Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence of Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Yusra Hussain.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1st November 2022.

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1^st November 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

All items were heard in public session.

The Committee will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern.

A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

No deputations or petitions were received.

The meeting will hear any questions from the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

No questions were asked.

A report will be presented which provides an update on regional funding activity, with a focus on the funds administered by the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Contact: Edward Highfield - Service Director for Skills and Regeneration

Chris Duffill - Head of Business, Economy and Growth

Nick Howe - Strategy & Policy Manager, Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning

A report was submitted in relation to regional funding activity, with a focus on the funds administered by the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (WYMCA).

Edward Highfield - Service Director for Skills and Regeneration and Chris Duffill - Head of Business, Economy and Growth introduced the report which provided details on the main strategic economic development funding streams at regional level, including Gainshare and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It also gave an overview of the approach currently being taken including investment prioritisation, horizon scanning for future opportunities and overview/monitoring of all funding coming into Kirklees.

The following points were highlighted:

·      The Council was taking a proactive approach in terms of the development of outline schemes so that it was able to react quickly when funding opportunities came forward. This was particularly important in light of the limited timescales associated with more recent funding and the element of competition.

·      The West Yorkshire Investment Strategy set out the following six investment priorities:

-            Good Jobs and Resilient Businesses (including entrepreneurialism)

-            Skills and training for people

-            Creating Great Places and Accelerated Infrastructure

-            Tackling the Climate Emergency and Environmental Sustainability

-            Future Transport Investment

-            Culture and Creative Industries

·      A number of priority/programme areas sat beneath each investment priority and established the focus for intervention over the period April 2021 to March 2024. The aim was to match the local priorities to these regional priorities.

A number of the Kirklees Councillors who were members of one of the WYMCA scrutiny committees were also in attendance at the meeting. 

Questions and comments were invited, with the following issues being covered:

·       The West Yorkshire devolution deal was for £38 million per annum for 30 years; it was possible for this to be used to secure borrowing to provide additional funding in the earlier years.

·       The Sustainable Transport Settlement could and would be utilised towards bus prioritisation, in addition to walking and cycling initiatives, and sat alongside the Bus Service Improvement Plan. This funding would likely be focused on infrastructure improvements, such as improved journey times, pinch points and bus lanes, rather than core subsidy of operators.

·       A successful economy required the necessary infrastructure and skills to be in place and it was important that contingency arrangements were established to ensure that improvements were delivered. Despite challenges associated with prioritisation and the current financial climate, the implementation of the thirty-year devolution deal would give greater local certainty, control and autonomy and it was believed that this would have a positive impact.

·       Bus provision in some rural areas of the district was limited, particularly in the evening period; and more should be done to support residents of these areas to make the move towards more sustainable transport; a strategic approach was needed.

·       The Sustainable Transport Settlement would deliver improved bus stations in Kirklees and whilst it was accepted that this in itself may not improve patronage the Bus Service Improvement Plan would take a more holistic view of what could be done in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

A report will be submitted which provides background information to support a discussion about how best to develop local responses to identifying, signposting, and referring people who are lonely or isolated.

Contact:        Jill Greenfield, Service Director, Customer and Communities

Helen Gilchrist - Project Manager, Local Integrated Partnerships

A report was submitted which provided background information to support a discussion about how best to develop local responses to identifying, signposting, and referring people who are lonely or isolated.

Jill Greenfield, Service Director, Customer and Communities, Mark Wearmouth, Service Manager, Local Integrated Partnerships and Helen Gilchrist - Project Manager, Local Integrated Partnerships attended to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:

·            It had been suggested that the guidance document be reviewed and co-produced with wider stakeholders. Committee members had undertaken visits to a number of local support groups to discuss the issues and it was considered that it would be beneficial for there to be wider discussion with individuals about their experiences and the challenges they faced in making connections.

·            One of the issues that had been highlighted during the visits was the means by which information on provision/support was made available and the different ways people would choose, or were able to, access it.

·            It was recognised that loneliness had a negative impact on mental wellbeing and the acceptance that there was no ‘one size fits all’ approach was welcomed. It was also noted that being alone did not necessarily equate to being lonely.

·            There was significant support and opportunities to connect available within some communities, although it was acknowledged that this may not work as well in some areas. Greater signposting, mapping, and the provision of co-ordination and support to assist in delivery where necessary could bring about improvement.

·            The aim was to try and make loneliness everyone’s business and to build on those networks that were already in place.

·            The level of awareness of campaigns and events outside members of the partnership steering group.

·            The issue of wider engagement with staff and stakeholders was being taken up with partners. It was hoped to encourage and reinvigorate support and accountability for the approach of making loneliness everyone’s business.

·            Kirklees Cares was an outward facing resource that was currently being soft launched. It had been set up primarily to improve access to information and training in respect of health and adult social care.

·            Social prescribing was an excellent way of addressing this issue through the provision of gentle support and guidance.

·            There were many opportunities provided by the Council and local communities that allowed and encouraged people to become involved and connect.

·            The stories illustrating individual’s experiences should be communicated more widely.

·            Everyone had a duty to try and identify and communicate with those individuals who may be at risk of loneliness.

Resolved –

That the points raised by the Committee be taken into account in the further development of local responses to identifying, signposting, and referring people who are lonely or isolated.

The Lead Members for the Corporate Scrutiny Panel and the Economy and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel will update the Committee on the work being undertaken by these panels.

Contact:   Sheila Dykes – Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer, Legal and Democratic Services

Updates were submitted on the work of the Economy and Neighbourhoods and Corporate Scrutiny Panels on behalf of Councillors Yusra Hussain and John Taylor, the Lead Members.

The updates were noted.

The latest version of the Committee’s work programme for 2022-23 will be submitted for Members’ consideration.

Contact:   Sheila Dykes – Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

The current version of the Committee’s work programme for 2022-23 was submitted for Members’ consideration and noted.