BRADFORD
TRIDENT, NDC PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING
of a Meeting of the Board held at St Joseph's Primary School, Bradford
on
Thursday 18 December 2002.
Commenced:
1705hrs Concluded:
1830hrs
PRESENT
Councillor Ian Greenwood (Chair)
Community
Directors:
Greg Lucas (West Bowling)
Munawar Khan (Park Lane)
Joe Holloway (Marshfields)
Nyear Yaseen (Marshfields)
Voluntary
Sector Director:
Ali Jan Haider (from 1730)
Business
Directors:
Omar Khan - Omar Khans (until 1755)
Nick Baggio - Ivy Guest House
RSL Director:
Will Jennings - Bradford & Northern Housing Association
Health Director:
Lynnette Throp - Bradford City Primary Care Trust
Adviser:
David Wilkinson
Observers:
Roz Hall - BMDC Regeneration Partnership
Mark Fielding - (Interact) Bradford Trident Communications
Manager
Sister Julie McGing - (until 1810)
Attendee:
John Ansbro - Interim URC Director (for item 4)
Staff in
attendance:
Steve Hartley - Chief Executive
David Mosley - Company Secretary
Chas Stansfield - Programme Manager (from 1740)
Andy Brennan - Programme Manager
Judith Atkinson - Programme Manager
Wayne Noteman - Housing Projects Manager
Ian Hague - Neighbourhood Manager
Darrell Gregoire - Programme Co-ordinator
Umar Hayat - Programme Co-ordinator
Shamsuddin Ahmed - PACT Co-ordinator
Claudia Dacres - PA to Chief Executive
1. APOLOGIES
FOR ABSENCE AND INTRODUCTIONS
Apologies
were received from:
Zahera Hanif - Community Director
Amjad Ali - Community Director
Zamurrad Khan - Community Director
Nawaz Khan - Community Director
Lil Acklam - Community Director
Jamshed Khan - Community Director
Taj Salam - Council Director
Mohammed Khan - Faith Director
David Austin - Business Director
Dave Richardson - Police Director
Angela Dobson - LSC Director
Zubare Khan - Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
2. MINUTES
AND MATTERS ARISING FROM THE BOARD MEETING OF 31 OCTOBER 2002
2.1 The minutes
of the meeting held on 31 October 2002 were agreed as a
correct record.
There were no matters arising.
3. DECLARATIONS
OF INTEREST
Ian Greenwood declared an interest for item 4 - Bradford Urban Regeneration Company (URC). All members of staff declared an interest for item 8.1 - General Matters, Accountable Body Status. Lynnette Throp declared an interest for item 11 - Delivery Plan Year 4.
4. BRADFORD
URBAN REGENERATION COMPANY (URC)
John Ansbro, the URC Implementation Manager, presented a comprehensive
update on the progress of the URC to date.
A copy of his slides are enclosed for information.
5. BOARD
MATTERS
A paper was
presented by the Chief Executive requesting the Board's approval on various
matters.
5.1 Performance
Management Improvement Plan
Steve Hartley
advised the Board that Bradford Trident had to undertake an exercise on
performance management for the Government Office Mid Year Review. Once
this had been completed an Improvement Plan was constructed which incorporated
those areas which could be improved, addressing who would be dealing with
them and the timescale by which they would be completed.
Ali Jan Haider
commented that he had attended a Community Cohesion Task Force meeting
where Bradford Trident had been acknowledged as one of the few organisations
who had an effective Board.
5.2 Board
and Working Group Dates Schedule 2003
Steve Hartley
drew membersí attention to the schedule of meetings for the whole
of 2003 and advised that Working Groups could alter their own dates to
suit their particular requirements. He added a date had now been set for
the Government Office Annual Review. This had previously been held in
February but, after lobbying, the date agreed was 10 April 2003 from 10.30
-12.30 (venue to be confirmed). A date had also been set for the Annual
Summer Celebration. Steve also informed the Board that the company would
be hosting a providersí conference, inviting people and agencies
working in the area to address what Bradford Trident are doing and take
the opportunity to celebrate the successes. A provisional date had been
set for 15 May 2003.
5.3 Neighbourhood
Action Team
Steve Hartley advised the Board that Bradford Trident had now appointed
6 new people, all local residents, to the Neighbourhood Action Team posts.
They would be managed by Ian Hague from January 2003 and based initially
at the YMCA on Trinity Road. Steve thanked Jamshed Khan and Greg Lucas
for their assistance in the recruitment process.
