Agenda and minutes

Councillor Calum Watt, Chair of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, opened the meeting with a brief round of introductions and offered a warm welcome to external guest speakers.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor(s) Laura Danese, Bill Mara and Aiden Wells.

Councillor(s) Gary Hewson, Hilton Spratt and Clare Smalley were in attendance as substitutes.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as an accurate record.

Councillor Calum Watt declared a non-pecuniary interest with regard to the agenda item titled ‘Sheltering Our Citizens’.

Reason: He was a trustee of the registered Charity, Developmentplus.

Councillor Calum Watt, Chair of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, introduced the topic of discussion which was Sheltering out Citizens

The Committee received a collaborative presentation from guest speakers, Lynsey Collinson, Chief Executive (DevelopmentPlus) and Caylie Jago, Project Manager (DevelopmentPlus). During consideration of the presentation, the following points were noted:

Lynsey Collinson, Chief Executive (DevelopmentPlus)

Lynsey Collinson commenced the presentation with background information on DevelopmentPlus’ history and work focus.

• DevelopmentPlus was a charity based in Lincoln which had operated for 27 years
• Work focussed on mental health and wellbeing through support projects which included one to one support and group support activities
• The charity worked with ex-offenders and rough sleepers and supported individuals where mental health was the biggest obstacle to progression
• The charity wanted to help people to thrive, not survive
• Project Compass, a homeless advocacy project, was launched in March 2019 further to difficulties with the drug, Spice, in 2018.
• Officers from the City of Lincoln Council (CoLC) requested that DevelopmentPlus offered a befriending programme for individuals that used the drug, Spice
• A research project commenced so individual backgrounds could be understood. The project included investigation into the reasons for drug and alcohol use and what services had already been accessed. Information was collated into a homelessness report.
• Two areas of need were identified within the city; a lack of understanding of where support and help was available and the need for a signposting service
• There was a specific cohort of individuals that had fallen through the net. Individuals had been banned from using NOMAD and YMCA due to their behaviour and therefore, there was no service provision available for them
• Project Compass reconnected individuals through an advocacy service which helped them to re access services such as mental and physical health support
• Additionally, the project also helped individuals to connect to different appointments such as probation and Council appointments.

Caylie Jago, Project Manager (DevelopmentPlus)

• In August 2023, DevelopmentPlus moved to different premises after the number of service users had increased
• DevelopmentPlus offered creative services for individuals that were rough sleeping; a person who was out on the streets. This included those in immediate need of food and access to physical and mental health care. The service was open to individuals daily
• An initial assessment was carried out when a homeless person presented themselves
• The charity worked in partnership with other authorities around the city such as the City Centre Policing Team, local Council’s and the Rough Sleeper Outreach team
• Developmentplus also offered holistic healthcare for the homeless through the use of an NHS based team which floated support between YMCA, Framework and NOMAD etc
• The charity had worked hard in the last 2-3 years to set up ‘Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership’ - a drug and alcohol service. Information sharing was a big part of the partnership
• A weekly meeting took place in which every member of the cohort was considered to assess if they had engaged with services and if they had been seen. This formed the basis  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Councillor Calum Watt, Chair of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, introduced the item with the purpose of the discussion which was to receive an update on the creation of a cultural consortium following a successful award of funding to the University of Lincoln.

The Committee received a collaborative presentation from guest speakers, Toby Ealden, Artistic Director & CEO (Zest Theatre) and Adam Perkins, Participation Co-Ordinator (Zest Theatre). During consideration of the presentation, the following points were noted:

• Zest Theatre existed to make space for young people and to release the voice of a generation
• Mental health figures in young people had risen and 5 pupils in every classroom had a probable mental health issue
• In 2022, Zest Theatre was commissioned to investigate how culture could create a city of the future for young people
• It was important to recognise the political and social awareness that young people had; they understood why people ended up homeless and experienced a lot of trouble
• McDonalds was a common theme as a space for young people to go that was clean and bright
• The research brief included engagement of 1,094 young people throughout the process which resulted in engagement of 8.7% of Lincoln’s population aged 10-19, based on 2018 census data
• The consultation concluded with the creation of six maxims. The themes that arose proceeding to the creation of the Maxims included equality, environment, place, space, relationships, creativity and mental health
• It was agreed that the focus would be on ‘Making Space’ as that would encapsulate many of the thoughts young people discussed
• Areas around the High Street Heritage Action Zone were explored for use, young people designed it and ‘The Zone’ was created
• Money had been received from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the National Lottery. Funding had also been received from Lincolnshire Co-Op
• 360 hours of The Zone would be delivered and was opened on 17 June 2024
• There had been a week of ‘soft launches’ the week prior to opening with a big launch planned for 19 August 2024
• ‘The Zone’ would move to Sincil Bank for two weeks before it moved to Moreland Centre Car Park
• Airclad was the company that created the structure and gifted the two-year lease. Funding received from the National Lottery would be spent on the project
• The Zone featured an artist, a Playstation, water cooler, a table tennis table outside, reading corner, iPad, display boards and music played inside. Beanbags and wooden blocks could be moved around
• The facility was staffed by a dedicated team that were all artists in their own right
• YMCA and Noise Academy had visited ‘The Zone’. Gentry Barber Shop had paid for two staff members to give free haircuts. Bubble Tea planned to give away free products. Michael from Stokes Coffee had visited to grind coffee with young people
• The Cornhill Market area was a perfect example of local engagement
• Since ‘The Zone’ opened on 17 July 2024, there had been 480 visits in total - 53  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme. Further to scoping discussions, the Democratic Services Officer confirmed that the focus of the Committee’s upcoming work would include further attendance in relation to Education and the Cost of Living.

It was agreed that a representative from Lincolnshire County Council, the CEO of Bridge Church and a representative of Acts Trust be invited to attend Committee in relation to Education and the Cost of Living. The Democratic Services Officer confirmed that the item would be brought before the Committee in September 2024.

The Chair sought the views of Members with regard to future topics of scrutiny review. Members suggested a continuation of scrutiny work on ‘Sheltering our Citizens’.  Members suggested a scrutiny review on Homelessness. The Democratic Services Officer confirmed that scoping discussions would take place further to the meeting.

Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 17 September 2024.