Agenda and minutes

Agreed as an accurate record.

To confirm the items of business marked Part I will be considered in public and that the items marked Part II will be considered in private.

It was agreed that all items of business would be considered in public.

Members were reminded that at the last meeting of the Committee, Members agreed that the scope of the review on Community Cohesion should focus on how Council services, specifically Community Services, were accessed by all individuals of all backgrounds and groups and sections of the community. The review would look to see how the Council communicated services to residents, beyond the usual promotion of services. How did Council service areas break down the barriers to engage with groups and individuals which would enable interaction and integration with all the community?

For this meeting Members heard from officers from Adult Learning, Arts and Libraries and Sports and Leisure.

Adult Learning

• The service played a key role in the Strong and Active group and participated in local events offering taster sessions and workshops where current learners were able to exhibit their work
• The service worked in partnership with Children’s Centres and schools to engage with typically “hard to reach” families in courses that include English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL).
• A wide range of provision was given for some 250 adults with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD). Reference was made to the Work in Supported Employment programme which was a 2 year qualification course which targeted young adults with LDD and which allowed residents to gain the skills and knowledge to equip them for work in the catering, business admin or horticulture sectors. These included vocational experience at the Disablement Association Hillingdon for Business Admin learners and volunteering at the Rural Activities and Garden Centre for Horticulture learners.
• A wide range of qualifications were offered in English, Maths and ESOL in community and Adult Learning venues. These run as independent qualifications or may provide learners taking wider vocational qualifications such as Floristry and Childminding with opportunities to develop functional language and study skills to support their achievement
• Work clubs took place in adult learning centres, libraries and at the Dotcom café in West Drayton
• A wide range of Bespoke provision which targeted particular groups of learners in response to local and national priorities
• A number of adult day classes took place which were attended by a higher proportion of women
• A higher proportion of men attended evening classes
• The service got involved in lots of community work and partnership work took place with schools to enable mothers to drop their children off at school, and then to attend adult education classes at children’s centres
• There was a troubled family’s programme which aimed at reaching out to this group.
• Reference was made to some people who were difficult to engage with and whom perhaps did not want to be reached
• Work did take place with other service areas but information on service users was difficult to share because of Data Protection issues
• Programmes took place with the Youth Offending Team to engage with young people
• The service worked with partners such as Brunel University, Job Centre Plus and the volunteering service
• Reference was made to the volunteering service who were working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Noted.Members asked for the next meeting of the Committee an update be given on the current situation in relation to the Civic Centre generator.

Noted.