17

Date: 26 July 2000

NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL

Ref: Lh4DNRep72 8

f

w

0

REPORT AGENDA ITEM NO., 6

To: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

1 Purpose of Report

1.1

2

2.1

3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

Subject: LANARKSHIRE KEY FUND

This report is submitted to the Economic Development Committee to update members on the management and operational arrangements relating to the implementation of the Lanarkshire Key Fund (LKF).

Sustainability

This project meets the sustainable development policy adopted by the Council through Local Agenda 21 by addressing elements of section 3 “Economy and Work” and section 8 “Social Needs”. In particular the project will address the following areas:

Key Fund Activity Areas

A strategic approach to the focus of the LKF has been adopted:

This involves the classification of project development Opportunities into three activity areas.

Activitv Area 1 - Communitv Intermediaw Organisations Community Intermediary organisations are a means of providing a flexible package of training to community organisations. It will assist local communities to help themselves whilst addressing the lack of training provision to the community-led organisations. The training provided will be designed to meet the needs of particular groups and organisations. The organisation will also have the potential to link to the New Deal, In 2 Work (Review to Services) and voluntary sector opportunities for volunteering. Thus enhancing the employment prospects of unemployed individuals through prevocational training and job search facilities throughout Lanarkshire.

Activitv Area 2 - Capacitv Building Capacity building is a means of providing support to community led organisations and will assist them in identifying the needs relevant to their local community. As part of the needs already identified will be to fund projects which will enhance the employment prospects of people throughout the Lanarkshire area. There are currently a number of community lead organisations providing training within their communities to individuals not currently accessing government lead employment and training initiatives.

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3.5

4

4.1

5

5.1

6

6.1

7

7.1

Capacity building should help them actively influence local people to take advantage of training and employment opportunities. Partnership working will be encouraged as a means of improving access to employment for their client groups.

The activity should influence local people to take advantage of training and employment opportunities.

Activitv Area 3 - Social Economv The development of third sector organisations will provide ready employment for residents within Lanarkshire. The Key Fund can provide the means for community organisations to develop commercially viable businesses employing local residents. The Key Fund with other partner organisations can provide significant opportunities for community organisations to develop their role as an employer.

1

V

Current Position

0 Since the last report to the Economic Development Committee relating to the LKF (8 June 2000) the following progress has been made.

Staffing

Both LKF Development Officers have been raising the awareness throughout Lanarkshire regarding the strategy of the Key Fund highlighting what will be hnded and how to apply for funding. They have been following up enquiries from community led organisations offering assistance with developing their application to the Key Fund.

LKF Working Group

A sub group of the LKF Board has now been established as a support mechanism for both Development Officers. A format will be established as a means of providing a summary of the projects being currently worked on and used as part of the reporting mechanism. The working group will be able to assist the Development Officers by linking proposed projects to other activities implemented throughout Lanarkshire by partner organisations. The working group will make the decision on whether the project will complement other activities, provide services where currently there are gaps or identify where duplication is taking place. It is envisaged that this mechanism will mean that the Development Officers can devote their time to developing projects which have a good chance of being funded. Where duplication has been identified or projects which do not fit comfortably with the criteria and strategy of the Key Fund the working party will provide the Development Officers with direction in terms of identifying other fbnders or other routes for the projects to be developed. The working group will also be able to keep the Development Officers up to date with the various activities and new initiatives involving the parhering organisations on the LKF Board. .

0

L

- LKF Board

As part of the original agreement for operational procedures of the LKF Board it was agreed that the chairperson would rotate every 6 months. At the meeting of 11 July the Board approved Councillor Jim Brooks as chairperson until 3 1 December 2000.

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7.2 A strategy document is currently being prepared by the Development Officers and once approved by the Board will be used to infirm partner agencies working in and around Lanarkshire. The strategy document will also be used as an opportunity to identify complementary services/activities and opportunities for further partnering.

7.3 The board will continue to meet on a monthly basis and will assess funding applications as an ongoing process.

r 7.3 The minutes from the 3 previous board meetings are appendices to this report.

* 8 Banking Arrangements

8.1 At the board meeting of 1 1 May 2000 Lloyds, TSB Bank were approved as being the account holders for the Lanarkshire Key Fund. The monies which were held temporarily with the Clydesdale Bank

the European Commission. - have now been transferred to the new bank account in accordance with the financial requirements of

9 Financial Status

9.1 As reported the income and expenditure account for the period 24 December 1999 to 30 June 2000 shows excess of income over expenditure as being S841,973.00. Expenditure to date has in the main covered operational overheads of the Fund.

9.2 The match funding paid through Strathclyde European Partnership has been deposited in the Lloyds, TSB bank account.

10 Recommendations

10.1 (i) (ii)

It is recommended that the Committee note the contents of this report and that Further reports will be submitted on a quarterly basis.

