**** This is a dump of a text file relating to Community Organiser at Houghton Regis Town Council - Notes taken from public domain agendas ****
12th December 2011 at 4.45pm
CY79 COMMUNITY ORGANISER
Houghton Regis Helpers
The group launched on 1st December at the Town Council Offices with The Mayor attending.
Jan is currently responsible for the CRB process whilst the group find their feet. This process will be handed over to their committee in due course.
Houghton Regis Networking Group
An E-mail loop has now been set up that advises and informs 80 voluntary, state and community organisations with interests in the Town. Face to face meetings have been set up and the first meeting was on the 14th November with an attendance of 23 different organisation..Next meeting is set for 23rd January. It is hoped that the group will improve the experience of living and working in the Town. Terms of reference will need to be drawn up for the group.
19th March 2012 Community & Youth Working group
CY88 COMMUNITY ORGANISER
"A member asked how was Jan finding the job as she has now been in post for 9 months and does the contracted hours allow enough time for her to complete the tasks with her large portfolio of community groups. In reply Jan thought the contracted hours were very fair that the Town Council had agreed for her 2 year contract. It is an ongoing challenge to contain the work to the contracted hours and that at times Jan does find herself in a volunteer role for her work carried out in Houghton Regis."
16th August 2012 at 4.30pm
CY116 COMMUNITY ORGANISERS REPORT
Network group Diary
A member asked who owns the community diary and in response Jan explained that the diary was the vision of the networking group and has been designed and developed by members of the net working group. Discussion occurred with the role of the Town Council in the input of the Community Diary, Jan offered reassurances that the network group is an in dependent body and that the Town Council engage with the group in the same manner that they engage with any group in the Town. Jan sited Houghton Regis Helpers as an example. A member expressed his concern regarding the use of Officer and Officers time up loading this information.
He was also concerned that this site was associated with the social network site face-book. Further information is needed on social networking site and a member has agreed to submit a diagram for this information to be distributed to all the Town Council."
4th October 2012 at 7.30pm.
CY122 COMMUNITY ORGANISERS REPORT
Members considered the work update report. This included:
HRLCAG – Pride of Houghton winners. Strategic meeting arranged with CBC to discuss leisure centre;
HR Network Group going well, have set up a community diary. Considering setting up a school uniform project;
Preen Community Challenge – regular collection point established, flyers distributed;
Ownership and management of notice boards agreed.
New Heritage Trust organisation beginning;
Research continues into establishing a new drama group.
Members discussed forthcoming work plans which in addition to continuing with the above included looking for funding sources for all weather pitch provision, swimming pool re-commissioning, out of school activities for young people and developing and maintaining the heritage of the town.
CY123
Resolved: To direct the Youth & Community Worker to prepare a report which includes:
1. A review to date of the work and achievements of this post;
2. Consideration of short term (up to 1 year) and medium term (2-3 years) projects, opportunities and ideas;
In addition to invite The Way to submit a quote based on the above for extending the contract for a period of 3 years from April 2013 to March 2016.
For this report and quote to be presented to the Policy & Resources Committee in November so that consideration of the future of the contract is undertaken in a timely manner fitting in with the Council’s budget setting process.
9th January 2013 at 7.30pm.
CY131
Members were advised that an extension to the Community Services Contract until March 2016 had been agreed.
Work Plan Proposal For January To April (2013)
1. To continue support to HRLCAG, HRTC and CBC re: Leisure Strategy
2. To facilitate Network Group, developing and growing participation
3. To participate in Central Bedfordshire Together Community Engagement Strategy
4. To provide advice and guidance to Heritage Society formation as a constituted group
5. To be involved in Houghton Hall Lottery Funding application
6. To consult and represent the community on nuisance and anti-social behaviour, seeking positive solutions, including attendance at the ASB partnership meeting scheduled for 16th January 2013.
7. To research current Government policy on work with Gypsy and Travellers and have a working knowledge of existing and developing strategies in preparation for the emerging gypsy & traveler local plan (anticipated summer 2013).
8. To support Redhouse Court
9. To support the community in engaging with the consultation on the planning application for the north of Houghton Regis.
10. To provide input into any sports development funding bid.
Community Services Committee
16th September 2013 at 7.30pm.
7486 COMMUNITY ORGANISERS REPORT
Members were advised of the Community Organisers work update April – August 2013:
• To continue support to HRLCAG, HRTC and CBC re: Leisure Strategy
• To facilitate Network Group, developing and growing participation
• To provide advice and guidance to Heritiage Society for teir formation as a constituted group
• To be involved in Houghton Hall Park Lottery Funding application.
• To consult and represent the community on nuisance and anti-social behaviour, seeking positive solutions.
Members were specifically requested to:
• To authorise the Community Organiser to support the Houghton Hall Park Lottery Funding application in all areas of consultation:
• To consider nominating a councillor to the Houghton Hall Park Project Board;
• To authorise additional support from the Community Organiser to Parkside Voice and Tithe Farm Neighbourhood Group;
• To authorise support to users of the scout hut to address building maintenance issues.
