Agenda and minutes

ATTENDANCE: Pauline Woodhouse (PW, Chair), Michael Macleod (MM, NBC), Louise Cuzner (LC, Individual), Jamie Wells (JW, NBC).

APOLOGIES: Jenny Campbell, Neelam Aggarwal-Singh, James Hill, John Rawlings.

JW reiterated that he is still looking to work on the new communities pack, but can only do this if local community groups provide him with the relevant information. Also with the changes within the council(s) in Northamptonshire, JW will need to establish how this pack will look going forward.

MM to continue trying to add the Windrush Scandal to a future agenda. MM to contact Jenny Campbell to see exactly what the forum wants from this agenda item so the right people are invited.

PW suggested putting some info about the Windrush Scandal in the minutes.

National stories:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c9vwmzw7n7lt/windrush-scandal

Local stories:

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/northampton-windrush-migrant-left-homeless-for-seven-years-by-the-home-office-is-in-a-flat-following-chron-appeal-1-8531195

JC requested that the following information be known to forum members:

JC to MM

“Hello Michael

Please could you provide update on agenda item I requested at the last Diverse Communities meeting.  Windrush Scandal …… I spoke to members of the Caribbean community advising this would be an agenda item at the next Diverse Communities meeting, because members of the Caribbean communities are concerned and have questions.

I was under impression meeting was for members of the forum, agenda item number 3 is not something I remember members of the Diverse communities requesting.  Therefore can someone let me know who decided agenda item no 3.

Look forward to hearing from you”

MM reply to JC

“Hi Jenny,

It is clear that the forum members want a speaker in to talk about this topic instead of it being an item simply for members to discuss. I contacted the chairs asking who exactly I should contact, I received a response with the information a few weeks later whilst I was on annual leave, which obviously delayed things. I have tried to make contact with various people in immigration law to see if they would be happy to talk to the forum about their concerns and help answer their questions, however I didn’t receive any responses. A few days ago, Pauline suggested that I contact you to see if you have any contacts or Pastor Green. This was too short notice to arrange anything for this forum as it would have meant waiting even longer to send the agenda out as corresponding with people and coordinating often takes days, if not weeks, as you can see above with the chairs. So I planned to continue these arrangements for the next forum, hoping I would have more luck.

Item number 3 is not something that has been requested by the forum, you are correct, but as forum members are residents of Northampton, they may have an interest in the new contract and this is a good opportunity to ask any questions or talk about any concerns they have. All forums are going to be visited by Chris so this isn’t something specific to the Diverse Communities Forum.”

JC reply to AK and MM.

“Hi Anna

Thank you for your detailed response below…..based on the number of years I have been attending Diverse forum members I was unaware of this. 

I would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

CC gave apologies due to urgent business.

General questions - Who are they? How long is the contract for? What does the new service look like? Are there additional charges?

Upcoming Scrutiny panel – good to hear local people’s voices alongside the services that are already in place to see if there are any gaps.

ACTION: MM to add Scrutiny to the next Forum – same as the Women’s Forum.

Hate Crime Week (13-20 October)

PW It would be good for someone to give updates on hate crime. Hate Crime has not been dealt with in the country as good as it should. Understand how Northants Police head of hate crime plans on dealing with that moving forward.

JW talked through the upcoming primary schools event. Key subjects are Fire, Water and Road safety, Online Safety, Hate Crime, Knife Crime and Anti-Social behaviour.

We need input from Forum members to help us and provide ideas what we can deliver, that will provide a better week for all.

Both Chairs, Vicki Rockall and Anna King all need to meet to discuss times.

Explained the resources we have and also what we can do to increase the attendance, such as later forums when there are school breaks etc.

ACTION: MM to update to forums on positive outcomes – add as a footnote or e-mail out.

20^th September 2018

20^th September 2018