David M Porch Director of Planning & Environment 27 Julv 2000

For firther information contact Liz Martin, Lanarkshire Key Fund Development Officer. Telephone 01236 616264

Li

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LANARKSHIRE KEY FUND LTD

MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING OF THURSDAY llTH M A Y 2000 HELD AT SOUTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL, MONTROSE HOUSE, SOUTH LANARKSHIRE.

Present Pamela Woodburn (Chair) Robert Hunter Chris Thompson Anne Shiels Maureen McConachie Suzanne Hanlon Robert Morrison William McDaid

In Attendance John Turley Caroline Coleman Liz Martin

Apologies

ItemNo Item

None

Action

1 Suzanne Hanlon brought to the Boards attention: The circumstances of her appointment whereby she was invited to join the Board but had not received any details of meetings. Suzanne has subsequently attended SIP meetings where she was unable to answer questions on the strategy and other funding issues regarding the Key Fund.

JTmw

The Board addressed this issue and agree that a letter of apology be sent to the SIP.

CCnM 0 2 General Housekeeping Issues Minutes will be issued soon after each Board Meeting

3 Financial Matters

The management accounts reflected the situation as at 30/04/00. Future reporting will include projection of salaries and other main stream running costs clearly showing the monies which will be available for funding activities. A format for projection will be issued to McDaid tk Partners

b

MMcC

Amointment of Bank - The break down of charges required further clarification. The Board agreed that Lloyds TSB would be approved on the condition of a favourable short t e d l o n g term interest rate split. If this could not be achieved the favoured bank would be the Bank of Scotland.

MMcC

21

t

4.

Appointment of Auditors - The Board approved the appointment of Watson Dunne & Co.

MMcC

Key Fund Aims and Rationale A presentation was made by Robert Hunter, to the Board illustrating a working model which could be used to articulate the activities of T h e Route to Inclusion”. The presentation explored each stage of the model and discussion was invited from all present.

The general consensus was that the model gave a holistic view of the activities necessary to get people from unemployment to employment. Everyone agreed that the model required resources to facilitate the areas of activity which would move unemployed people into growth sectors.

The Key Fund would Primarily be used to fbnd the Community Intermediary Organisations (CIO) and that this would achieve an end point of grass roots up through community involvement. That the outcomes from the review of services would fit the main stream actions of the mode and that the Employment Intermediary Organisation (EIO) would provide support to the unemployed persons.

The roles of the CIO and the E10 would be mirrored, both articulating the right message to their respective client groups. Where successful outcomes from their activities would increase their level of expertise and credibility of service provision.

The terms of funding indicates that only organisations which are not for profit can access the Key Fund. Therefore a document or a presentation would have to be prepared for David Gourlay to seek approval for progressing this type of funding activity. SEP were keen to assist the Key Fund to many their top down approach with the bottom up approach required by them as funders.

R W M M C

SLCNLC’ SEL

Other avenues of funding the EIOs should be explored keeping in mind that the E10 will become sustainable in the medium to long term.

It was also brought to the attention of the Board that the Councils are currently rolling out programmes which sit along side the New Deal and are used as an incentive to employ targeted groups of unemployed persons.

Five months down the line the Key Fund still requires a focus for its activities and this will have to be achieved before developing the E10 as a means of targeting the needs of the employers within the identified key growth areas. Matters

Arising Call Centre, Distribution, Construction, Electronics and Care.

22

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Questions raised: What will be the outcomes at the end of the programme. Who will be responsible for delivering different parts of the model. How will the Key Fund progress their strategy if avenues of funding cannot be secured for the EIOs.

Key Fund Capacity Building All

A definition was distributed by Pamela to those present. It was established that capacity building within Lanarkshire had created

building could be maximised through the use of the Key Fund and the

?

sustainable employment through the Resider I1 project. Capacity * Next

Local Social Capital Fund. meeting

Strategic Development of The Lanarkshire Key Fund

A document was distributed for those present to read at a later date and for comment at the next meeting.

, .

The Activities of the Development Officers

A brief account of activities followed. Caroline indicated she would be taking part in funding seminars with a number of funding agencies as a means of readying the communities. (the dates were supplied) Caroline asked the Board to clarify what the development officers were getting the community groups ready for.

Importance was placed on the development officers being able to articulate the criteria and method of accessing funding before further awareness raising.

Proposed Delegation of Authority

The Board approved that NLC had the authority to purchase goods and services required for the day to day running of the Key Fund up to a value of E5,000 per purchase.

AOCB

Operational meetings agree an operational group to be pragmatic and progress agenda items. The action points may determine who should be present at the meeting.

Development Officers will be responsible for developing their own action plans.

A Date has to be Agreed with SEP for presenting the strategic direction of the Key Fund.

