Agenda
Apologies
Due Diligence, Accuracy, Minutes
Partner Updates
I-CAN update - Erika Shacklady
blueIRIS Report - John Rudkin in Kevin Winkley's absence
NOTSCHOOL update
eCommunity Report - John Rudkin
Guests Pauline Baker - Co-ordinator ICT 3rd Sector North West &
Paul Dowthwaite - Local Government Practice Team
who will provide feedback to he partnership about the Blackpool Digital Challenge bid, also give us some pointers for what went right and what went wrong.
Q & A
AOB
Minutes
Present
John Rudkin, Dave Collingwood, Helen Kay, Erika Shacklady, Paul Dowthwaite, Pauline Baker, Laura Westwater, Steve Musgrave, Phil Baron
Apologies
Kevin Winkley, Karen Preece, Adrian Metcalf, Richard Emmess, Stuart Bond, David Keylock, Alan Lloyd,
Pat Dimuantes, Gwen Harris, Naomi Walker
Partner Updates
Helen Kay - gave a brief explanation of CDU, Reassurance Plus and Compact and how they linked to the Community Plan for the benefit of Paul Dowthwaite and Pauline Baker
Dave Collingwood - explained his role, that of funding officer within Economic Development and Economic Developments function in general. He reported on the External Funding Group, Bidtrack and that there were plans afoot to rationalise how bids are made and evaluated.
blueIRIS Report
John explained how well BFWSB have grown in terms of technology and ICT and that they are now in a position to be self sufficient in terms of knowledge and expertise. A brief description of the facilities and function of the Princess Alexandra Home was given and that they are seeking funding as LDDA funding finishes in August. A bid has gone to National Lottery and hope this will ensure sustainablility for their technological advances.
I-CAN Update
Erika spoke about the internet access Kiosks, scattered in the ERDF wards and some interesting results have emerged. The Dating sites are most busy in December and January - people who want something special for the Christmas season! At the beginning of the traditional Blackpool Season a high incidence of e-mail/sms type communication particularly involving Eastern European providers. Lastly at the end of the summer period when GCSE/AS/A level results are in then there is a massive increase in accessing '.ac', UCCA, job search URLs.
Then followed a report about Blackpool4Me and that 56 channels were now live with 4 waiting to go live and 5 other groups waiting to come on board - one of whom is the Mayor. Indication of steady growth in popularity was given -
Average page hits per day: April 746; May 1089; June 1112
Open4Community was mentioned and then the collaboration between I-CAN and ACL to begin the process of a Learning Environment in B4Me using monies from NIACE.
Steve gave a brief account of Blackpool & the Fylde College and its e-enablement and ambitions. How the College is a forward thinking organisation explaining about the Gaming Academy which is preparing students in anticipation of a favourable result. He went on to say that the College is aiming at validated Degree courses in Electronic Slot Machine technology and Croupier etc.
e-Community Report
John gave an explanation about how the eCommunity/Blackpool Borough Council are engaged with external Networks
NOTSCHOOL update
John told how he had personal involvement in NOTSCHOOL and that it has 2,500 children around the Country who cannot be included in mainstream schooling for a number of reasons. 12 months ago Blackpool became a pilot for the engagement and education of children from transient families. 60 plus kids using the Wireless Network which has 60 nodes and is the largest municipal network of its kind in the UK. We are now looking at rolling this out for other use: homeworking; mobile working; vioceover IP; CCTV camera across network.
Guests
Pauline Baker - explained that she co-ordinated ICT for the Voluntary Sector in the NorthWest and how she is involved with the Action Plan in the region. Pauline mentioned that she thought the model we have with our strategy and eCommunity was good and worthwhile. General discussion followed about Networking and the region.
Paul Dowthwaite - listed his employment history and involvement with ICT over the last 37 years and was now a lead official with Government Office North West. He then went on to explain the process of selection for the Digital Challenge and that both he and Pauline were judges on the panel in this region. Paul went on to provide feedback on Blackpool's Bid and our strengths and weaknesses.
Q & A on Digital Challenge - a lively discussion focussing on how we could have improved our presentation and many good conclusions arose from the discussion. Phil summed up by saying that it may have been wise to have run the presentation to many people not involved with the Bid seeking feedback. Also that the Bid being unsuccessful would not deter us from those things mentioned in the Bid.
AOB
None
Meeting Closed with next meeting pencilled in for 30th August 2006 - details to be confirmed.