Resolved:
1. To note the report;
2. To authorise the Community Organiser to support the Houghton Hall Park Lottery Funding application in all areas of consultation:
3. To request Town Council consider nominating a councillor to the Houghton Hall Park Project Board;
4. To authorise additional support from the Community Organiser to Parkside Voice and Tithe Farm Neighbourhood Group;
5. To authorise preliminary discussions with the scout group in relation to the repair of the building.
7487 SUMMER PLAYSCHEME REPORT
Members considered a report on the Summer Playscheme.
Members also considered a suggestion for continued work with Children’s Links to develop positive activities for families including a Play Day 2014 and additional school holiday activities.
Resolved: 1. To note the report;
2. To confirm support for the Community Organiser to work with Children’s Links to develop positive activities for families for 2014.
3 Dec 2014 Community Services Committee
Members were advised that Craft & Coffee had asked for support from
the Community Organiser to start 2 new projects. The first was to open a feeder
group for vulnerable adults and the second to open an evening group.
Resolved: 1. To note the report;
2. To authorise up to 2 hours of initial support to Craft
and Coffee to enable to better understanding of the
help and support required and to report back to
Committee if further assistance was needed.
Community Services Committee
12th January 2015 at 7.30pm
7964 COMMUNITY ORGANISER
Resolved: 1. To consider and investigate DDA compliance at the Cemetery Road Scout Hut
2. To express concerns over the ongoing role of The Way as interim treasurer to Tithe Farm Tenants & Residents Association;
3. To receive feedback on support groups for young carers.
4. To receive feedback on the CBC initiative of creating dementia friendly towns and how this could be promoted within the Town.
5. To authorise the following work programme:
• Continued support to the Houghton Regis Network Group and email loop;
• Support to the HR Leisure Centre Action Group in the conclusion of the group;
• Preliminary support to Craft & Coffee as previously agreed;
• Houghton Hall Park project progression if required;
• To provide support in promoting the retailer briefing on the redevelopment of the former Co-Op site;
• To continue to provide support to the Tithe Farm Tenants & Residents Association;
• Involvement in the Election process;
• To arrange a Voluntary & Community Group session / meeting:
• To update town council noticeboards as required;
• To trial a monthly community newsletter to be circulated via community and retail outlets.
Community Services Committee
9th March 2015 at 7.30pm
8005 QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Clarification was sought on why the contract for community services had been terminated. It was advised that the Council had felt unable to continue with the arrangement.
8010 COMMUNITY ORGANISER
Members considered the update report from The Way.
DDA compliance at the Cemetery Road Scout Hut
Further advice was to be sought.
Tithe Farm Tenants & Residents Association
Concern was expressed about the group. It was agreed that further contact would be made with the Chair to consider the way forward.
Support groups for young carers
It was requested that the report be provided in more detail.
Creating dementia friendly towns
Members considered this a good initiative and agreed that it should be kept in mind as a future project.
HR Network Group and email loop
It was hoped that this would be continued.
HR Leisure Centre Action Group
The group had concluded and had confirmed that no further support was required.
Craft & Coffee
Additional support had been requested. It was advised that without the Community Organiser that this support would be difficult to achieve. It was agreed to further liaise with the club to support where possible.
Houghton Hall Park project
Contact would be made with the project stakeholders to update them
Voluntary & Community Group event
A provisional date had been set but to date no groups had booked to attend as such it was agreed that this event would be postponed.
Monthly community newsletter
This project had been referred onto the HR Network Group where one member had agreed to run the project as such the project was now not within the work plan of the Town Council.
https://www.houghtonregis.org.uk/useruploads/documents/150302.pdf
TOWN COUNCIL
2nd March 2015
7998 CONSIDERATION OF COMMUNITY ORGANISERS CONTRACT
Members discussed some of the issues raised over the professional and personal
practices of the Community Organiser.
These concerns had been raised directly with the Community Organiser and various
discussions had taken place with the guidance of the Council’s Human Resources
advisor.
In relation to the work practices it was apparent that the contract under which the
Community Organiser was operating was insufficient. This could be addressed and
resolved.
In relation to the personal matters and issues, it was apparent through the above
mentioned discussions that the matter centred on the confidence that the Town Council
had in the Community Organiser being able to provide her services in an impartial
manner.
Members were therefore asked to respond to the following question:
Does the Council have confidence in the Community Organisers ability to carry out her
role in an impartial way to enable these services to be retained by HRTC?
Members voted on the question put and considered the next steps / way forward.
Resolved: 1. To advise the Community Organiser that the Town Council has
taken the position that it feels that the role of Community
Organiser is not being carried out in an impartial manner and as
such that HRTC feels it is unable to continue with the
arrangement;
2. To instruct the Town Clerk to terminate the arrangement, giving
one months notice of termination effective from 3rd March 2015;
3. To ask the Community Organiser to hand over any ongoing
projects and information to the Town Clerk.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.15pm