Partners

CCLM

NLC

23

c

10 Future Meetings

Special Board meeting10.00 am Wednesday 17* May at North Lanarkshire Council, Fleming House 7* Floor, Tryst Road, Cumbernauld. G67 1 JW. Telephone Liz 01236 616264.

ProDosed agenda items

Agree the strategic areas of activity

Identify the management team responsible for agreeing the action plan

Establish the criteria for the bid process.

Board Meetings

13fh June 10.00 am Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire

llfh July 7.00 PM Montros,e House (Caroline gave her apologies)

4

24

LANARKSHIRE KEY FUND

Minutes of the 4* Board of Directors Meeting of the Lanarkshire Key Fund held on the 17th of May 2000

Present: Pamela Woodbum (Chair) Robert Hunter Maureen McConachie Anne Shiels Robert Morrison Susanne Hanlon

In Attendance: John Turley Caroline Coleman Liz Martin

Apologies: Councillor Jim Brooks Councillor Chris Thompson

1.

1.a

2.

3.

4.

4a.

Welcome & Introductory Comments Action

Pamela welcomed everyone and outlined the purpose of the meeting to establish the strategic development of the Key Fund and clarify areas of activity.

It was agreed that the strategic development paper prepared by the Key Fund Development Officers was helpful as a 1'' draft.

Lanarkshire Key Fund Aims & Rationale

Pamela Woodburn outlined potential development opportunities and issues. One area of which would be the development of community intermediaries. It was envisaged that their activities would go part of the way to meet the gaps within Lanarkshire as identified through the review of Services to the unemployed. The Community Intermediaries would take a pro-active role in engaging with people within the community and act as information brokers and play a mentoring role, in building capacity of Community organisations.

Route to Inclusion

It was agreed that the Route to Inclusion path presented to the last meeting of the Board could provide strategic direction for the Key Fund. The implementation of this strategy would be used as a means of a pilot and would be linked to the Key Fund targets and outcomes as identified in our European application. All of the activities being funded would therefore be fixed term and monitored to ensure that the required outcomes were being achieved.

Areas of Activity

It was intimated that the fund will be used to provide a comprehensive, integrated and high quality client centred services, which fully supports and compliments wider policy initiatives.

Community Intermediary Organisations Capacity Building

After lengthy discussion, it was agreed that Community Capacity Building and the Development of Community Intermediary Organisations were inextricably linked. It was proposed that these areas were legitimate for Key Fund monies. The organisations would be resourced to work collaboratively to encourage and invite the

25

4b.

1

4c.

4d.

5.

6. .. 7.

8.

unemployed to gain and develop marketable skills, which would enable them to access sustainable employment. The Community Intermediary would undertake a pro-active role in engaging with individuals within the community and act as information brokers and play a mentoring role to the unemployed.

Social Economy Development Action

This area of activity was discussed and the role of the Enterprise Trust was Partners considered. It was established that the Enterprise Trust provided services and support to individuals setting up a business. Maureen McConachie confirmed that Cumbernauld Enterprise had been involved in preparing a business plan for a Community Enterprise. The Enterprise Trust did not have a background in dealing with communities and relied on others with this expertise in order to complete the exercise.

Maureen McConachie gave an example of how a small amount of capital funding in the central project could potentially lead to sustainable jobs.

Maureen McConachie will discuss this area of activity with Andy McNab and Robert Maureed Hunter and report back to the next board meeting. Robert

Industrial Sector

It was agreed that the Key Fund could focus on getting people into high quality jobs. The fund will target particular sectors e.g. call centre, distribution, construction, electronics and social care.

Geographical Areas

It was suggested that SIP areas should be considered for Key Fund development monies. North Lanarkshire will develop relationships with the North Lanarkshire, Motherwell North, South Coatbridge and the Northern Corridor SIP and community management.

South Lanarkshire will develop proposals from Blantyre & Hamilton, Cambuslang / Rutherglen SIP areas and the Rural Areas.

Partnership Working

Robert Morrison stressed the importance of Learning from the experience of work carried out within the SIP areas.

Audit of Organisations

The Development Officers will carry out an audit of organisations within the areas, Carolinekiz that will be applying to the Key Fund for support. It was also suggested that Development Officers will take account of the recommendations of the review of services to unemployed and develop organisations that have credibility within local Communities.

Social Capital Grant & Key Fund

Robert Hunter reminded the board the social capital monies should provide opportunities for Community Capacity Building and should be the first step for Routes to Inclusion.

26

9. Employer Intermediary

It was agreed that the challenge for the Key Fund is to develop new and innovative responses to economic exclusion. The role of the Employer Intermediary organisation was recognised as being a key element in getting the unemployed into employment. The question was how to achieve funding this activity within the remit of our European application. Options were discussed in terms of funding Development Officers who would act as the bridge between Community Intermediaries and the employers. The implementation of this was discussed only briefly and would require further development in terms of where the development officer would be situated. The two choices being either in the Community Intermediary and acting as a link to the Employment Agency or vice versa. A further meeting will be held to develop a proposal with which to present to David Gourley.

