Steering
Group Meeting: September 2003
Present: Mick Sheldon,
Chris Walsh, Danny Chivers, Jo Southall.
Apologies: None
Minutes from last meeting
approved.
MSEF
Chris informed the group about the progress of MSEF. It was agreed that
Chris would email the MPEN network about MSEF and its development.
It was agreed that MPEN needed an official representative on this group
and Danny agreed to ask Emerge if this would be possible for him to sit
on the MSEF Working Group.
MPEN will from now on include a section in its Steering Group meeting
agenda to discuss MSEF.
MPEN future
We had a discussion about MPEN's future role and how it wishes to
distinguish itself from other social enterprise organisations.
It was agreed that the network was 'a network of practictioners for
practioners'.
We reconfimed that the network would have two roles:
1) to provide services for members and to enable members to network
and communicate.
2) to influence the LSP and CN to ultimately secure NRF funds for
social enterprises.
It was agreed that we need to achieve concrete achievements in the
short term to ensure continued support from members. And that we would
to look to secure additional funding in six months time when we had some
goals under our belt.
MPEN research work
Chris explained that work had begun to fill gaps that had been left by
Alan.
Chris to bring confirmation of work and timescales to the next meeting.
Recruitment of new MPEN
worker
Chris to bring proposal to next MPEN meeting.
-----------------------------------
Steering Group Meeting:
August 7th 2003
Present: Gurnam Singh,
Alan Lee, Jo Southall, Danny Chivers, Zahid Hussein, Kate Whittle
Apologies: Mick, Chris
Ground rules (reminder)
The Chair Chris Walsh tabled a series of basic ground rules for the
format of this and future meetings which were agreed:
* Minutes of previous meeting to be sent out a few days after the
meeting
* All information and agenda items to be agreed by 15 days before next
meeting and disseminated by 10 days before meeting
* Meetings will start on time
* Meeting will begin with introductions, apologies, the setting of
ending time for meeting and agreement of the agenda
* The meeting will include the presentation of a brief written report
from Alan aboout his work and MPEN's development. Financial information
as well as progress towards targets will be presented
* There will be a rotated chair
* Location of meetings can be rotated if required by Steering Group
members
* All additional discussion and information not covered in agenda will
be allowed for under final item under “Any other business”
* Confirmation of next meeting date and location at end of the meeting
Matters Arising
A minute to be sent to MERCi Management Committee to clarify where the
responsibility for future fundraising for MPEN lay: that as far as
Alan's role was concerned, Chris saw that he could raise funds for the
network so long as he was not directly raising funds for his post
A contact phone number was included on the leaflet but not the postcard
Future fundraising for network to be raised as an agenda item for next
Steering Group Meeting
No contact received by Freda Cox at Community Support Ltd. from Lucy
Williams (MERCi). Ask her again
The research/
consultancy project
Kate to resend Alan web-link to NearBuyYou: online directory based
round Cambs, Beds with interactive searches on inter-trading, services.
A general agreement was reached to move forward with the 2 most
advanced research ideas: ie. comparative study of 4 service providers
(social enterprise and private) or the expanding the directory (part of
Mick Sheldon and Chris Walsh's idea), but specifically to be available
as an online facility. Alan to make this known to MERCi management and
commission the work (on their approval)
The following points were also made re: directory possibility: that it
can be maintained at a low cost. That it would be a good marketing
exercise for MPEN.
The Social Enterprise
Forum
The Steering Group wished to raise the following questions with Chris
to clarify what is happening with this group of social enterprises:
Has MPEN got a seat on the board?
What is the aim of this organisation?
Has it got a constitution? Otherwise who is going to write it?
A general agreement was reached to move forward with the 2 most
advanced research ideas: ie. comparative study of 4 service providers
(social enterprise and private) or the expanding the directory (part of
Mick Sheldon and Chris Walsh's idea), but specifically to be available
as an online facility. Alan to make this known to MERCi management and
commission the work (on their approval)
The following points were also made re: directory possibility: that it
can be maintained at a low cost. That it would be a good marketing
exercise for MPEN.
