TACKLING POVERTY BOARD MEETING, 13 APRIL 2011 NOTE OF DISCUSSION

Transcription

1 TACKLING POVERTY BOARD MEETING, 13 APRIL 2011 NOTE OF DISCUSSION Present: Frances Wood, Deputy Director of Employability and Tackling Poverty, Scottish Government (co-chair) Paula Evans, Community Resourcing, COSLA (acting co-chair) Nuala Gormley, Communities Analytical Services, Scottish Government Robert McGregor, Sustainable Communities Programme Manager, Fife Council James Arnott, Development and Regeneration Services, Glasgow Council Peter Kelly, Director, The Poverty Alliance Maggie Dunne, Service Manager, Environmental Health, Shetland Islands Council Fiona Campbell, Head of Policy and Performance Review at Falkirk Council (representing SOLACE) Wai-yin Hatton, Chief Executive, NHS Ayrshire and Arran Apologies: Jane Wood, Chief Executive, Scottish Business in the Community Jim McCormick, Scotland Adviser, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Diane McLafferty, Deputy Director of Regeneration, Scottish Government Rena Kinloch, Head of Jobcentre Plus Scotland Shirley Laing, Deputy Director of Early Years and Social Services Workforce, Scottish Government Lindsay Macgregor, Team Leader, Community Resourcing, COSLA In Attendance: Veronica Ferguson, Scottish Business in the Community Sam Coope, Employability and Tackling Poverty, Scottish Government Mike O Donnell, Employability and Tackling Poverty, Scottish Government Ruth Whatling, Communities Analytical Services, Scottish Government Anne McVey, Jobcentre Plus Scotland Secretariat: Laura Ross, Employability and Tackling Poverty, Scottish Government Welcome and summary of agenda/ambitions for the meeting Frances welcomed everyone and outlined the main purpose of the meeting. This was to: reflect on Board activity and output to date; establish some priorities for an approach to the new Administration; and, consider the future of Board. It was agreed that all discussion should be sensitive to the Scottish Government preelection period and it was acknowledged that some areas could not be concluded until new Ministers have set out priorities. Frances advised that Lindsay Macgregor would be shortly leaving COSLA and therefore her position as co-chair of the Board. The Board wished to record Lindsay s valuable contribution and leadership which would be very much missed. 1

2 Progress and Monitoring: Updates on areas of interest and/or action Child Poverty Strategy Sam provided a brief update for information which covered the consultation process and the publication of the Scottish Child Poverty Strategy in March. Key areas for attention were the local delivery element of the strategy, and an action learning set and Child Poverty Toolkit resource were approaching completion. Sam also reflected on developments at a UK level such as the establishment of the Child Poverty Commission and the social mobility report. There was a discussion around how the Strategy had been received nationally and locally. Local implementation was reiterated as a priority and local authority representatives shared the different ways in which child poverty was integrated into wider strategy and delivery, as well as the extent to which policy and delivery are connected. Robert agreed to share the Fife paper on Inequalities, Poverty and Deprivation. This discussion led on to the Scottish Government Regeneration Discussion Paper and Frances agreed to feed back comments to Diane in her absence. Update on Meeting with the Minister for Housing and Communities in March 2011 Frances provided a brief summary of the discussion with the Minister and the observations that he had offered. Overall the Minister was supportive of the activity of the Board and the main themes identified in the Statement and welcomed the pockets, places, prospects definitions. He stressed his focus on jobs creation in deprived communities, with a focus on young people, skills and training and innovative approaches to target young people before they become NEET. He also highlighted the importance of aligning poverty policy with economic development plans. It was acknowledged that the timing of the meeting allowed for reflection rather than an opportunity for influence from Ministers and that future opportunities should place an emphasis on engaging with the political process earlier. It was agreed that the meeting should be regarded as part of the process of engagement with Ministers and on that basis was a positive start. Tackling Poverty Board Publications Since the Board met in October 2010 the following documents had been published: Tackling Poverty Board Statement (January 2011), Tackling Poverty Evidence Paper (March 2011), Evaluation Evidence and the Policy Cycle Report (March 2011). Board members noted the wealth of information that had been produced and its wide distribution and relevance. It was agreed that it would be useful to know that it was 2