10. Maureen McConachie will provide the board with a copy of the executive summary of the evaluation of the Resider I1 project from North Lanarkshire.

.,

11 A sub-group of working oficers will meet to plan the implementation and bid MMCC/RWAS/ process of the two areas of agreed activity. JT/CC/LM 0 The outcomes from this meeting will be used to develop the Key Fund Strategy Document and the work plans of the two development officers. CCLM

12. A meeting of the Working Officers to take place on the 3 1'' of May 2000 at 10 am within the premises of Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, New Lanarkshire House, Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill to progress the implementation of the agreed areas of activity.

13. Future Board Meetings

13* of June 2000 at loam Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire (Appoint new New Lanarkshire House, Chairperson) Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill

1 l* of July 2000 at 7 pm South Lanarkshire Council, Montrose House, apologies) Montrose Street HAMILTON

(Caroline gave her

27

LANARKSHIRE KEY FUND LTD

AMENDED MINUTES OF THE STH BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE LANARKSHIRE KEY FUND HELD ON TUESDAY 13 JUNE 2000. (PLEXSE NOTE ALL AMEIVDMENTS APPEAR IN BOLD)

Present Pamela Woodbum (Chair) Robert Hunter Maureen McConachie Anne Shiels Robert Morrison Susanne Hanlon Councillor Chris Thompson

e

i

t In Attendance

L

Apologies

John Turley Caroline Coleman Liz Martin William McDaid

Councillor Jim Brooks

Item No Item Action

1 It was agreed that the minutes would be produced and distributed within a period of two days after each board meeting. The salient points of all discussions and any agreed actions should be reflected in the content of the minute.

CCLM

Clarification and suggested amendments to be sent to the Development Officers.

CCLM

The amended minutes, board papers and an agenda will be issued seven days before the next meeting. CCLM

2 Matters Arising

Comments and corrections to the minutes of 4' Board meeting held on 17' May 2000.

5. Geographical Areas

Should read: It was agreed that the SIP areas would be targeted and made a priority for key fund applications.

South Lanarkshire Social Inclusion Partnerships are Cambuslang, Blantyre and North Hamilton

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9. Employer Intermediary

The process of meeting with David Gourley required clarification: A meeting has now been arranged for the 21'' June at Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire with David and as many members of the Board that can attend. The meeting will commence at 2.00pm for members of the Board and David will join the meeting at 2.30pm.

The papers to be distributed before the meeting will contain the following:

Agreed areas of funding activity - Community Intermediary, Capacity Building and Social Economy. Application Process - activity planned for the agreed geographical areas, partnership working and the application pack. Decision making process - criteria and scorings. Conditions of grant - Financial status, monitoring and review procedures. A list of points to be clarified - E25,000 ceiling, consortium bid process, funding organisations out-side of Lanarkshire but who operate within Lanarkshire. Employer Intermediary

CCLM

11. The strategy paper presented at a previous Board meeting is to be issued as a base document reflecting current activities. It will be an aid for future evaluation. The organisations capable of forming a consortium for the future development of Community Intermediaries to be identified within the CCLM document.

An up-dated version of the strategy document will be copied and sent to all Board members as soon as possible for comment.

CCLM

c

.

0 The strategy paper is to be used to clarify the Key Fund activities and will be used as a catalyst for other partnership funding arrangements.

Board Officers

Members of North Lanarkshire Council plan to meet managers of various initiatives as a means of implementing a wider strategy within the area. MMCC

South Lanarkshire Council have used the Local Social Capital Fund to stimulate their process and are further along the Route to Inclusion. Susanne will accompany Caroline to some of the planned consortium meetings to discuss their pending applications. Caroline envisaged having the consortiums ready to bid in by the July board meeting. cc Areas of responsibility were established in terms of Key Fund activity areas where both Councils have agreed to be responsible for the community links to the Route to Inclusion Model and Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire to be

NLC SLC SEL responsible for the employer link.

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3. Steering Group Minutes

Matters Arising:

*

1.1

1.2

2.3

The Board agreed that a reporting back mechanism needed to be established under the wider social inclusion policy as a means of achieving the employment activities of the Routes to Inclusion model.

The Review to Services' meeting was identified as being an appropriate forum for the members of the Key Fund to feed into and as a means of further developing the Routes to Inclusion Model. ,

Required further clarification on the bid process: Groups identified as having a strategic fit and the capabilities of engaging with and developing the community would be encouraged to make an application.

Other applicants will submit an application as part of an open bid process.

As a means to expand the bid process the board are required to make decisions on the following:

How to stimulate interest within the Geographic areas The dates for presenting bids to the Board were agreed. Sth Aug meeting, Nov meeting and February meeting 2001 The appointment of potential development officerswould be discussed with SIP workers.

