Cornwall Council Higher Education Scheme

Briefing note

Cornwall Higher Education Scheme February 2013 Update

Members Briefing

Last year we announced details of the Cornwall Higher Education (HE) scheme to support more students from Cornwall to progress into higher education and into employment.

The scheme was developed on the principle of funding a minimum of 6 cohorts* of students through the programme in order to achieve the intended outcomes of increasing participation in HE - closing the gap between Cornwall and the national average; in addition to providing the right higher level skills for the growth of our economy in key sectors.

The scheme is founded on levering in approximately £14m ESF investment from the post 2013 programme with a 25% match from the Council. Due to delays in announcements regarding the post 2013 European programme we are proposing a phased approach to the HE scheme. This will include delivery of the Trevithick Scholarships and a programme of undergraduate placements within targeted sectors of the economy from September 2014; with a view to rolling out the full programme from 2015 once European funding has been secured.

An update and more detail on the phased proposal will be provided to the Children Education and Families Scrutiny Committee in March.

We will be briefing our key stakeholders involved in the project including FE Colleges and School Sixth forms that will be providing information and advice to students about higher education and the support available to them.

We remain committed to the HE Scheme as a means of improving outcomes for our young people and the overall prosperity of Cornwall and its communities by achieving economic growth, dependent on higher level skills.

* Each cohort will be funded for a 3 year period, with a new cohort being funded each year from 2014(15) through to 2020.

Neil Burden

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

Cornwall Council

Help for business

Dear All,   I have recieved information about funding for business (see below) which may help you,  with no formal body such as a Chamber of trade in the town it is difficult to get this out to business.   Please share this information

Regards Armand

http://www.cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk/investment-funds/business-boost.html

http://www.cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk/investment-funds/rbis.html

Hello – as a contact with a local Chamber of Commerce, I am sending you some information to make you and your Chamber members aware of the recent launch of a grant for eligible businesses. The grant is called the Rural Business Investment scheme and can apply to a range of businesses in Cornwall such as manufacturing, ICT, tourism as well as the more traditional ‘rural’ businesses involved with processing agricultural, horticultural and forestry products etc. I attach a web link to the relevant website where further details can be found including how to make application for this fund.

This grant is a recent addition to the original four grants contained within the Business Boost* programme that was launched last year by Cornwall Council and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (L.E.P.).  Further details on these funds can be accessed via the link to the Business Boost* programme above.

Note * Business Boost was launched by Cornwall Council and the L.E.P. as it was recognised that national grants such as the Regional Growth Fund are a good support mechanism for established manufacturing companies with project teams. Cornwall Council and the L.E.P. understood that the majority of Cornish businesses are small and would be unlikely to be able to draw up and submit detailed bids for projects under the times scales under which the Regional Growth Fund operates. Consequently, the Council and L.E.P. bid for money from the Regional Growth Fund and combined this with some of its own money to create a £17 million pot. This is called Business Boost. The original four funds that made up Business Boost were launched in May 2012 and one of them will be available until March 2015. This will allow small businesses the time to put a project together and submit bids outside of the time constraints of the Regional Growth Fund. Early contact with the relevant contact point in the guidance link above is strongly advised if you believe your business fits the criteria of one of the funds. The Rural Business Investment scheme has been added in the last few weeks as a fifth fund under the overall Business Boost programme. The programme is administered by the Cornwall Development Company which is an arms length company of Cornwall Council.  

Regards

Stephen

Stephen Vinson

Business Investor Support Advisor

Economic Development

Chief Executive's Department

Cornwall Council

FREE PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP

This is something that may be of use to many of the local residents a free printmaking workshop at the rusty bucket, please see the e mail i have recieved below.    Hope you can attend    Thanks Laura

Hi Armand

Paul P has given me your email address in relation to spreading the word about a printmaking workshop that I am running on Saturday 9th February upstairs at the Rusty Bucket.

I live in Looe and I am the printmaking technician at Plymouth University where I am also studying for a Masters Degree and as part of my work I looking at the notion of skill exchange. On Saturday I will teach people to print in exchange for them letting me use the conversations we have while printing for my own work. 

I will provide all materials, so all people need to do is turn up, learn how to make a relief print while we chat about anything from what we had for dinner last night to what the weather is like, so its all totally informal and fun.  

And I just wondered if there is anyone you could forward this email to that might be interested in attending?

DETAILS

Where: Rusty Bucket, Fore Street, Looe

When: Saturday 9th February. Starts at 10:00 and finishes at 12:00

Who: Open to anyone 16 and over. no previous experience needed.

