The planning and delivery of public sector services in Glasgow is now being coordinated through the Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, which is in turn split into three sectors with one covering the southside of the city. Below this Area Partnerships have been created at ward level to replace what were previously known as Area Committees and neighbourhood forums. For more information on the background – http://www.glasgowcpp.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10290

The Strathbungo Society are represented on the Pollokshields Area Partnership by Kevin Kane with myself as substitute representative. The Committee papers are all public – http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/allBodyMeetings.asp?bodyid=1780&bodytitle=Pollokshields+Area+Partnership&MeetingYear=2013

I attended the August and October meeting and it would appear the Partnership is very much at the formative stage, with a whole range of presentations from the impact of the cuts in welfare benefits on the city to tackling litter in East Pollokshields. The most important role being given to Partnerships is to assist in the local implementation of the four community planning priorities for the city which are about vulnerable people, youth unemployment, tackling alcohol abuse and creating thriving places. A lot of useful information on this is contained in the draft Glasgow Community Plan –
http://www.glasgowcpp.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15989&p=0

At the August meeting it was suggested that officers of the public bodies on the area partnership (Council, NHS, Police) should come back to the next meeting with proposals how these priorities might be implemented in the local area. The Community representatives questioned this top down approach and suggested that other organisations on the Partnership could be asked for ideas and priorities. To give the Officers credit they jumped at this idea and a meeting between Council officers and community representatives was held in early October.

So, we are now looking for ideas about the Council, NHS, police etc should be doing to improve delivery of local services do let us know. While everything needs to be linked into the four community planning priorities, thriving places covers just about anything……………….and the other priority areas all have local angles, whether its local businesses creating jobs (tackling youth unemployment) or the impact of local pubs (yes its great to have so many places to go but what are negative impacts and what could be done to reduce these?).

Kevin and I will try and use the blog for further updates and to canvass for views and also consult the Committee at the monthly meetings.

Nick Kempe
nickkempe@tinyworld.co.uk