The chairman welcomed the group and asked the group to help themselves to a survey aimed at identifying the transport needs of East Dorset (to be handed in by the 7th August 2009). The chairman advised that the agenda items had been changed around.

1. LOCALITY WORKING – CHERIE MURRAY.
• Cherie is the Locality Team Co-ordinator and Senior Youth Worker at DCC.
• In response to the ‘Baby P’ case the government want to improve Children’s Services.
• The basic plan has 4 levels. Level 1 is people with general access to children. Level 2 is youth workers, health professionals, midwifes. Level 3 is Social Care involvement. Level 4 is specialist services.
• A problem was recognised in the sharing of information between levels 1 and 2.
• A tool called a ‘CAF’ – Common Assessment Framework has been developed. The CAF form is available on www.dorsetforyou.com.
• Once a CAF form is completed for a child (age 0 to 18) it is registered at DCC.
• A panel of professionals (i.e. police, GP’s etc) look at who should be working with the family and what services are required to help.
• Contact Point – any services that come into contact with a child can been seen on the Contact Point database.
• From September 2009 there will be another system to identify who works with children.
• Dorset decided to split into 6 locality teams around the district. The East Dorset locality team is managed by Dawn Campbell. Dawn is responsible for the CAF’s and for tying in all services in the East Dorset area.
• Steering Group is a representational body of children’s services. Gaps in the services have been identified and ways need to be found to close the gaps.
• Out of the 4 levels, the biggest is level 3 Social Care. The Social Care services are stretched coping with child protection.
• From September 2008 there have been 90 CAF’s in the East Dorset area.
• At present there is a virtual team and there is a hope to create a ‘hub’ in the East Dorset area (all agencies can meet and talk)
• Cherie’s contact number is 01202 697236.

2. WIMBORNE TOWN ECONOMY REVIEW PROJECT
• Kevin Poulton from EDDC spoke to the group about the Wimborne Town Economy Review Project. Kevin is the Council’s Economic Generation Manager.
• Links with the local community and the economy of the area for growth and prosperity.
• The Wimborne Chamber of Commerce were approached at the time of the bridge closure due to concerns over the effect the closure would have on Wimborne Town’s trade. What action could be taken to help businesses?
• Those discussions became a strategic review. What is the role these days of a market town?
• Looking forward to what the role of Wimborne will be in a decade or so. What actions can be put in place now?
• All the organisations asked said they would be involved.
• Advisors were brought in to help guide through issues. Through the process of asking for specialist input they came across a group of enthusiastic people keen to work with the town. A company called Halcrow were commissioned to do the work.
• The process in ongoing for another 6 weeks. There have been workshops for key businesses. Developing an action plan to help stimulate the economy of the town.
• Robin Cook advised that he thought the money had been well spent. An objective view was needed. The Chamber of Commerce could not afford to employ a town manager.
• Halcrow are based in Swindon. Their website address is www.halcrow.com

3. LOCAL TRANSPORT – Helen Reed
• Helen is the General Manager of NORDCAT.
• NORDCAT run the 88 and 300 local services.
• The 88 is well used at certain times. It runs from Wimborne through Colehill to Ferndown.
• 97% of passengers are concessionary fare passengers.
• Looking to provide more services between Wimborne and Ferndown.
• Issues for people travelling to doctor’s surgeries / hospitals.
• 300 service – idea to travel to Bournemouth more frequently.
• Residents from the Vineries off Leigh Road have requested the 88 service.
• NORDCAT is a charity and surveys are expensive to carry out.
• Possibility of doing a survey in The Vineries area.
• 88 service is unable to do loops for both Leigh Park and Walford Mill.
• There is a 40 minute restriction on the loop.
• Helen made a request for any ideas for changes or improvements to the services.
• Services are well advertised by DCC.
• Volunteers are wanted to help NORDCAT. The office is manned from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm.
• JS to look at adding service information on the partnership website.
• Any profits made by NORDCAT go back into the community.

4. Any Other Business
• Ron Tomlin advised the group that the structure of the partnership is under review. The new structure would be announced at the conference on the 8th July.
• Invites to the conference have gone out.
• Voting will take place on 7 community projects with up to £2k per project available.
• There is a possibility of Halcrow attending a Wimborne LAG meeting at some point.

Next meeting: 7 October 2009 at 7pm, Committee Room, EDDC