3.2 Clarification was required on performance indicators: A means of recording outcomes other than Key Fund activities would have to be established. E.g.. any sign-posting or other recommendations made by the development officers to voluntary-community led groups. Further discussion required in terms of objectives from strategy document: what success will look like.

A series of further action points were agreed:

A means with which to establish the viability of the organisations applying for funding. Maureen suggested similar systems too that used for small businessess.

Reporting mechanisms and time scales for review and monitoring procedures.

Performance indicators a

Board

Board

Board members /CC/LM

Board

Board

CCLM .

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4. Application Pack

The board discussed the weighted criteria and content of the application documents.

The criteria agreed:

1 local partnerships 20 points 2 work access & employment generation 30 points 3 strategic fit 15 points 4 innovation 15 points 5 sustainability 20 points 6 childcare i Discretionary points

Areas which required hrther attention were highlighted and the development officers asked to make appropriate changes.

Development of the application pack

.

t

0 CC/LM

Trial the application form SH

The application pack will then be sent to South Lanarkshire Council's Plain English Department. Proposal documents are no longer required. SLC/CC

5. Financial Report

William McDaid, the Company Secretary from McDaid & Partners confirmed that Lloyds/TSB were the successful bidders for the Key Fund Account. A meeting was scheduled for Thursday 14" June to c o n f m the banking arrangements and the monies held within NLC's holding account would be transferred thereafter. The match ERDF funding was still outstanding. JD

The board were presented with the financial report and the contents were discussed.

The board requested a different format for future financial reports. The new format will still reflect what had been spent and how it had been spent. It will include a drawdown profile of known elements i.e. salaries, oheads and late payment of the Grant and clearly indicate the total monies available for funding activity. JD

The board discussed the time frame of fbture reporting and agreed that the current structure was acceptable. The financial reporting would in future be tabled as the first item on the Agenda after which the Company Secretary would be free to leave. CCLM .

6. Rotating the Responsibility of the Chair

On the 30* June 2000 the responsibility of the chair will pass from Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire to North Lanarkshire Council.

The nominated person will be established as quickly as possible. NLC

7. A.O.B.

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31

V *

Anne Shiels asked for a debate and decision on funding the activities of the community reps in terms of training and out of pocket directors expenses. The board agreed that a means of funding this should be found and John Turley was asked to investigate the possibility of utilising any interest accrued within the Key Fund bank account for this purpose.

8. Date and Time of Next Meeting,

Wednesday, 2 1'' June at Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire commencing 2.00pm and David Gourley will be joining the meeting at 2.30pm.

The next meeting of the full board will take place on Tuesday, 1 1" July 2000 at South Lanarkshire Council commencing 7.00pm.

Future meetings were agreed as follows:

Tuesday 8* August, Committee Room 3, Civic Centre, Motherwell commencing at 1O.OOam.

Tuesday 5* September at Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire commencing 1o.ooam.

c

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32

LANARKSHIRE KEY FUND

Amended Minutes for Lanarkshire Key Fund Special Board Meeting of 21'' June 2000 at Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire commencing 14.00hrs. (All amendments appear in bold italics)

Present:

In Attendance:

Apologies:

1.

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

2.

Pamela Woodburn (Chair) Robert Hunter Maureen McConachie Robert Morrison Susanne Hanlon Councillor Jim Brooks

f

Liz Martin

Councillor Chris Thompson Anne Shiels

Action

The Board papers were briefly discussed and a decision was made to reduce the amount of issues to be raised with David Gourley.

- Issues

Means of funding activities, which would link the different parts of the Route to Inclusion Model.

Funding Employer Intermediary~evelopment Officer

E25,OOO ceiling.

The funding of community representatives expenses.

The criteria for scoring applications.

The possible marketing of the Key Fund was discussed as a means of communicating capacity building activities with the smaller groups within Lanarkshire. Robert H. reminded the board that the Local Social Capital Fund would be used to fund some of the community capacity building and this fund was well publicised. The development officers would be responsible for signposting groups to take advantage C C L M of this route for projects under €5,500.

0

Ypeople.keyfund/minute.doc

33

The some ofthe groups, which would be involved in the development of Community Intermediaries, had already- been identified. Therefore information sheets and publicity flyers would not be necessary at this stage.

It was suggested at the first round of bidding would include the funding of development officers and this would reduce the pressure on spending.

3. David Gourleyjoined the meeting at 2.30pm. T

Pamela briefed David on the reasons for calling the meeting and the issues, which required direction and clarification from him. The briefing included the Route to Inclusion model and that the Key Fund was an integral part of this type of activity in terms of services to unemployed.

c The Key Fund board wished to implement a laddered approach throughout Lanarkshire providing monies for services not currently available to unemployed people. Services would range fiom basic personal development skills to prevocational skills and involve signposting to more specialised and vocational training.

