Agenda item

Considered

The report of Stronger Communities Delivery Managers for the Constituency area, presented by Paddy Chandler, Stronger Communities Delivery Manager for Ryedale and North York Moors. He highlighted the following key points:

·            The development of Community Support Officers (CSOs), the challenges faced and their response, including a response to central Government initiatives. It was noted that grant funding for CSOs was now ending and consideration would be given to how they should be resourced, going forward.

·            Two major events have been held to determine the future direction of CSOs with consideration given to the development of a Community Advisor Organisation that would assist with community resilience and social representation. A grant was available for the development of this initiative. CSOs, community groups and key service providers are well known in the area, and to each other, so will collaborate to build resilience.

·            Funding from other sources had helped provide initiatives in a number of areas, assisting Stronger Communities to deliver a number of partnership schemes.

·            A school holidays activities and food programme was operated with the assistance of a number of partners, including CYPS and Stronger Communities.

·            Details of the assistance provided through the Household Support Fund was outlined. Stronger Communities worked with local Councils to identify those eligible and provide vouchers to assist with their needs.

·            Assistance has been provided to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with support offered to the various community groups.

·            Digital Inclusion had progressed significantly, with Community Champions from both the Local Authorities and community sector providing support for local communities. Local libraries and an IT budget had enabled the further delivery of this initiative, known as Reboot North Yorkshire.

·            Research into food insecurity in the North Yorkshire and City of York areas has been taking place with results expected shortly. This would provide opportunities for evidence based interventions and a variety of food projects.

·            Work continued with health and mental health partners to provide community services that assist with Community Mental Health information and service provision. Significant work had been taking place to transform community metal health services with over £2m invested. Grants from CYPS had also been utilised to support speech and language services for young people.

·            Details of the community projects supported and the external funding secured to build community capacity, were outlined.

·            Support was provided to the LGR “Let’s Talk” campaign alongside colleagues from District and Borough Councils, with future priorities discussed.

·            Work had been undertaken alongside Age UK in Filey to deliver the “Stay Healthy, Independent and Connected” project. Other areas had utilised different partners to deliver this project.

·            Ryedale Community Connect had been developed as a community “one-stop shop” hub in local towns, which would continue, going forward.

·            The introduction of the new Authority would provide a platform for a number of new opportunities.

A discussion of the report was undertaken and the following issues were raised:

·            A Member raised concerns regarding the current cost of living crisis and the effect that could have on vulnerable people, particularly in terms of a suicide risk, who were unable to access the services they required because of a lack of funding invested into providing these. In response it was acknowledged that, despite the Community Health transformation, more needed to be done, and every effort was being made to address this. The service was looking to develop a community role to provide an initial point of contact in terms of suicide prevention, and the development of a strategy around prevention.

County Councillors Carl Les and Janet Sanderson declared non-disclosable, non-pecuniary interest with regards to their involvement as Trustees of the North Yorkshire Union responsible for managing resources that are provided to the Authority.

·            A Member asked whether there were any are areas of the Constituency that were not currently covered by CSOs, and if so, whether any additional resources were to be made available. In response it was noted that CSOs assisted with the delivery of community services throughout the Constituency area, even in areas where they were not physically located.

Resolved

That Paddy Chandler be thanked for the report the contents of which be noted.