3 being purposefully applied to local and national policy development and resource allocation; particularly as a resource to engage with key decision-makers previously disengaged from tackling poverty. It was agreed that all Board members had a role in promoting the evidence and statement. Discussion on what the Board could reasonably expect in the way of this evidence being translated into practice highlighted continued ambiguity around the status of the Board and the need for clarity. Working in Partnership with the Private Sector The role of the private sector in tackling poverty has been a theme throughout Board discussions and the contribution of Scottish Business in the Community has added a valuable and tangible insight into the opportunities as well as the barriers. SBC were asked to submit a proposal to build capacity and engage with SMEs in Scotland on challenging their tackling poverty role and supporting them to better embed inequalities into their policy and practice. The proposal was refined in partnership with Scottish Government officials and Jim McCormick. It was signed off by Ministers and will be funded over 2011/12. Members warmly welcomed this programme and were keen to be kept informed and promote opportunities to make connections locally. A number of members emphasised the importance of the tacking poverty and social outcomes agenda in all activity and evaluation rather than restricting to employability indicators of success. Nuala queried the research and evaluation aspect of the programme and offered SG analytical input. Veronica and Nuala will progress this. Board members that wish to be involved in the development or delivery of the programme or to make connections locally should contact Veronica Ferguson at SBC. Members will be kept updated on progress. Future Challenges and Opportunities Scottish Government Tackling Poverty Budget 2011/12 A paper setting out Tackling Poverty funding commitments for 2011/12 was circulated for information. The paper highlighted the focus on central government support for infrastructure and promoting innovation with local areas resourced to deliver. Members welcomed the opportunity to see this information and discussion covered the following points: How should decisions about future spend be taken and who should be consulted?; the importance of funding which supports local delivery; a perceived lack of activity which addresses income inequality; apparent duplication of advice lines locally and nationally and a need to consider best value and joined-up approaches; query around SG activity in relation to financial inclusion and, specifically, financial products, engaging with banks, financial wellbeing and debt, and financial capability 3

4 as a key early intervention; a lack of equalities dimension, specifically ethnicity, gender and disability; linking with the forthcoming conclusions of the Christie Commission. Wider Stakeholder Engagement Peter presented some thoughts on stakeholder engagement which provided a valuable foundation for discussion. The primary theme of the presentation was the importance of developing a proposal to involve people with experience of poverty to further formalise the legitimacy and accountability of the Board. The value of learning from other SG and COSLA models was acknowledged and the Fuel Poverty Forum in particular was identified as a structure to explore further. Discussion followed which supported the principles outlined by Peter and considered the options available. The challenge of meaningfully connecting with hard to engage bodies with high degrees of influence over key levers, such as those in economic development, was highlighted. It was agreed that further sub-group discussion would be helpful to consider options and key questions such as whether involvement always means a seat at the table and alternatives ways of engaging and involving. It was noted that all Board members had a responsibility to bring to the forum an understanding of the reality of poverty as well as connections and meaningful channels for engaging with people experiencing poverty. Some members specifically shared the agenda and papers with contacts prior to meetings to ensure that they were able to contribute the views of others. Discussion was hampered by the uncertainties of the future of the Board but commitment to feature in whatever structure followed. Board Review of Party Manifestos A paper tabled outlined key manifesto commitments with tackling poverty implications as far as possible. There was a roundtable discussion on initial reactions to the manifesto from a poverty perspective and general consensus that a strategic approach to tackling poverty was largely absent. Relevant areas were acknowledged commitment to jobs and growth with a reliance on apprenticeships as a solution, early intervention and prevention, and some organisational restructuring to add profile to poverty and inequality (Fairness Commission, Centre for Financial Inclusion, Living Wage Unit). It was acknowledged that the outcome of the election would have a potentially significant impact on the next stage of a Tacking Poverty Board. Opportunities to Influence the Incoming Administration This session brought together discussion on the future of the Board as well as considerations on how the Board conclusions and outputs to date should seek to influence the new Administration. Board members provided their 3 priority actions 4

5 and this will provide valuable direction to advice to new Ministers. Laura will collate the priorities and circulate to members as a separate paper. There was overall agreement that there would continue to be a need for some form of tackling poverty board in the future but that this was the right time to assess the merit of alternatives. The following issues were raised in discussion: Revision of terms of reference to clarify the core purpose and accountability of the Board is it an independent advisory group of a more traditional programme board to oversee the implementation of a policy framework? What is the relationship to Scottish Ministers? Should the chair and/or secretariat function be provided by central government? What is the role of the Board in relationship to policy more broadly? What is the role of civil servants on the Board? What is the interface with other future bodies? The Fuel Poverty Forum was cited as a good example of an independent model supported by government which made recommendations to government. How the new Administration wants to work with local government will have an influence on the type of governance structure required. Benefit of COSLA/SG partnership. In the interim the Board will exist as an entity for sharing information. Employability and Tackling Poverty Division, Scottish Government June