CARPENTER ESTATE WIRED COMMUNITIES PARTNERSHIP STEERING GROUP
PRESENT WERE:
Richard Steel {Chair} APOLOGIES: David Bill
Brian Taylor
Jan Bless
Pallavi Malhotra
Richard Stubbs
Paul Whiteman
Steve Tyler
Linda Salim
Michael Mulquin
Tee Fabikun {Sec}
Copies of the minutes of the last meeting were distributed, read and corrections made.
Paul apologised that the promised details of students on the estate could not be retrieved due to the type/format of Database.
With a lot of hard work, Linda and Richard were able to submit the forms on time but it will still take approximately another 6weeks before things are sorted out. – ie. Job description/evaluation { the advert, interview and employing staff} Most likely the SRB money will be paid to LBN who in turn will be paying the staff salaries. Brian Taylor would pass the draft job descriptions to Personnel for evaluation.
It was necessary to agree targets for the project. Michael West (DfEE) suggested that 90% achievement must be targeted, we noted that the TMO properties constituted some 82% of the estate and hence we would need to consider possibilities for connecting other properties though this could cause considerable complexity. It was agreed that we should use connected households as the target rather than users. If the DfEE would provide the funding a 100% infrastructure target could be aimed at then if there is a short fall we would still be within the set target however the standard of service would not be likely to be equivalent to that available to the flatted accommodation.
Richard apologised for bringing a large number of issues to the meeting at the last moment. This was unavoidable as the DfEE had required the submission of a revised budget and crucial elements of the cost information had only just become available.
The revised budget was gone through at length. All recommendations were agreed with following points:-
Due to the length of discussion of the above item these were deferred.
Steve tried to explain the use of the topboxes. Showed a sample. In the end it was agreed that a full demonstration would be needed for deeper understanding.
This encouraged a lot of discussion, as there was a consensus of opinion on the need to have a form of security like setting up the Cyber Angels – a voluntary group that are in chat rooms to root-out unscrupulous and evil people.
Pallavi opined that the College would like to be paid for the Introduction Courses that will be set up especially for the Estate. This will include introduction to Cyber world, Introduction to the use of Learndirect and Plato. This will be looked into later.
Most likely the will work with us but Linda will have to check this as she had been away from the office for sometime. It was agreed that a decision has to be made either to have or drop MT. By the next meeting we anticipate that we will have established what they are prepared to contribute to the project.
Richard Stubbs gave a report of the two-day conference where four members of the Steering Group attended. From the point of view of evaluation the Carpenters Estate is to be compared with an equivalent area in Birmingham where there is no equivalent ICT activity. There is probably a lot that could be gained by sharing experiences with other Wired up communities. Blackburn seems to be a better choice as Liverpool is going through some problems at the moment. Linda, Tee and Brian were mandated to have a brainstorm and report back to the group at the next meeting.
Part of their programme is to have elearning foundation in various areas. Their grant must be spent up by 31st March. They are proposing only to work through a registered charity or a company limited by guarantee (i.e. any money to be given out could only be to such a body. There were queries as to whether a separate body was necessary so
Richard then promised to have a chat with Helen about the Foundation and us.
To be discussed after the election.
Next meeting 18th June at 3.00pm