5.4 Health
and Social Care Co-ordinator
Steve informed Directors that following interviews, held on 28 November
no appointment had been made. However, with Lynnette Thropís assistance
the post had been advertised as a secondment for an individual currently
working in the health field for a period of between 1-3 years. This had
generated some interest and two promising people were to be interviewed
on 19 December.
5.5 Racial
Disadvantage/Community Cohesion
Steve reminded the Board of the special Briefing held on 12 December to
discuss racial disadvantage and community cohesion issues. He added the
meeting had been well attended and very useful. Chas Stansfield would
report back at the January Board meeting. With reference to the Neighbourhood
Action Team workers, Joe Holloway enquired whether any of the staff appointed
were of English origin. Ian Hague confirmed this was not the case, that
information about the posts had been
widely circulated throughout the Trident area however no white applicants
had come forward. Some African Caribbean candidates had been interviewed,
however the best 6 candidates had been of an Asian ethnic background.
6. APPRAISAL
- TRIDENT ARTS PROJECT
A report
was presented by Steve Hartley seeking the Board's approval for the Trident
Arts Project appraisal.
Steve Hartley noted that the Board was not quorate.
Ian Greenwood
advised that an organisation, if not quorate, could proceed with decisions
if no one challenged the status. However, if this was challenged, important
decisions could not be made. David Wilkinson endorsed this view.
Ian added
the meeting could continue however, given the numbers present, it would
be inappropriate to take any controversial decisions. He formally dissolved
the Board but agreed to continue on an informal basis on the understanding
that should urgent decisions be necessary the Chairman and Chief Executive
would take appropriate action.
Steve Hartley
advised that the Board had approved the Arts Strategy at its last meeting
where the Chief Executive had been asked to produce an appraisal which
addressed spend and implementation. The budget requested was £50,000
of Trident funding a year over a 2 year period in order to pick up many
of the actions within the strategy. This would be matched by Pact funding
and also include other external funding. The main thrust of the project
would be to involve younger people and address community cohesion.
Ian Greenwood
complemented the BD5 web page and advised those Directors who had not
yet seen it to do so. Mark Fielding added the more people who used it,
the more useful it would become.
Joe Holloway
enquired about the current level of funding available within Pact. Steve
Hartley advised the total Pact funding for Bradford Trident was in the
order of £1m. However this had now been mostly allocated. The Arts
Project included £100,000 Pact funding along with NDC funding.
Ian Greenwood
advised this was the type of project which engaged people in the Capital
of Culture bid and would go a long way to engaging local young Trident
residents.
The appraisal
was approved by the Directors present.
7. FORMATION
OF AN INDEPENDENT CHARITY
A report was presented by the Company Secretary including a report from
Anthony Collins Solicitors seeking approval for the draft Memorandum and
Articles of Association for Bradford Trident Community charity Trust and
approval of the Procedure Agreement. Approval was also being sought for
the three initial company members/directors of the Charity.
David Mosley
welcomed Sister Julie McGing as a potential Trustee of Bradford Trident
Charitable Trust. He advised that Bradford Trident had been working with
Anthony Collins Solicitors to draw up the Memorandum and Articles of Association
and the Procedure Agreement. The last Board meeting had agreed Bradford
Trident could approach David Wilkinson, Sister Julie McGing and Ian Greenwood
as Trustees.
David explained
one of the Boardís main concerns had been ìstep inî
rights in the event of misuse of funding for example. The proposed route
carefully set out the procedure. He added, subject to HM Treasury, Charity
Commission and Board approval, the Charity needed to be established in
order to gift aid incidental income generated from Trident assets. There
would be no requirement to wait until all 9 Trustees were trained and
skilled.
David advised
the proposal represented good value for money and would save approximately
£25,000 in Corporation Tax from next year. He added he, along with
the Chairman and Chief Executive would proceed to discuss the issue with
Directors in order to obtain their views.
8. GENERAL
MATTERS
A report
was presented by the Chief Executive informing the Board on various matters.
8.1 Accountable
Body Status
Steve Hartley
outlined the major issues affecting the companyís desire to become
its own Accountable Body. The NRU had agreed the company could now claim
back any irrecoverable VAT as additional grant.
The Treasury
had agreed it would be possible for Bradford Trident to receive forward
funding as opposed to payments in arrears, should Accountable Body status
be granted.
Steve added
clawback was also a major issue. When Bradford Trident purchased assets
the Council currently placed a charge on them. Therefore the asset could
not be disposed of without the Councilís permission. The Treasury
had also indicated they may take a charge themselves should Trident become
its own Accountable Body. The issue had yet to be resolved.