D) the Annual General Meeting
A date to be set in September, but being careful to avoid CN4M clashes
this time (directly relevant to MPEN seeing as CN4M events held very
regularly): week starting September 15th
E) Any other business
As well as forthcoming Economy and Local Employment pool meetings, we
need somebody from the network to be attending Social Economy Steering
Group from Northwest Development Agency (and Third Sector Enterprises)
--------------------------------------------------------
Steering Group Meeting: 8th
July 2003
Present: Gurnam
Singh(FAST/ Community Support Ltd), Chris Walsh and Alan Lee (MERCi),
Mick Sheldon, Jo Southall, Sheridan McLaughlin (Solidarity Catalyst)
Apologies: Tony Shaw (ITEM), Ailsa Holmes, Kate Whittle
(Cooperative Business Consultants), David Carey (Victim Support and
Witness Service), Danny Chivers (Emerge), Zahid Hussein (SEDI)
Ground rules
The Chair Chris Walsh tabled a series of basic ground rules for the
format of this and future meetings which were agreed:
* Minutes of previous meeting to be sent out a few days after the
meeting
* All information and agenda items to be agreed by 15 days before next
meeting and disseminated by 10 days before meeting
* Meetings will start on time
* Meeting will begin with introductions, apologies, the setting of
ending time for meeting and agreement of the agenda
* The meeting will include the presentation of a brief written report
from Alan aboout his work and MPEN's development. Financial information
as well as progress towards targets will be presented
* There will be a rotated chair
* Location of meetings can be rotated if required by Steering Group
members
* All additional discussion and information not covered in agenda will
be allowed for under final item under “Any other business”
* Confirmation of next meeting date and location at end of the meeting
Matters Arising
Chris clarified to group MERCi's and Alan's fundraising role for MPEN.
That he saw that MERCi and then the Steering Group as having prime
responsibility for ensuring future funding to the project. Alan himself
would be able to fundraise, so long as he did not directly raise funds
for his wages/ post.
Alan to send this minute to the MERCi management committee.
Future fundraising for the network to be raised as an agenda item for
next Steering Group.
MPEN's progress report
from Alan
The website: it is now revamped and on-line again but Alan still
experiencing difficulties when trying to edit the site. He will make it
a priority to tackle these and begin the regular update of the site.
An MPEN library: A book/ publication loan resource to be available to
MPEN members, following Gurnam's suggestion of pooling various library
resources under one cataloguing system inc. MERCi/ MPEN/ FAST 's
libraries. Chris to ask Lucy Williams (MERCi) to speak to Freda Cox at
FAST to investigate this possibility.
Mick suggested a new budget heading in future to ensure safe
maintenance of software systems and computer, and to tackle depreciation.
Alan to circulate postcard and leaflet to membership once available.
Also the need to ensure that the funders logos are on these publicity
materials which they are not at present. Alan to investigate.
Jo requested that the phone number be included on the leaflet and
postcard. This was agreed.
Community Network for
Manchester/ Local Strategic Partnership
Chris brief report: The Social Economy Forum set up by Martin Pagel
involves 20 members from social enterprises. Deadline for various bids
is this Thursday 10th July, inc. the bid Chris coordinated on
behalf of a group of social enterprises.
MCIN employed to appraise the bids and support the projects.
Legal and accountable body not yet decided yet.
Gurnam expressed the concern that unless the bid was able to
demonstrate that this group of enterprises has the resources and
coordination to manage the use of the funds as soon as they were
available, then the decision could easily go against the bid.
Chris to make bid available to Steering Group (through Alan) and
clarify how he sees the group of social enterprises managing and using
the grants.
The research/
consultancy project
Chris tabled a new proposal for the use of the funds:
Briefly, 4 case-studies about various companies' service provision as a
response to the need for regeneration in Manchester. It would compare 2
private companies to 2 social enterprises.
Alan's tabled proposal's:
A) Developing MPEN's role within the Third Sector Economy within
Manchester through:
* a community finance system funded through NRF/ERDF (or other body) or
social economy micro-credit system
* the network as a resource for mutual consultancy
* the network as a advisory service on bids
* the network to link and be resource for best practice in areas such
as technical expertise in environmental sustainability
B) A research investigating diversity within Third Sector businesses in
Manchester
C) Investigating the agencies
Steering Group's response:
Mick: prefers options A or B
Jo: not the agencies- no real practical outcome, the community finance
one and Chris's proposal looks most promising. Contract proposal would
only directly benefit a minority of MPEN members.
Gurnam: his own proposal:
A research project into social enterprises looking to gain a contract
with council/ or those currently holding one. 6/7 different
organisations. They would be small businesses offering services such as
meals on wheels, cleaning, catering, child care or other.
The project could investigate:
* what are the openings for small social enterprises?
* what the obstacles they face trying to gain contracts?
* the areas in which they need support, eg. not having the resources to
make a succesful “bid?” for a large contract- where as private sector
much more prepared for this kind of contract (inc. legislation)
Basically, those enterprises investigated will benefit, and could even
gain a large contract through it, the network will be raising its
profile and engaging in the the economic life of the city.
