Enhancing Community Wellbeing
Thematic Progress Update
16th March 2023
Lead Member
Introduction
Having adopted our new Better Lives for All strategy in September 2021 which included a number of actions setting out how we will work with our communities. This update reflects the progress of those actions that we have identified to support our communities over the past 12 months.
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Activities on Track |
Activities slightly off track but plan in place |
Activities at risk of not completing as agreed |
Activities not yet due to start |
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3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Over the coming pages, we set out more in-depth updated for each action.
Cllr Jonathan Hawkins
Cllr Jonathan Hawkins
Executive Member for Community Wellbeing
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CW1.1 - Work with partners to pilot new approaches to tackling rural poverty in an area identified as in the most deprived area of South Hams |
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Key Highlights |
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The Pilot Project had been somewhat overtaken by the cost-of-living response that has focussed the Councils resources on providing measures to deal with households effected by the cost of living across all South Hams. The data we have gathered so far suggests that young people are particularly affected by poverty in the area, for example this creates barriers to good health and education. We are now engaging with young people in the community to understand the practical issues that rural poverty presents to them and how we can work with partner organisations to overcome those barriers, using existing community assets. The success of our work may be difficult to measure in the short term but in accordance with the purpose of a pilot project will guide and inform the Councils approach to wider community engagement.
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Key Risks / Issues |
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Dealing with rural poverty by identifying and reducing health inequalities requires a long term approach supporting existing community assets and working with partners to identify need and provide resources to fill that need. |
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Looking ahead to the next 6 months |
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· We will continue to engage with the community itself, with a focus on young people, to understand better the effects of rural poverty and what barriers that presents to young people. We can then work with partners to support the existing community infrastructure to deal more effectively with the identified need. · A report will be presented to Members regarding the knowledge gained through the pilot project on how to engage effectively with our local communities |
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Overall Rating |
Amber (off track but plan in place) |
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Key Highlights |
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Completion is scheduled for April with an opening date of May 2023. It is proposed that a report will be taken to Executive detailing the full benefits that the facilities will provide and the role SHDC has played. |
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Key Risks / Issues |
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Looking ahead to the next 6 months |
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Overall Rating |
Green (on track) |
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Action CW1.3 – Support more people to live independently for as long as they choose through efficient delivery of housing related grant schemes |
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Key Highlights |
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Spend on DFG’s is based on demand, over which the Council has no control, and at present the service is processing and approving applications in line with this demand. The Council has a healthy budget as a result of good performance and astute negotiations. We have completed 56 DFG’s and 49 accessible homes grants since April 2022 in South Hams. With a wider Private Sector Renewal (PSR) Policy, the Council is able to spend the Better Care Fund on other areas such as home assistance and Energy Company Obligation topups. The Council is using part of the funding to support wider fuel poverty interventions and supplement national grant programmes. This will also have a positive impact on climate change by supporting vulnerable lower income households to access lower carbon solutions. |
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Key Risks / Issues |
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We have recently agreed changes to our policy to enable more work to be carried our more quickly by reducing the administrative burden of means testing on some disabled facilities grants. This will enable us to process grants more quickly and therefore be able to provide our customers with eh adaptations they need faster. |
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Looking ahead to the next 6 months |
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We will continue to make best use of our Better Care Funding. Keeping people safe and able to live in their own homes for longer is of clear benefit to our communities but also benefits health services by reducing demand on them. Disabled adaptations may also facilitate transfer of care of hospital patients back to their own homes. |
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Overall Rating |
Green (on track) |
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Action CW1.4 – Increase active participation in sport and leisure activities |
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Key Highlights |
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Fusions annual summary report for 2022 activity will be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny meeting in April 2023. |
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Key Risks / Issues |
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Looking ahead to the next 6 months |
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Overall Rating |
Green (on track) |
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Action CW1.5 Delivery of projects to enhance outdoor public spaces
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Key Highlights |
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* Some of the funds spent in 2022/2023 were allocated in 2021/2022 ** To avoid double counting this doesn’t include funds allocated in 2021/2022 but spent in 2022/2023
As shown above, so far in 22-23, we’ve spent £355,975 and allocated a further £119,223, taking the total spent or allocated between 2021 and 2023 to £1,213,151. We’re anticipating that a further £44,603 will move from allocated to spent by year end.
Projects completed in 22/23 include:
The total spent and allocated is below the original forecast allocation of £1,523,824 between 2021 and 2023. This is primarily due to some projects taking longer to progress than expected, for example: · Ivybridge Town Football Club clubhouse project - original forecast allocation was for £270,000 s106 expenditure in 22/23. Plans undergoing review due to increase in building costs; planning permission and match funding also needs to be secured. · Dartington outdoor swimming pool refurbishment - original forecast allocation was for £75,000 s106 expenditure in 22/23. Plans being developed; planning permission and match funding also needs to be secured.
These projects do not involve SHDC assets and are not being led by SHDC so project progress and expenditure is not within our control. |
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Key Risks / Issues |
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Increase in building prices is delaying progression of some projects due to original plans becoming unaffordable and projects needing redevelopment.
In many cases progress and expenditure is not within the direct control of SHDC as the projects involved are not on SHDC land.
There is a risk that s106 funds are not spent within the required timeframes and thus have to be re-paid to the developer. Funds nearing the deadlines for expenditure are flagged by the s106 Monitoring Officer to ensure this does not happen. |
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Looking ahead to the next 6 months |
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Projects expected to be completed within the next six months include:
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Overall Rating |
Amber – The total amount spent and allocated is below the original forecast allocation for the reasons explained above.
Officers will continue to progress relevant projects on SHDC land and facilitate projects being led by Town and Parish Councils and other relevant organisations. Members are actively encouraged to continue to engage with their Town and Parish Councils and other relevant organisations to facilitate the expenditure of s106 contributions and enable the delivery of projects to enhance outdoor public spaces in their areas.
New predications will be made for the expenditure of s106 funds on outdoor public spaces in future years. |
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Action CW1.6 Work with the voluntary sector to plan how we can work better together in the future |
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Key Highlights |
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In December 2022, we launched a £50,000 grant funding scheme for voluntary sector groups that are working to support the Health and Wellbeing of our residents with a particular focus on cost of living. 37 applications were awarded funding to deliver a range of schemes including warm banks, hot meal clubs, activities in warm spaces.
Officers are now regularly attending meetings with the sector (arranged by the CVS Community Connectors). This is giving us a real insight into the voluntary sector activities taking place across the District. South Hams CVS have recently appointed a new manager who is keen to work with the Council to ensure that we support one another in meeting the needs of the VCS.
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Key Risks / Issues |
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Looking ahead to the next 6 months |
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- South Hams CVS will be invited to attend Overview and Scrutiny to present an update on their activities. |
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Overall Rating |
Green (on track) |
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