A link will have to be established to employers if we are to achieve moving people from unemployment to training and into work. At the other end of the spectrum, employers looking for people to fill their vacancies would be linked to trainees and other unemployed individuals.

0

Pamela also highlighted that for the past three months various members of the board have been working in partnership with other groups to ensure that the Key Fund will impact on the wider strategy for Lanarkshire.

4. Pamela highlighted the issues arising from the Key Fund activities in terms of our original ERDF application grant form.

4.1 Funding Employer Intermediaries: Could this include a third person employed by the Key Fund.

4.2 The €25,000 ceiling on applications

4.3 The payment of community directors’ expenses.

4.4 The criteria for prioritking projects.

5. Employment Intermediary Organisation c

Robert H. gave an example of the Motorola organisation, which in the future will be involved in some of the activities covered by an employer intermediary organisation. Motorola became interested in the activities because they could see the benefits of employing people already trained and prepared for work within their organisation.

The means of achieving this will be promoted through the New Deal, which targeted training specifically for Motorola. The model was well organised and was structured to focus on efforts of other mechanisms in place for inclusion.

Ypeople. keyfund/minute.doc

34

David understood the activity and the model as SEP were already funding organisations implementing those principles. The question was how to make this activity fit with the Key Fund approved application.

It was suggested that some funding be removed from the Key Fund solely to be used to fund an Employer Intermediary Organisation. (David did not address this issue at the meeting, but has since addressed his reply to Pamela Woodburn.) A copy of which will be issued with the Board papers for the next meeting.

U

6. Options

The Lanarkshire Key Fund’s original application was deemed to be in place by the 3 lSt December 1999. As a result of this application the Key fund must do what it said it was going to do in a way which is clear to audit.

The proposed activity of the Key Fund strategy can only be achieved through applications coming from community led organisations. The organisations would have to be identified and be made fully aware of what it was the Key Fund was trying to achieve and the methods of how it was going to achieve it.

To aid this process it would be important to identify the different client groups to be served.

Organisations with the capabilities of implementing either employer, intermediary type activity or community intermediary type activity would then be encouraged to make an application for funding.

6.1 Ceiling of $25,000

6.2 Access to Key Fund monies across Lanarkshire will be for those organisations not able to access structural funds.

Organisations wanting to bid for funds over the S25,OOO ceiling would be required to make an application to SEP and would be judged with other organisations applying to the fund.

Community led organisations can bid for S25,OOO in year 1 and bid for a further 225,000 in year 2. There is always the option of topping up their funding through other funders. Therefore a lead applicant in a consortium would only attract a maximum of E25,000 per year.

Should you separate the activities of the community intermediary organisation then each organisation would be able to submit a separate application for funds. Many community organisations are not at the level or have the capacity to take on some of the above aspects and may therefore require a development ofYicer in order to achieve the Key Fund’s overall objectives.

6.3 Not for Profit

*

The Key Fund grant was agreed for supporting communities and not private sector operators. Robert H. explained that they wished to target the long term unemployed and employers therefore the employer intermediary would need a degree of

Ypeople. keyfund/rninute.doc

35

'

*

7.

8.

9. , @

credibility to achieve this with local employers. Community led groups may not have the same level of credibility.

The option offered from David was that the monies could be used to build the credibility of the community organisation. Key Fund monies would enhance their capacity to deliver the service to local employers and further developing their credibility.

Another option here would be to create a community business, which could draw from the experiences of the private sector organisations.

Sustainability has been established in the past through community enterprise and has proved both viable and self-sustaining. Community enterprises have established a good level of credibility with both community and private sector organisations.

Use of Key Fund monies.

David identified areas throughout the meeting and these have been collated as follows:

(a) Feasibility Studies:- to be used to identify routes for sustainability. (b) Money for training community groups to develop their infrastructure. (c) Money for trainers to undertake training programmes. (d) To roll out development and support from other programmes. (e) Environmental improvements. (Nor recreation, swing parks etc) (f) The removal of barriers to access work in terms of transport, training, childcare

etc.

Integrating Funds

Where Key Fund monies and Local Social Capital Fund monies are being integrated, the Lanarkshire Key Fund must ensure that organisations do not receive duplicate funding for the same activity. Organisations can be encouraged to apply to both funds for different activities therefore ensuring additionaIity rather than duplication.

Output/Impact/Targets

Key Fund monies are not for achieving national targets: an example was given in Manchester where an intermediary organisation supports the activities of an ETF initiative. The intermediate organisation was not a substitute for ETF operations and therefore had a different set of targets to achieve, which were quite separate from those of the ETF programme.

The Key Fund cannot be used as a substitute for mainstream activities however it can be seen to support those activities providing it keeps within its own targets. One way of achieving this is through job access and would involve a partnership with Employment Services. The jobs access would be used to support the other activities of Employment Services.

