Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Contents
Page
Community Profile
6 - 10
11
12
Local Partnership
13
14
14
15
15
16
17
18 - 28
Summary of Budget
28
Conclusion
29
30 - 31
32 - 33
Lindsay Robinson.
Community Profile
As can be seen from the Map on page 5, the Arches Local area stretches across two local wards; it is
an area which is does not form a natural neighbourhood or community and could be described as a
corridor shape.
The name Arches Local was decided by a range of local residents as the Luton arches are roughly in
the centre of the geographical map. This historical site is easily and readily identified by all in the
area both residents and visitors. It is an imposing structure which is currently in in need of further
maintenance and care. We have in year 1 successfully engaged with Network Rail and Medway
Council in starting the ongoing process of its regeneration.
Historically Luton Arches was a meeting place for local people; there was a driver fountain and a
bath house that sat in front of the Arches.
Housing In Arches Local is a mixture of privately owned homes, private rental houses, flats and
rooms and social housing managed by a number of social landlords and trusts . There are also
several supported housing areas specifically for older people. The River part of the Arches Local
area is under large redevelopment with new homes being provided by mhs homes and Orbit.
Many of the privately owned houses and rentals are Victorian terraced homes. Rental costs across
the area have risen due to the shortage of homes and an increase in population but would still be
amongst the lowest in Medway and therefore attract a range of tenants for both long and short
term tenancies. The increase in rental prices has seen an increase in the number of terrace homes
becoming houses of multiple occupancy.
As described in the previous plan, open and green spaces across the area are viewed as work in
progress: the amount of space is limited and the use of the available space has caused tensions
locally. We have had success in year one with the regeneration of spaces most notably at Luton
Millennium Green with a creation of a pocket park.
*data from the summer event held at LMG 9th July 2016
Across the area there are a number of shop parades and also single shops (corner shops). The area
within the River Ward (Brooklines) is situated behind and adjacent to Chatham High Street which
offers a retail and business economy which is constantly evolving. The range of small convenience
retail outlets provides high-cost short-term shopping solutions to the local community including a
ever-growing range of fast food outlets.
The area does not have any secondary or primary schools located within it but there are a range of
primary schools located on the fringes of the area and a number of secondary schools including
Brompton Academy and the newly named Victory Academy within walking distance.
The area is rich in a diversity of people from different cultures and background who are on the whole
getting on, and as can been seen from the proliferation of nationality-specific convenience stores
there are opportunities for people to start a business. Travelling across and around the area there
are a large number of peoples from far afield, but also many that have lived in the area for
generations. The range of people locally include European; Asian; African and eastern Europeans,
there are a range of age groups and also diverse employment and business opportunities. Notably
since the last plan there has been a large increase in residents with West African heritage, most
notably Nigerian.
River Ward
Information taken from the 2015 Index of deprivation and the 2011 Census information
10
Since July 2015 a series of activities and meetings have been held to consult with the local
community to communicate and deliver the aims of the Year 1 plan and gain views on the
area from local residents in preparation of the Year 2 plan.
Events have been held, supported by volunteers, where we have asked 3 simple questions:
what do you like, what do you not like and what would you like to change in the area? The
events were held at different times of year and with differing ages to try to obtain as wider
participation as possible. Some of them are listed below.
o An open event held at the newly opened Magpie Community Centre Caf to present
the plan, with lots of activities including wood carving, drawing, food and drink
provided.
o Sponsorship of a Lego Club held at the All Saints Church hall, which was very well
attended and continuing into the year.
o Invited local school children to help with the creation of the pocket park at Luton
Millennium Green including helping planting trees and wildflowers.
o Large open day event held at Luton Millennium Green to celebrate the opening of
our Pocket park including circus acts, a hog roast, police car display, and gardening.
o Wild Flower Seed Bomb - creating and throwing at Luton Millennium Green with
Magpie Growers.
o Supported a strawberry and cream tea event held by Dolly Morgan for Older people.
o Attended various local events including Sure Start Aspire parents summer fair, have
a go sessions.
o Creation of a community bench inspired and designed by local children.
Other meetings
o Range of people attended, range of different views put forward.
o Consultation with All Saints Residents Association.
o Feedback to the Chatham Community Partnership.
o Invited to speak with Community Safety Partnership.
o Contributed to the Home Office Consultation around gangs.
o Turning Point Recovery forum.
