Minutes for Development Committee meeting, Nov 11 2009, 4.30PM official page

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Relevant Background Information

 

      In September 2007 the Opening Doors Strategy for the Delivery of Voluntary Advice Services was published by the Department for Social Development.  This set out a plan for the future of modern advice services in Northern Ireland based on a model of local commissioning arrangements led by councils, supported by DSD and operating within an agreed framework of quality standards. The original strategy has been supplemented by two further phases of research.  In 2008 Phase 1 considered and mapped existing provision.  This paper proposes a BCC response to the second phase of research which proposes the optimum number and location of Area Advice Centres. 

 

      Following this consultation process, DSD has advised that Minister Ritchie intends to publish further guidance ‘in consultation with councils’’ before piloting the new advice framework in partnership.  DSD has indicated its intention to invite expressions of interest from councils to permit a pilot phase in 2010.  Furthermore, implementation of the new framework should take account of and fit the new council areas post RPA.  DSD indicated that adoption of the agreed model will coincide with RPA implementation time scales currently expected to occur in 2011.

 

      The consultation document includes questions directed to advice providers and funders of advice provision. The draft response from BCC only addresses funder specific questions.

 

Key Issues

 

      The consultation document, which is available on Modern.gov, indicates that the Area Advice Centre model will provide:

 

-    Accessible generalist advice, advocacy and support on a range of basic and complex advice issues;

-    Offer first line support to those who have specific needs;

-    Act as a referral point to specialist agencies where dedicated specialist advice is required;

-    Outreach and the use of telephone and online access will be used to ensure adequate advice coverage of an area, this would be agreed and implemented by the council. In Belfast it is envisaged that existing Advice providers/consortia would undertake this function.

 

      After classification of settlements based on population and the level of service provision, 2 further tests were applied to propose locations for the Area Advice Centres.

 

1.   Population

      What percentage of the population lives within 5 miles of the proposed Area Advice Centres.

     

      This test found that:

      75% of population of N.I. live within the 5 mile radius of the proposed centres.

 

2.   Deprivation

      What proportion of the top 10% and top 20% of deprived Census Output Areas are within 5 miles of the proposed  Area Advice Centres.

 

      This test found that:

      96% of top 10% deprived SOAs are within a 5 mile radius

      90% of top 20% deprived SOAs are within a 5 mile radius

 

      DSD further analysed whether or not Neighbourhood Renewal Areas could be readily linked to an Area Advice Centre.  Information detailed  in the DSD document indicates all the Belfast NRPs are aligned.

 

      BCC has been aware of and has been working towards being part of the pilot phase of this strategy for several years. Unfortunately the proposed pilot  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

            The Committee considered the following requests for assistance which had been received under the Support for Sport Scheme in relation to events and promotions:

 

Organisation/Event

Summary of Event and Amount Requested

 

Recommendation

PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland

Funding in the sum of £1,000 in relation to the holding on 12th December of a cross‑community basketball competition for children aged between 10 and 14 at The Ozone

 

£972

Ulster Karate Council

No specific amount of funding requested in relation to the holding on 13th March, 2010 of the Titanic International Open Karate Cup involving approximately 200 participants at Queen’s University’s Physical Education Centre

 

£2,505

Athletics Northern Ireland

Funding in the sum of £10,000 in relation to the holding on 6th and 7th February, 2010 of the sixth Irish Indoor Athletics Championships at The Odyssey

£10,000

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

 

            (Mr. G. Copeland, City Events Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

 

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Relevant Background Information