Maureen likened this to mentoring support within the EGS initiative i.e. keeping individuals in their new employment. David Gourley clarified that the support activity funded would be individuals not involved with the EGS initiative.

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The Key Fund can be used in a small way to achieve national targets providing the board keep in mind what it i s it wants to do and investigates to see if somebody else is doing it.

10. Removing Barriers

Councillor Brooks asked how we could fund transport to get people from rural areas to work. David reiterated that the fund can be used for removing barriers, a means of doing this would be to develop some form of community transport support mechanism.

Bus Start Ups:- Sub-divide Key Fund money into the rural areas to meet particular needs. Or provide some form of driving lessons for people within that area. This type of activity also provided an opportunity for starting up a new community led business.

11. The Paying of Expenses

The heading specified within the original application grant cannot be changed nor can they be added to. In order that the Key Fund may be audited all invoices and costs must be attributed to a particular heading. If it has not been identified and approved within the original application it is not legitimate.

Within the marketing budget there is leeway for travel costs attributed to attendees however this does not include the directors of the Key Fund.

A lot of discussion around this subject followed and David gave an example of how this could be achieved through a separate application from one applicant who would be responsible for supporting volunteering an involvement by locals in various structures. The outcome was that a way would have to be established to LM fund the community directors’ expenses.

12. Key Fund Pilot

The Key Fund is being implemented within the West of Scotland and is additional to the pilot previously run in Yorkshire. Commonalties, difficulties, successes, etc will be issues for future European applications for the funding of Key Fund operations. From all the lessons learnt each Key Fund board can develop their own model and would be designed to address the issues identified by the pilots.

Board 13. Criteria For Funding

The issue of adding additional criteria to the original application as a means of prioritising applications was approved. As long as the criteria in the original application was adhered to within the management and structure of the organisations applying to the Key Fund.

The Key Fund Development Officers would be responsible for ensuring that the organisations adhered to the criteria and their applications were supported with the CCLM specified policies and procedures.

14. The Board thanked David for his assistance and Liz excused herself to escort him back to reception

In her absence item 4 of the agenda was discussed. 15.

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16. The application form covering item 4 was distributed and signed. The application would be delivered to South Lanarkshire Council for the signature of h e Shiels.

The completed application would then be sent to McDaid & Partners to lodge with LM Lloyds TSB.

17. AOB I

18. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday 1 1 * July 2000 at South Lanarkshire Council, commencing 7.00 pm 1.

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LANARKSHIRE KEY FUND

Present:

Minutes of the 6* Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lanarkshire Key Fund held on Tuesday 11 July 2000

In Attendance:

Apologies:

1.

1.1

2.

2.1

3.

3.1

4.

4.1

Maureen McConachie (Chair) Pamela Woodburn Robert Hunter Robert Morrison Susanne Hanlon Councillor Chris Thompson

John Turley Liz Martin Jim Dott

Councillor Jim Brooks h e Shiels Caroline Coleman

Appointment of Chairperson Action

In line with the Articles of Association of the Company it was noted that North Lanarkshire Council would nominate Councillor Jim Brooks to act as Chairperson until 3lSt December 2000. In his absence Maureen McConachie would assume responsibility as Chairperson in this meeting. Cllr Brooks as Chairperson was moved by Councillor Chris Thompson and seconded by Pamela Woodburn.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors held on Tuesday 13 June 2000 was approved.

It was agreed that the minute of meetings of the Board would be distributed 2/3 days after the meeting in draft form. Any comments received on the draft minute would be reflected in the final minutes of the Board which would be issued, together with related papers, a minimum of 7 days prior to the next meeting of the Board of Directors. JT

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the previous minute.

Financial Report

Jim Dott circulated an amended copy of the management accounts for the period 24 December 1999 to 30 June 2000 (copy attached). He confirmed that match funding from the Scottish Executive had been received amounting to S432,OOO. The balance sheet shows a total balance of 2841,973 as at 30 June 2000. An expenditure analysis was provided and it was confirmed that the sum of €351,818 was available as

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expenditure on direct project funding for the remainder of this year with a similar amount available to spend during 200 1.

4.2 It was noted that, at present, a total of &4,259 had been generated as interest on the account and it was agreed that confirmation should be sought from Strathclyde European Partnership on the use of monies generated from the Key Fund. JT

4.3 The Board formally approved the management accounts for the period 24 December 1999 to 30 June 2000.

Minutes of Special Board Meeting held on 21 June 2000

*

5.

* .. 5.1 The minutes of the meeting were formally noted as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

c 5.2 Matters Arising

5.2.1 Pamela Woodburn circulated a copy of the letter received from David Gourley in which it was confirmed that, in line with SEM 2000 regulations, if monies presently held within the Key Fund were to be used for purposes other than detailed within the European application this would be viewed as failing to comply with regulations and the whole project could be compromised (copy letter attached).