Media Coverage
o Local and national press coverage of Arches Local events.
o Facebook site established and twitter account set up.
o Website set up.
Volunteer Community Researchers
o The small team of researchers that had been trained by 3Ps (People Promoting
Participation) continue to undertake research at Arches Local events and have
collected the largest amount of information in a single day at the recent open event
at Luton Millennium Green.
11
o
o
Social Investment
There is a need for help with a variety of personal issues, for example - personal
finance and budgeting, advice, counselling, employment and training, health and life
styles.
Open Spaces & the Environment
Increase the access to open spaces and encourage the use of them, focusing on
Luton Millennium Green and Town Hall Gardens by Rope Walk Street. Address issues
raised locally around the general cleanliness of the area and problems with fly
tipping which may been compounded by Medway Council now charging for bulky
item removal. The poor traffic management in the area lack of enforcement at the
Luton Shopper Car Park. Regeneration of the Luton arches which are still seen locally
as an eye sore.
Private Rented Sector Housing
There are concerns about the quality of private sector rental housing and the
overcrowding of properties, in particular the impact of poor housing on health and
anti-social behaviour. We aim to further identify local housing issues affecting
wellbeing that might be tackled locally
Activities for Young People
Insufficient affordable activities or locations in the area for young people to
participate in during their free time.
Community Cohesion and Partnership Development & Delivery
The lack of cohesion in the community and that there is insufficient community
connection. The lack of local infrastructure, need for development of the
partnership structures and capacity building for people to engage.
Communication
Spreading the message about Arches Local.
Drug & Alcohol Misuse and Dependency
The concerns in a rise of antisocial behaviour relating to drug & alcohol misuse
locally across all ages groups.
12
Local Partnership
The Arches Local partnership structure is our way to ensure that people locally have mechanisms to
provide recommendations about how our local area can be improved and to agree that the
vision/plan does reflect what local people think is important:
o
13
Membership All residents in Big Local Area recruited and publicised across the Big Local
area.
Role of Group: to continue the Big Local conversation with residents. Establishing a vision
through talking to people that live and work (including volunteering) in the area, to address
the issues they identify and to record how they would like the area to look and feel in the
future. This also includes talking to local organisations, agencies and service providers. The
vision will be formed into a Community Plan.
o Meeting Structure: 4 meetings per year plus events.
o Quarterly reporting through an event and newsletter.
o The forum elects / Chooses 6 representative members to attend the Big Local
Steering Group.
A member of the Big Local Partnership. As an individual resident member you will be invited to
attend the Community Forum meetings and the Annual General meeting, and will receive regular
communication and updates from the Community Forum / Partnership / Steering Group.
A Friend of Big Local Partnership. As a Friend (volunteer) you give as much or as little time to
support the Community Forum / Partnership in lots of different ways e.g. helping out at an event,
delivering leaflets, giving feedback on ideas, sit on a task group and encourage your community
group to get involved in Big Local.
Steering Group Members voting member taking expert advice, offering own contribution and
making a collective decision on how the money will be spent to best change the area for the better.
14
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Purpose: The job of the Steering Group is to ensure the activities and operations of the
Partnership, set out in the Terms of Reference, are carried out effectively and efficiently,
and that the Arches Local achieves its aim and purpose whilst giving consideration to the
Big Local Principles.
Membership: The aim is to achieve a membership of the Steering Group that reflects
the population profile of the area. Any proposal for the inclusion of new Steering Group
members will be considered in light of achieving this aim.
The Arches Local Steering Group will have a minimum of 10 members with residents
being at least 51% of the entire steering group - currently 11 residents (69%), 2
representatives from resident-led organisations, 3 representatives from local
organisations / service deliverers.
The Steering Group will try to support anyone with any particular needs to ensure their
full participation in all meetings.
The minimum number of meetings per annum is 6; one every two months.
The meetings will enforce the Ground Rules agreed by the wider Big Local Group.
The group will report back to each of the three Forums quarterly.
The Steering Group membership will be reviewed annually.
Role of Individual Steering Group member: Attend Meetings & represent Big Local in
Chatham: Provide information to wider area/groups/ residents Support and participate
in the Big Local Implementation locally Make decisions in line with plan and local
priorities as identified by local people
15
16
The Continued redevelopment of the Waterfront in Chatham and Military Road area
(outside Big Local Area).