Feedback on the various draft proposals:
Mick:
* not desk [academic] research please
* talk to investors- this is what the The Cooperative Group have said
Sheridan:
* Likes diversity idea: new avenues explored and profile raised, new
contacts
* Chris's idea also good one
* The important question: How do we raise MPEN's profile?
Also the group decided it would investigate ways in which the money
could be held, to ease the deadline a little. But ultimately the amount
is still quite small so it should be something contained and practical.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Steering Group Meeting: 2nd
April 2003
Present: Kate Whittle,
Danny Chivers, Jo Southall, Zahid Hussain
Minutes: sent out by e-mail
Matters Arising
It was agreed that all present would look at the constitution and
feedback to the Steering Group as most had not had time to read it.
It was agreed that Steering Gp would work to consensus as far as
possible and that where this wasn't possible, voting would happen.
There was concern about whether it is in Alan's job description that he
should draw up MPEN's budget and who has ultimate responsibility for
finances. Zahid to contact Chris Walsh to discuss this- by next meeting.
Budget
We need to spend about £9K by probably End July 03, although
there is possibility of extending this spend period to Sept 30th.
Alan to put Yr2 and Yr3 Bids and the MPEN report on the website.
Kate Whittle reported about the research work she is doing
[interviewing about 12 social enterprises] for MCC. She will be
promoting MPEN to these people. The list of the 12 is available from
Kate.
It was noted that it seemed bizarre that the Economic Investment Group
of MCC had commissioned Kate to do the work, when they could have asked
MPEN.
Drop-in Day
Free subscription to NEF available to attendees. Steering Gp members
were given the chance to do a short talk about the organisations they
represent.
Alan to contact Radio Regen about publicising events.
MPEN mini-conference/
training day
objectives- turning members into active members
training
Any other feedback to Alan by the end of next week: everyone to e-mail
Alan with their ideas
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Steering Group Meeting:
19th February 2003
Present: Zahid Hussein [SEDI], Rachel and Jo Southall [Emerge
Recycling], Kate Whittle [Co-op & Social Ent. Training &
Research], Alan Lee and Joanna Huddart [MERCi]
Apologies: Steve Knight
Introductions
Rachel was visiting the meeting with a view to representing Emerge on
the Steering Group in the future, as Jo S. will be leaving Emerge in May.
Kate is setting up a co-operative which will help other people set up
co-operatives and other kinds of social enterprise.
Minutes
1. Future Agenda and Minutes- Alan would be in charge of ensuring
minutes and next meeting's agenda available well in advance
2. Jo H and Alan stated
MERCi's priority over the next couple of months to formalise all
decision making and selection procedures for the Network, ie. selection
of representatives to Steering Group, the LSP, CN4M, acceptance of
groups into network membership and so on.
Zahid raised the issue of seeking identification for new members or
representatives, ie. a vetting procedure for the Network to be
implemented by the Steering Group and the coordinator- obviously how we
assess an individual's or organisation's credentials will need to be
discussed further. Others shared his concern that external forces may
try to infiltrate MPEN and influence it detrimentally.
Alan to produce draft on all 'constitutional' matters, eg. core aims
and values, equal ops, role and remit of the Steering Group. This will
give the group ample time to feedback with any suggestions. We will
discuss this in the next meeting and hopefully be able to formalise most
of these issues through the meeting
3. Alan suggested to the group
the idea of having a Drop-in Day for member enterprises and interested
people based from MERCi. An informal opportunity to generate
face-to-face contact between social enterprises. Everyone thought this a
good idea.
4. Kate raised the issue that
Social Enterprises have received no real recognition at LSP level as
yet. This is because they do not actually fall into the categories of
'private' or 'voluntary'
5. The group asked if anyone
knew of any councillors that were keen supporters of the social economy
and the third sector, no names were put forward as yet.
6. Some research that
Manchester Enterprise did in the community in Manchester was raised.
Kate is going to obtain copies of this research and the recommendations
made. However it seems that nobody has been willing to take the
complaints which were raised forward.
7. We discussed Mick
Sheldon's fees for representing the network at the LSP thematic group
and the CN4M Economic Pool. Joanna offered him a round sum of
£450 at roughly £15 per hour for the time he put into
these meetings last year. As a recognition for his experience with
dealing with representation at this level and his hard work. This has
been OK'ed by the Progress Trust and the Steering Group have agreed to
it. Although it was stated that this was not to be considered normal
procedure for MPEN, in order not to set a precedent. These payments may
be discontinued at any point if it is no longer possible or tenable to
pay Mick or whoever holds this position.
I have requested an invoice from SEDI and also will allocate this to
an area of the budget that seems appropriate.