 The
Boscombe Working Community Partnership was established
in 2000 to oversee the SRB (Single Regeneration
Budget), a “pot” of money allocated through
the SWRDA (South West Regional Development Agency). 1.457
million pounds was allocated to the Scheme to look at Social
and Economic Regeneration in the two Boscombe Wards. The
Partnership was tasked to deliver this regeneration through
a number of mechanisms. Matched funding from Partner organisations
either in kind or real, brings the funding to the SRB Scheme
up to 4.5 million pounds.
The Partnership is Chaired Independently by Michael
Parkinson and normally meets on a quarterly basis (although
extra Board Meetings are convened during busy periods).
The Board is made up by Members of the Boscombe Community
and respective Groups along with professionals representing
organisations working in Boscombe. Bournemouth Borough
acts as the Accountable Body for the SRB Scheme. Board
make up is as follows:
Michael Parkinson – Chair
Peter Munns – Accountable
Body – Bournemouth Borough
Pat Clark – BUAG
Graham Meadows – Resident – Support Theme
Group
John Ludlow – Resident – Community Theme
Group
Derek Jump – Resident – Enterprise and Employment
Theme Group
Geoff Carpenter – Resident – Environment Theme Group
Jilly Grower – Resident – Area
Forum
Harry Cutler – Resident – Enterprise and Employment
Theme Group
Cllr Robert Copeland – Borough Elected Member
Joy Reynolds – Health
Rob Maguire – Bournemouth and Poole College
Bill Perkins – Chamber of Trade and Commerce
Jean Andrews – Job
Centre Plus Co-optees
Colin Mitchell – New Covenant Church, Boscombe
The Board also co-opt the following people
to attend meetings
Ryan Harris – SWRDA
Dee Henderson – Neighbourhood Management
Trish McCue – Joseph
Rowntree Foundation
The percentage Community Representation on the Board
with voting rights is 57.8%.
The role of the Board is to look strategically at what
is happening in Boscombe regarding Community and Economic
Regeneration along with being the Body responsible for
agreeing spend on Projects. Board Meetings are generally
open to members of the public although certain items
may be closed due to sensitive issues being discussed.
Full Board Minutes are published and copied to sites
around Boscombe for viewing and comment. The Scheme Manager,
Neil Poulton works directly to the Board.
Underneath the Board, there are four main Theme Groups
namely:
Enterprise and Employment
Support
Community
Environment
Each of these Theme Groups has a specific SRB Strategic
Objective to enable them to focus on what they are trying
to achieve. These Strategic Objectives are:
Enterprise and Employment
(SO2) – To support and
promote growth in local economies and businesses through
promotion of entrepreneurial activities, creating employment
possibilities and boosting local employment viability
and (SO5) – To enhance the employment prospects,
education and skills of local people- through education,
enterprise and health initiatives
Support (SO4) – Address
social exclusion and enhance opportunities for the disadvantaged – through
positive intervention to equip individuals to participate
and
improve personal independence
Environment (SO3) – Promote
sustainable regeneration, improving and protecting
the environment and infrastructure
including housing through development of security and
pride of place, raising area profiles
Community (SO1) – Tackle
crime and drug abuse and improve community safety through
increasing opportunities
for local people to be active in community activity and
developing their capacity to engage with local service
providers
Theme Groups are responsible for bringing projects forward
for potential funding and meeting the aims of the SRB
Scheme. Each of the Theme Groups has a Co-ordinator who
is tasked with arranging and chairing meetings and assisting
the bringing forward of possible Projects to be funded
through SRB. The Theme Groups also carry out Project
Development on prospective projects before being passed
on for Community Appraisal.
Theme Group Co-ordinators are:
John Wicks – Economic Development Unit – Town
Hall – Enterprise and Employment
Andy Williams – Community Development Team – Boscombe
Link – Community Theme
Dave Francis – Planning Department – Town
Hall – Environment Theme
Jamie Lazar – BCHA – Support Theme
Once suitable projects have been developed through the
Scheme Manager and respective Theme Group, and they are
deemed suitable for potential SRB Funding, they are then
passed on for Community Appraisal.
The Community Appraisal Panel meet when
there are projects suitably developed ready to be appraised.
The group have
strict guidelines set by the SWRDA under which Appraisal
is carried out. All members
of the Panel are residents of Boscombe. On completion
of Community Appraisal, the
Panel will make a recommendation to be passed forward
for Board Decision or Not.
The Board have the final say in whether
a project is funded through SRB or not.
The Partnership work closely with a number of key organisations
in Boscombe namely:
Neighbourhood Management
Community Development
Healthy Living Centre
Community Wardens
They are also linked in nationally with:
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Civic Regeneration Trust
Representation from many of these organisations takes
place at Board and Theme Group.
The Scheme, as
overseen and managed by the Boscombe Community Working
Partnership currently expires March 2006. |