Continued housing development in and around the Carpeaux Close area; some still
under construction but mostly completed.
Implications on the local area of national policy change i.e. Any housing reports;
introduction of universal credit.
Improvements around the Luton Arches from Medway Council and Network Rail.
Opening of the Go Outdoors and occupancy of empty units attached to it.
The Magpie Community Centre Caf continued development as a community asset.
Development of an Arches Local Neighbourhood Plan.
Fort Luton continued development and place in the community.
Riverside One Studios Medway Council future plans for Riverside One building/site.
Outsourcing of the Youth Service and reduction of All saints Sure Start Staff.
Turning Point 1 year extension budget reduction.
Public Health Directorate work on levels of alcohol harm due to the density of licensed
premises.
Medway Council proposed disposal of assets locally (including Luton Shoppers Car Park).
Before
After
17
We have found from having conversations with other partners and looking at their social investment
models that there is a large amount on offer dealing with individual issues but very little that actually
has an end product leading to direct employment or improved standards across the health spectrum
and that much of it is replicated or is aimed at certain communities.
We now better understand that this is a wide spread and complex issue and that there is no single
solution to it. The plan is to address some of the issues with the creation of a local market ideally
located at the Luton Shoppers car park and to investigate developing a social enterprise recruitment
consultancy putting people before profit.
Why do this piece of work?
The market and social enterprise recruitment consultants will act a local resource and also a
platform to address the above identified issues in a real life setting with purpose, using the proposed
mhs homes provides house/hub as a venue to deliver innovative and tailored solutions to many
challenges listed above.
To develop some evidence-based information on whether:
- people resident in the Arches Local Big Local areas would use a market and what would
they would like to see on offer;
- identify the challenges around creating a market and recruitment consultants and their
location;
- the retail offering available locally and how where appropriate best complement them
- any barriers that local people may face in accessing existing recruitment consultants;
- speak to Hasting works and other social enterprise recruitment consultants
Using the evidence collected above provide a full report which provides:
- a clear evidence base for next steps;
- a clear identification of actions to address challenges, need and resource needs;
- details on partnership organisations around delivery.
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Budget Year 2
Plan Issue Social Investment
Investigate the creation of a market: what will be the aims and
objectives of the market? How will the market will be managed and
financed? What criteria will be used to select stallholders?
Identify The Basics for the market. For example, location, stallholders,
opening times, car parks and so on.
Explore the creating of a social enterprise recruitment consultancy.
Establish what is its object and values, what is currently on offer,
develop a business plan, identify a location.
7.5k
10K
19
Total Budget
25K + 12.5K
55k
Open & Green Spaces - access to and use of safe open and green spaces including: Town Hall
Gardens / Spaces for children to play
o
o
o
The need for more places for children to play in which are safe, do not cause disruption or
disturbance to residents;
A range of play spaces for children and young people of different ages;
Development of the existing few green spaces e.g. Town Hall Gardens (the park behind Rope
Walk), continued development of Luton Millennium Green;
20
Management of spaces which are currently not managed and therefore provide convenient
fly tipping locations e.g. the area which was formerly the oil tank location on Magpie Hall
Road, the derelict space on the corner of Castle and Luton Road;
Development of Luton Junior School playing field into a multipurpose sports area.
We are aware that Medway Council have developed plans for a section of Luton Road and Pig Alley
under section 215 Town & Country Act. We are working in partnership with Medway Councils green
spaces team in the management and future plans of our open green spaces
21
Budget Year 2
25K
25k
22
23
Budget Year 2
50k
24
50k
It is also important to consult young people around the outcomes as part of the continuing process.
Plan Issue Affordable Activities for Young People
Organisations can apply for funding for activities that benefit young people
across the area by providing activities and events which promote community
safety and community cohesion by:
o Increasing the range of activities available for young people living in
the area;
o Encouraging the growth of local initiatives that are designed and run
Budget Year 2
20k plus a grants
management fee of
5k to include 2k
for support of young
people
25
3.4k
Totals
28.4k
Budget Year 2
20K plus a
grants
management fee
of 5k to include
2k for support
for individuals
and organisations
applying
10K plus a
grants
management fee
of 2.5k to
include 1k for
support for
individuals and
organisations
applying
30K
1k (inc Aug RPI
salary increase
1.8% approx.