0

5.2.2 The issue of out of pocket expenses for Community Directors nominated by the local authorities was discussed at length. Examples of out of pocket expenses included childcare costs, travelling costs and the training of Community Directors serving on the Board of the LKF. The following course of action was agreed:

0

0

A letter from the Chairperson, on behalf of the LKF, to be sent to both Councils Maureen McConachie would raise the issue at the next meeting of the Western JT Scotland Key Fund Management Group to be held on Tuesday 18 July 2000.

MMCC 5.2.3 It was noted that the LKF would be the subject of audit and that ineligible

expenditure could compromise the project.

5.2.4 Employer Intermediaries

Robert Hunter outlined the outcome of a meeting held last week with public sector partners to discuss the possibility of developing a community based initiative as an employer intermediary. It was the intention that this employer intermediary should be encouraged to bid into the Key Fund for the services of a Development Officer. It was also noted that an expression of interest had been made to the New Opportunities Fund for the establishment of an employer intermediary within Lanarkshire. 4

6. Community Intermediary Organisations (CIO)

6.1

*

Liz Martin circulated a paper identifying potential CIOs within North Lanarkshire. Liz also informed the board of the difficulties that exist at a community level in bringing together organisations with diverse interests and the tensions that resulted in the preparation of consortium bids to the Key Fund.

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6.2

7

7.1

8.

8.1

9.

9.1

9.2

10.

10.1

The Board acknowledged the difficulties encountered by the Development Officers in this process and agreed that community based organisations would be encouraged to submit applications within the 3 previously determined areas of focus ie capacity building, community intermediary organisations and social economy projects. Thereafter the Development Officers would be in a better position to determine the possibility of organisations working together under a consortium approach to achieve mutually, beneficial and complimentary projects.

Strategic Development Plan

In view of the initial development work undertaken by the Development Officers, including the audit of community organisations and the direction provided by the Board in relation to CIO’s the bid process etc. it was agreed that the Strategic Development Plan will require to be amended and thereafter represented to the Board. LWCC

CICERO Project

Liz informed the Board that a pilot project under the CICERO programme was to be launched within Lanarkshire. She had attended a Steering Group meeting along with a representative from North Motherwell SIP and Petersburn Craigneuk Initiative, as the CICERO programme had clear potential to link with the Key Fund e.g. the programme which aims to encourage the development and training of community volunteers. Liz to proceed with getting CICERO programme accreditation through Glasgow University. The Board agreed that this project could be funded under Capacity Building. Liz agreed to update the Board on fbture developments concerning this programme. LM

Key Fund Bid Process

After discussion the Board agreed that the Working Group which had met previously should now be reconvened in order to review Key Fund applications. The Group would be asked to assess applications in line with the criteria and the likely outputs to be achieved by projects, which would then be formally approved or rejected by the Board.

Confirmation of the Working Group membership was noted (Maureen McConachie, Robert Hunter, Anne Shiels, Susanne Hanlon, Liz Martin, Caroline Coleman and John Turley). It was agreed that meetings of the Working Group would take place notionally on a fortnightly basis and would in addition to assessing applications provide the Development Officers with appropriate information and guidance in relation to development work with community organisations. A meeting of the Working Group was initially arranged to take place after the next meeting of the Board which will be held at the Civic Centre, Committee Room 3 on Tuesday 8 August 2000.

Key Fund Application Pack

After discussion certain amendments to the content of the Application Pack were agreed. These included:-

” -

0

0

0

amend reference on information sheet to read “ commercially viable businesses” remove the discretion element from the criteria list remove child care from the scoring aspect of the criteria list.

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10.2

11.

11.1

t

c 12.

12.1

13.

13.1

14.

14.1

The application pack which consisted of application form, guidance notes, information sheet and criteria scoring sheet were formally approved by the Board.

Information Day

It was agreed that consideration be given to the running of an Information Day. This would allow the demonstration of projects approved by the Western Scotland Key Fund companies to be shared. Essentially it is intended that this day would become an ideas generation day to stimulate innovative projects within Lanarkshire. LMJCC

Key Fund Launch

The Board agreed that a formal launch of the Key Fund was not required but that once applications had been received and approved it would be the intention to utilise the award of Key Fund finance as a promotional tool. NLC will provide a marketing and promotional plan for these events.

JT

Any Other Business

The Board noted that preliminary approval had been received from the West of Scotland Pension Fund for the acceptance of the Companylemployees into the pension fund. Once formal approval has been received the Board will be informed.

Date & Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board of Directors of the-Lanarkshire Key Fund will take place on Tuesday 8 August 2000 in Committee Room 3, Civic Centre, Motherwell commencing at 10.00 a.m. A meeting of the Working Group will commence after the completion of the Board meeting.

13 July 2000

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