Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children's Services regarding the Porksoken Early Intervention Review findings and recommendations.

The Director of Community and Children's Services advised the Committee that the proposals to join up facilities in Portsoken marked a new joined up effort to link the two communities at Mansell Street and Middlesex Street via Artizan Library.

RESOLVED – That,

a)    the Portsoken Early Intervention Review, attached as Appendix One to this report, and any comments received by partners, be noted;

b)    the principle of the six priorities for action set out in the review, be endorsed as set out below;

a.    A coordinated approach be taken for the commissioning and delivery of services, bringing the services, providers and facilities in the ward together under a ‘One Portsoken’ umbrella;

b.    better use be made of the assets and facilities in the ward;

c.    the development of a health education strategy targeting those residents and city workers who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly, and also young people, who can be difficult to access, be authorised;

d.    investment in the community initiatives that help to maintain a sense of community on both estates in the ward, be continued;

e.    a coordinated service that brings City Advice and Adult Learning together to help residents manage their benefits and budgets be put in place; 

f.     a targeted employment and skills programme to continue to provide access to employment support be put in place;

c)    recommendation 1.1 in the review that the Portsoken Health and Community Centre should be managed by the Centre Manager of the Artizan Street Library and Community Centre from 1^st April 2014 onwards be agreed; and

d)    the Director of Community and Children’s Services decision to waive the City's Procurement Regulations in accordance with Regulation 12 to allow the appointment of Rocket Science to support the establishment of a ‘One Portsoken Forum’, be endorsed.