INVOLVE Participation Group
22nd February 2017, 4:30pm, The HUB, Grangeway, Runcorn
Present:
Matthew Walker, Halton Youth Cabinet
John Hunt, Halton Speak Out
Liam Prescott, Young Carers S/L
Thomas Norris MYP
Phil McClure, Young Addaction
Chloe Buglass, Halton Family Voice
Julie Sumner, Halton Impart
John Bucknall, HBC
Sarah Jones, HBC Participation Officer
Charlotte Gorry, CICC
Kelsie Roberts, CICC
Leanne Gould, INVOLVE
Jack Cosgrove, Halton Youth Cabinet
Kelly Collier, HBC
Chris Sweeting, Youth Justice Service
Apologies
None
1.
Review of Minutes and Actions:
 The minutes were reviewed and it was decided that they were accurate to the
record.
2.
INVOLVE Website:
 MW informed the group that senior HBC staff had decided that the INVOLVE
website should no longer be held within the main Children’s Trust site and as such
MW has worked with Addaction to purchase in a new solution.
o MW expressed that the decision to remove INVOLVE from the CT site
seemed like a withdrawal of support
 JB said that in no way was it a withdrawal of support, JB said that he
was not sure why it is being removed but said that he would look into
it.
o Other partners around the table also questioned why this was the case
o The total cost of the new website for one year is £71.50.
 MW told the group that the website would be held under a HYC page and that the
permalink www.halton.gov.uk/involve would remain the same. The new website will
appear within the next few weeks and there will be an agenda item at the next
meeting to assess the new site and see if anything needs adding
ACTIONS:
 MW to develop new website and feedback to the group at the next meeting to see
if anything needs adding to it.
 JB to look more into why the INVOLVE page was removed from the CT site in the
first place.
3.
2016 Review
 MW presented the group with INVOLVE’s annual review under the participation
strategy banner.
 Partners had already seen this via email and no critical concerns were raised.
o SJ highlighted that the dates for future meetings were inaccurate and some
were taking place during school holidays and/or Thursdays.
 MW to correct this and resend out the document to partners.
 The group approved the document pending the date changes.
ACTION:
MW to make corrections to the future meeting dates and recirculate so that partners can
update their diaries.
4.
5.
Children & Young People’s Plan 2017-20
 KC from HBC’s CYP Policy team came along to the meeting to discuss the new
CYP plan.
 KC discussed how, by looking at other LA’s, the size of the new plan will be much
smaller and easier to pick up and get the key information out of it.
o Partners agreed with this approach because the current strategy is deemed
too ‘weighty’.
 KC said that HBC will produce multiple versions, to make it easier for the different
age groups to understand the document.
ACTION:
KC to follow up with partners when the new plan has been finalized.
Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy
 MW asked partners to use the sticky notes infront of them to answer the following
question.
o “Why is participation important in shaping services”
 MW begun by presenting the group with the current draft of the new strategy
New Strategy
DRAFT.pdf

MW read through the document with the group to gather approval in stages.
o Design 
o Our Promises 
o Corporate Plan Link 
o Sticky note question 
o Organizations 
 NOTE: Version shown at the meeting shows Halton Impart on the list
as well
o Priority one 
o Priority two 
o Priority three 
 Partners disputed having social media as one of the key priorities.
A new priority was set at, “Further the level of participation of Children
& Young People services across Halton, regardless or whether they
are public sector, or voluntary sector services.”
o Testimonials 
ACTION:
MW to make changes to the strategy and recirculate to get the final approval.
7.
AOB:
 MW thanked the group for their inputs during the meeting.
Next Meeting:
Wednesday 19th April
4.30 – 6pm
CRMZ
Agenda items to:
involve@haltonyc.com