Agenda item

J Still presented this report and apologised for the structure of the report as she had been on annual leave later than anticipated.

J Still gave a very brief overview of the events in February in Highfield. The event was very well received by residents and had some really great outcomes and some individual stories from residents.

A resident got work experience from it; someone had got a full time job, and managed to get off benefits. People benefitted from the healthy eating programmes and it has had an impact on families.

The event in Tring was also very successful.

Moving forward they are going to target certain areas that flag up red alert, Adeyfield’s event will be next in April. It’s not about DBC delivering it all it’s about facilitating and working with agencies to deliver.

J Still was happy to take questions from Members

Cllr Wyatt-Lowe had a question on funding, how do we get funding from outside for what we do he believes it should come from HCC and the CCG’s at future events. Secondly he said that too much reliance is currently placed on Councillors. While it is appropriate for

Councillors to turn up to events in their areas, those events should not be impeded if Councillors are unable to be present.

. Cllr Wyatt-Lowe also put forward a question to the Portfolio Holder, strangely the text doesn’t talk about plans, futures and lessons learnt, could you tell me how far the funding can run in the next year and if you will be looking for more.

N Harden said that the neighbourhood action team and the rest of the services as a whole are doing it from the resources that they carry out with other departments, in the past it’s a case of neighbourhood action groups were set up, this funding that does that has been restructured and that’s where Love your Neighbourhood comes from we will be targeting what is needed in that community.

J Still added have had offers from Thriving Families who have offered to help

with the Tring event 37 older people attended and 31 of those signed up to different clubs it’s about the outcome in changing lives.

Cllr Conway said the comments have been fantastic and she attended the Tring even and said it was very successful.

Cllr Link went to the Highfield ones on a few occasions was really good for the community and got to see people she wouldn’t normally see.

Cllr Mahmood highlighted that there was a section that was blank in the report.

J Still apologised, the report is only a draft and still to be completed.

Cllr Mahmood asked if they could have plans of what’s going on so they can benefit from the plans.

J Still to send an email to the committee with future plans.

Cllr Mahmood asked how it was publicised.

J Still said they do everything they can do, letters in school bags. The local paper, hand delivered letters, posters and signs, and people still say they weren’t aware of it. However they do do their best of advertising they even email out to neighbourhood action groups

Cllr Mahmood said he knows of a few notice boards which could be used for advertising.

Cllr Harden said it would be good if a local representative could go round to all the shops with posters for advertising.

Action:  As above.

Outcome: Report was noted.