There are limited spaces so if anyone is interested be great if they could get in touch via email or call me on 07967 372960 

Any help or suggestions much appreciated, Kind regards

Laura 

Just one planning application again this week

Dear All,   Just the one application this week, any comments to 01503 264823 or atoms@cornwall.gov.uk    Thanks Armand

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

Lloyds Bank Plc Fore Street East Looe Looe Cornwall PL13

1DT

Application for Listed Building Consent for display of

advertisements, namely siting of 2 internally illuminated static

fascia signs (illuminated built-up letters); 1 internally

illuminated projecting sign; 2 internally illuminated heritage

light strips; a non illuminated letter box signage, a non

illuminated nameplate and a non illuminated reverse applied

Council Scheme to hep rsidents to insulate park home

Council scheme to help residents insulate park homes Cornwall Council has joined forces with Community Energy Plus (CEP) to help park home owners to save money on their fuel bills and stay warm. As park homes can be inefficient at retaining heat and are usually excluded from government schemes which provide free or discounted insulation, the Council and CEP will help residents fund insulation and energy saving measures. The Council’s Green Cornwall Programme has put £500,000 towards the scheme to part fund external wall, roof and floor insulation. Residents wanting to take advantage of the scheme will be offered a grant to cover up to 50% of the costs, and access to an interest free loan to cover the rest. “Park homes often have the lowest energy efficiency ratings, and insulating them can significantly improve living conditions and increase the lifespan of the home,” Nicola McCheyne, Project Delivery Team Manager for Community Energy Plus. “With the majority of residents being over 65, it is especially important that they are able to have an adequately heated home.” “This is a real step forward which I heartily applaud,” said Councillor Derris Watson, Chair of the Council’s Housing Task Group. “The scheme contributes to the aims of the Council’s Housing Investment Plan by assisting vulnerable groups who are not currently eligible for Government funding in the same way that those living in bricks and mortar homes are.” An initial pilot of the scheme will see external wall insulation and energy saving measures fitted in 10 park homes.  Measures include external cladding, roof and floor insulation and, where required, windows and doors will be upgraded to Upvc units.  Research has shown insulating a park home can cut combined heating and electricity costs by around 30% to 40%. “Excessively cold living conditions are directly linked to respiratory and coronary illnesses, and increased accidents within the home caused by mobility impairment,” said Stuart Kenney, Cornwall Council’s Private Sector Housing Manager. “Providing a warm environment in park homes benefits the wider society by reducing the costs to the NHS by a decline in cold weather related GP appointments and hospital admissions. “Reducing the cost of heating a park home will also help cut the number of households in Cornwall living in fuel poverty.” “I am pleased that the Council, and Community Energy Plus, have been able to step in to offer this support to park home residents,” said Councillor Mark Kaczmarek, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for Housing and Planning. “Improving home insulation will make a real difference not only to fuel bills, but also the property’s ability to retain heat.” For more information or to register for the insulation scheme contact Community Energy Plus on 0800 954 1956 or advice@cep.org.uk

Council support for the CAB

Good to see the council supporting the CAB

Dear Member

As you are aware there have been reports in the news about CAB funding, please see below the Council’s position:

Funding for CAB Cornwall

Cornwall Council recognises that the Citizen’s Advice Bureau is a trusted and much valued resource which offers free, independent, confidential and impartial informed advice to those who need it. Its importance in Cornwall is obvious when you realise that in 2011/12, 22,000 individuals contacted CAB Cornwall for advice on more than 72,000 different issues.   

CAB Cornwall has received funding from Cornwall Council since April 2009 to deliver information, advice and advocacy services to communities in Cornwall.

In 2012/13 Cornwall Council provided CAB Cornwall with £406,000 for this purpose and the Council will, despite the very difficult economic climate, be giving CAB the same amount in 2013/14 plus an extra £150,000 to help deliver their valuable services to some of our most vulnerable communities who will potentially be affected by the national welfare benefit reforms.

Sue Swift the Chair of Trustees for CAB Cornwall said: “We are really pleased to receive this additional funding from Cornwall Council to help us maintain our services at the same standard, but it will require us to reorganise how we deliver our services.”

Carolyn Rule

Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing and People

Thank You George

It's not often enough that councillors say a simple thank you to other councillors for their hard work and showing a little respect goes a long way.   In the past I thought that this simple gesture would at least put some humanity into what has become a very highly charged political Cornwall Council.  Ten years ago when I first became a councillor the councillors seemed different respect was the order of the day and people worked together for the good of Cornwall.  The administration back then was a coalition of all the groups lead by John Lobb a gentleman and who worked with all for the good of all, something that would not happen today.  In the last council that. Changed with one party having the majority which brought about our unitary authority a bad decision (a blog about that later) from a failing council.  In the last four years I have seen little willingness to contribute to the good for all and politics rule the faceless world of the council, twitter and blog don't have to tell the truth.  Perhaps a little more respect would not be missed in the political world of Cornwall.

Now back to the job in hand, can I say a personal thank you to George Trubody for his hard work as the councilors for Rame.  I know this will have been a difficult decision for you and your family but you should be proud of you achievements over the last four years.  Thank you and I wish you well for the future