540)
26
This is a new post which was decided prior to year 2 plan implementation. The
post will be appointed and managed by the Partnership. The employing
organisation will be the Locally Trusted Organisation (Medway Plus) on behalf
of the Partnership. The work plan for this post, ongoing management and
monitoring of performance will be managed by the Arches Local Coordinator
and Partnership Group. Draft JD at Appendix B.
Supported
activity by the Big
Local Coordinator
3K
77.5k
27
Budget Year 2
10K plus a
grants
management Fee
of 2.5k to include
1k for support
for individuals
and organisations
applying
12.5k
Budget Year 2
6k
1.5k
5k
1.5k
5k
19K
Summary of Budget
Area of Plan
Social Investment
Open spaces and the Environment
Private Sector Housing
Affordable Activities for Young People
Community Cohesion and Partnership Development & Delivery
Drug & Alcohol Misuse and Dependency Diversion Activities
Other Core Costs
Budget Year 2
55K
25k
50k
28.4K
77.5K
12.5K
19K
Totals
267.4k
13.4k
Grand Total
280.8k
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Conclusion
We have begun our journey in creating local change in the Arches Local area. Like the many hills
that are present there have been ups and downs on the way. There has been great success in the
delivery within some areas of the plan where we only envisaged creating glossy reports. We have
come a long way in a short period of time and our impact can been seen throughout the area.
Through our local engagement events we have continued to listen and record the feelings and needs
of the community we represent. This local voice is reflected in the aims of the Year 2 plan.
All our major achievements have been made successful through working in partnership with others
whether it has been Medway Council or other statutory and voluntary organisations in Medway and
beyond. The added challenge now is to increase the number of residents working in partnership
within the Arches Local area to make it an even better place to live.
Year one has set the bar high for year two but we are confident that together with our partnership
growing in diversity, strength and like the children attending the Lego Club sponsored by us we can
be creative, build on and deliver the aims and aspirations of the Year 2 plan.
29
Appendix A:
Big Local Co-ordinator Post : Draft
Lines of responsibility
This role will report to the Arches Local Big Local Partnership and are also the appointed Local
Trusted Organisation. There will be a strong relationship between the chair of the Arches Local
partnership and the coordinator regarding the plan implementation and agreed objectives and
milestones; this will include full written and verbal reports at partnership meetings.
The Arches Local Big Local Co-ordinator will also be in regular contact with the Big Local Rep who is
appointed by the Local Trust to support the local area.
The Arches Local Co-ordinator will supervise and manage all staff & volunteers working on the
programme; any service level agreements or contracts in relation to the programme and manage
and support a group of local people to volunteer and get involved in Arches Local Big Local.
30
Role
Local Partnership
Management
Manage and support commissioning processes ensuring partnership members make key
commissioning decisions
Develop policies and procedures as required by the partnership
Recruit, manage and support volunteers
Provide necessary monitoring processes and set milestones with the partnership
Coordinate the quarterly and annual review for the Local Trust
Review and refresh the Big Local plan as needed
To ensure health and safety and risk assessment in place for all Arches Local Big Local
projects
To identify and bring in to the programme match and in kind funding to develop the legacy
To identify key partners providing services in Arches Local and look at collaborative
approaches and joined up working in terms of different areas of the plan
To bring partners together
To oversee the implementation of the community pods and ensure there is fundraising
strategies in place for their longer term sustainability
To review the role every 6 months to ensure that any changes in priorities can be addressed
Delivery
To support and oversee the sub /working groups of the partnership offering help where
needed
To set up and run activities and projects as agreed
To undertake any other tasks not stipulated but within the spirit and level of the role.
31
Appendix B:
Big Local Assistant Co-ordinator Post : Draft
Lines of responsibility
This role will report to the Arches Local Big Local Co-ordinator and also Medway Plus the appointed
Local Trusted Organisation. There will be a strong relationship between Arches Local Co-ordinator
and the Partnership regarding the plan implementation and agreed objectives and milestones; this
may include full written and verbal reports at partnership meetings.
The Arches Local Assistant Co-ordinator will assist in the supervision of any service level agreements
or contracts in relation to the programme and support local people to volunteer and get involved in
Arches Local Big Local Plan.
32
Role
Local Partnership
Management
Delivery
33