ShefFood Steering Group Meeting, 18th October 2023
Present:
- Rachael Treharne
- Natalie Flanagan
- Gareth Roberts
- Rene Meijer
- Lucie Nield
- Jess Wilson
- Peter Jackson
Agenda No | Item | Notes | Action Points |
1 | Introductions/ Apologies | ||
2. | Report since last SG meeting Silver bid submitted, decisions 17th November (planning ahead for possible celebration?) RT – first few weeks! | b) RT – priorities for next few months could include EDI & participation and developing stronger and longer-term relationships with partners. LN – reach out to VAS to connect with other third sector orgs, inc. those whose work is food related, but maybe not food centric. Maybe also connect with older adults research network. GR – we should have something upfront and easily accessible on website, e.g. EDI statement. PJ – highlight Sophie’s great work on partnership development spreadsheet and (JW) Safer Spaces policy. Good work to build on. | RT: reach out to LN re contact @ VAS and older adults research network. RT: work with Lorna on EDI strategy, to include an EDI statement to be made available online. Also to work on strengthening partner engagement. |
3. | Working Group Update: Good Food Economy Met October 3rd Clarified scope of feasibility study: next step on this to develop proposal for UKRI funding Food Ladders Met on October 5th Cooperation town organiser recruitment happening New data subgroupTopics identified for future meetingsLyds on leave Composting and Growing Meeting on October 25th: city & community composting Second meeting Nov 22nd: Jill Edmonson & co’s urban food mapping focus group Food, Health, Obesity Board Met October 10th Open Meetings Next meeting 14th NovemberStrategy for these meetings moving forward | NF – re GFE & P procurement scoping exercise/feasibility study we should consider implications for cost and broader organisational budgets. RM – Food Ladders should stay centred on food, not drift into a broader poverty-focused network. JW – more work to be done on identifying clear niche and direction for FL JW – Might be a bit of a gap in terms of leadership of Food, Health & Obesity board – next meeting currently scheduled for January. GR, JW, others – strategy for open meetings should/does connect well with EDI focus. | RT & JW: continue conversation around Food Ladders remit |
3a | Comms Website has recently been updated to new technologies and best practices, reducing the environmental footprint of visits to the site. The site was 67% dirtier than other sites tested and is now 87% cleaner. Some further improvements are planned over the coming months. Now consistently producing 1 article a week for the Star, Sheffield Telegraph and blog Marketing and comms strategy plan to be developed to support future partnership priorities. | Comms Website has recently been updated to new technologies and best practices, reducing the environmental footprint of visits to the site. The site was 67% dirtier than other sites tested and is now 87% cleaner. Some further improvements are planned over the coming months. Now consistently producing 1 article a week for the Star, telegraph and blog Marketing and comms strategy plan to be developed to support future partnership priorities. | GR – how will engagement with Lorna take place from now on? RT – ad hoc but regular meetings. GR – we could improve WRT transparency and accessibility of information. Minutes on the website need to be up to date. Also scope to add information about governance on the website under about us. |
4 | Governance and Finance Update on SCC from Jess ShefFood grant agreement with SCC Update of finances from FoodWorks Update on Synergy bid from Peter Current Budget spreadsheet (updated to include FixourFood money and Regather contributions) | JW – draft agreement in place for next 5 years. GR – Happy with current financial reporting arrangements, but noting draft agreement includes obligations for accountable body that could become burdensome, particularly 4.2 & 5.1. RM – Happy to maintain current arrangements under draft agreementsJW – current arrangements would fulfil those obligations NF – budget run-through, £500 surplus end of September. Note placeholder numbers related to synergy project. PJ – Synergy project going well, met in Bristol October 12th with discussion focussing on EDI. Also discussed how to achieve value-add beyond SFP resources in terms of project outputs. | RM & NF: Sign-off agreement (?) RT: Clarify expectations re. Synergy costs/timing with Peter |
6 | Implementing Action Plan Accountability Informal monitoring spreadsheet Governance Many actions underway/ in development | Largely ran out of time… RM – This is a crucial item. Need to ensure we have a plan to follow-up on/deliver the action plan to avoid losing momentum. JW – need to build sense of ownership of the action plan. Limited sense of that in FL. | RT & RM: plan space to discuss this in more depth, e.g. with working group leads. |