Agenda item

Councillor Kaya Comer Shwartz, Executive Member Community Development, was present and made a presentation to the Committee, a copy of which is interleaved.

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         The areas of responsibility focuses on building strong, cohesive and resilient communities, supporting local organisations and residents to engage in their community and help each other. Specific areas of responsibility are – VCS including VCS Grants, Advice, Islington Community Chest, Community/Resident engagement, including community development and building resilience, Arts and Culture, Licensing, Equalities and Community Cohesion, Refugees and Migrants (no recourse to public funds team), and ward partnerships and local initiatives

·         Councillor Comer Schwartz outlined the events she had attended that day for International Womens Day

·         Local VCS organisations are key partners, helping the Council achieve its ambitions and priorities for Islington. Collectively the sector makes a contribution to every one of the Council’s seven priority outcomes

·         The Council is committed to using its role to support an independent, vibrant, and dynamic VCS and recognise that the sector has reach beyond Council services and respond in ways the Council cannot

·         The VCS grants programme provides £2.68 million pa in core grant funding to 50 organisations that have been identified as being of strategic importance to the Council and the borough. In 2017 Islington VCS also brought in £11m from external funders to deliver services that benefit the local community

·         Advice funding ensures that residents can access independent and impartial advice to improve household income, tackle indebtedness and sustain tenancies. There is £1.14m pa core grants for independent advice and support, Citizens Advice Islington, Islington Law Centre, Islington People’s Rights, Help on Your Doorstep, and the Islington BAMER Advice Alliance

·         Islington Community Chest builds community resilience by empowering local people and communities to do things to help each other, local people and their community. It provides £200k pa for grants to small community organisations to deliver projects that improve quality of life for Islington residents and that unlock giving. To date 35 organisations have received grants of between £400 and £5000

·         A borough wide volunteering delivery plan with BIG Alliance, VAI and the Council’s corporate volunteering programme and there has been resident engagement with communities on estates

·         VCS resident and engagement – future focus and key challenges include – development of a joint Communities strategy bringing the VCS and Community Development Team together and establishing the new Homes and Communities offer for local residents. There is to be a full review of Community Centres in the borough, ensuring that the HRA community centre portfolio is used to its full social and economic value. Working with Islington Advice Alliance to develop a community response to the impact of Universal Credit on residents

·         It was noted that Islington had been unsuccessful in their bid to be London Borough of Culture 2019 but Arts and Culture activities have a crucial role to play in engaging residents and bringing people together

·         Achievements and successes include Crossing the Threshold – Arts on Estates, Music Strategy, Community Festivals Fund and Islington Film Service

·         Development of the Islington Pledge and cultural enrichment includes a commitment from cultural organisations on enrichment activity in 3 initial areas – offering free cultural enrichment experiences to develop 11 by 11 offer that ensures that all children and young people in Islington schools attend 11 outstanding cultural activities by the end of Year 11. Delivering world of work discussions in local school assemblies and classes. Opening up learning resources to strengthen cultural education activities in and outside schools. The Islington Pledge programme structure is now in development, with new enrichment activity anticipated to begin in autumn 2018

·         Licensing – the late night levy Operation Night Safe is funded by the businesses selling alcohol after midnight and provides 2 Police Officers to lead on and manage the night time economy, night time visits and response, problems solving and dealing with problematic premises, street based patrols by Parkguard Thursday to Sunday 10pm to 7am, helping vulnerable people, the patrol also includes a medic, and back up is provided to businesses paying the levy

·         There are a number of projects and activities taking place and a study has shown that the cumulative impact policy has been effective, and there had been numerous examples of diversifying the night time economy

·         In response to a question it was stated that VCS organisation had to lever in funds apart from the core annual grant, and that work is taking place with the Procurement team to look at how best social value can be recognised in the awarding of contracts

The Chair thanked Councillor Comer-Schwartz for her presentation