. The sector has levered in significant additional support through initiatives such as the HWV (Hartcliffe and Withywood Ventures) job creation and training developments at the Imperial Park development. So, the question is not particularly how the sector can benefit from the LAA economy section, but how can the targets be achieved without the input of the social economy sector.
Q. Bristol hasn't been successful in securing Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) funding, how will this affect the LAA economy targets?
A. The failure to achieve LEGI funding has blown open the enterprise
targets in the LAA economy section. The existing targets have had to be withdrawn and a new draft will went to the Economy Delivery Group on 12 December 2006. I have raised my concern with the chair of the group, Clive Wray from Business West, and with Bristol City Council Head of Regeneration, that there will be a loss of capacity across the enterprise agencies to deliver even reduced targets. A consultative process in developing these targets would also be more meaningful - I am waiting for a response.
Q. Bristol has been successful in securing New Growth Point Funding from the government, what will this mean for the LAA targets?
A. Within the LAA Economy section there is a target to increase housing supply. Bristol City Council has been successful in getting New Growth Pont Funding which will support this target.