KPMG have
been asked to look at the position regarding the staff pension fund. Bradford
Council had given their written guarantee to underwrite the fund, however
if the Accountable Body link was severed, they may not continue to do
this.
Ian Greenwood
explained how the Pension Fund currently operated. Steve added the staff
team were trying to move all these issues forward and would report back
to the Board.8.2 Urban Bus Challenge
Steve Hartley
advised the Board that the bid submitted by Metro had been unsuccessful
but that he had received no further information or feedback. Steve agreed
to let the Board know when these details were available.
Joe Holloway
expressed his disappointment at the unsuccessful bid.
8.3 Evaluation
Steve advised
the Board that Bradford Trident had, this week, received a 150 page evaluation
report completed by Janie Percy-Smith as part of a national evaluation
of NDCs. He agreed to bring this to be next Board meeting. The report
was very positive about what Bradford Trident was doing.
Steve added
that, as part of the national evaluation, MORI had conducted a follow
up survey which provided a large amount of interesting information about
what local people thought. This may come back to the February Board meeting.
9. WORKING
GROUPS - REPORT BACK
A report
was presented by Programme Managers outlining the actions of all Working
Groups which have met since the last Board meeting.
Steve advised
the Board that Kevin Maxim had suggested the company should celebrate
when it had completed 100 appraisals. However, as around 180 appraisals
had now been completed, he suggested celebrating at the point where it
reached 200 appraisals.
Ian Greenwood
advised the Board that he had received representation from the Dar Al-Arqam
Mosque on Neil Street regarding Pact funding. He felt there had been poor
communication regarding the level of funding available. He added it would
be prudent to have a further discussion with the organisation in order
to see if assistance could be offered with other funding.
Steve Hartley
felt it was unfortunate that the Mosque had believed there was a large
amount of Pact money available. He had met with the organisation and the
YEC Working Group had offered NDC funding of £50,000. Steve had
written to advise if an increased Pact allocation became available their
request would be reconsidered. He added Bradford Trident would be supportive
of any other forms of funding they identified.
The Board
noted the Working Group reports presented.
10. ANY OTHER
BUSINESS
David Wilkinson
had previously notified an item and wanted to pay tribute to the publicity
Bradford Trident had received from the recent Annual Review document of
the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.
David Mosley
advised the Board that the company had now agreed purchase of 540 Manchester
Road and an appraisal would go to the Executive Committee.
CONFIDENTIAL
BUSINESS
11. DELIVERY
PLAN YEAR 4 (2003/04)
A report was presented by the Chief Executive to present the first partial
draft (funding profiles only) of the Delivery Plan for Year 4, 2003/04
for Board approval.
Steve advised
the Board that the Delivery Plan had to be produced by mid February next
year for draft submission to GOYH. As a starting point expenditure levels
had been addressed by the staff team and then taken to Working Groups
who had discussed in detail.
In many cases
funding was redistributed, however no money had been moved between Working
Groups. The only major change had been the allocation from the health
programme and an allocation from the asset base into the proposed development
of GPs Surgeries and Primary Care Trust facilities to the Woodroyd School
site. The plan to build a Neighbourhood Centre on the Woodroyd site continues,
but Bradford Trident also had the opportunity to be the developer of a
new space for GPs and the PCT incorporating training and other activities.
This would provide an opportunity to develop our asset base.
Steve added
there were still some challenges around funding which fell into 4 different
areas:-
1. Environment:
There is insufficient money to cover the areas we have already identified,
for example, Parkside Park. Some areas have been addressed via other funding,
but there remains a shortfall. Alternative areas of funding are now being
pursued.
2. Private
Sector Housing:
There had always been an issue with this and around a £10m shortfall.
3. Community
Facilities:
Having gone through the strategy we are now receiving costs based on consultation
and designs which have shown the neighbourhood centres will cost more
than the allocated funding.
4. Asset
Base:
If the Woodroyd plans are realised this will utilise virtually all the
asset base funding available. Incidental income from assets would then
amount to around £300,000, however this may not be a sufficient
level to achieve what will be required for the area.
Steve asked
the Board to think about what adjustments could be made in order for the
staff team to come back with a final Delivery Plan for Year 4.
Ian Greenwood advised this would be further considered and papers would be circulated for formal discussion at the January Board meeting.
13. DATE
OF NEXT MEETING
As Ian Greenwood would not be available, the Vice Chair would chair the Board meeting on Thursday 30 January 2003.Ian Greenwood thanked the Board
for their attendance and wished Directors and staff a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.