Agenda and draft minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November, 2010 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting that took place on 9th November 2010 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Geraldine Moore, Chief Officer of Age Concern Lancashire will be present at the meeting to inform Members about the work of Age Concern and the Linking Communities Project.

The Chairman welcomed Geraldine Moore, Chief Officer of Age Concern Lancashire to the meeting.

The Task Group was given a presentation on the work of Age Concern Lancashire. The organisation had four main objectives :

• Promote independence
• Improving health and well being
• Ensuring older people are not excluded
• Providing information and advice

There were three teams in the Lancaster district – a promoting independence team, a health and well being team and Help Direct. Members were given details of the work of the teams, the information, advice, the products and services available to older people in the district.

Members were given the opportunity to ask questions.

A further presentation was then given on the Linking Communities project.

Members were reminded that Linking Communities was a 3 year project funded by the Big Lottery Funding which aimed to examine whether the involvement of local communities in the development of services for older people results in better provision. 

To begin the project, an initial survey had been undertaken to gauge older people’s views.  Three project areas had been chosen, one of which was in Carnforth and the first Community Development Group had taken place the previous week. This Group included members of the public, service providers and commissioner of services for older people.

Members asked questions relating to the project.

The Chairman thanked Geraldine for her informative presentations.

Members were advised that, since the last meeting of the Task Group the situation regarding the Draft Strategy had changed. It was reported that the Older People’s Partnership had recently met and agreed that, as the Partnership was not fulfilling its Terms of Reference, the group would cease.

With this in mind, the Chairman of the Older People’s Partnership had rewritten the draft Strategy. Members were advised that the Task Group could not take ownership of the draft Strategy, but a way forward would be to refer it to the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership (LDLSP). Officers had liaised with the LDLSP Manager regarding this and it had been suggested that the LDLSP could host an Older People’s public event. At this event, the themes and recommendations within the draft Strategy could be used as a starting point to agree a list of priorities and a plan of how these could be achieved within the following 12 months by the partners and organisations present.

Members went on to discuss the suggested recommendations that had emerged from the Task Group’s work over the past year.

It was agreed that the recommendations as set out below be included in a draft interim report from the Task Group which would be circulated to Members for comment, before being agreed by the Chairman in consultation with the Head of Governance.

It was further agreed that a Final Report would be produced after the outcomes of the LDLSP event had been agreed.

Resolved :

(1)        That the following be included as recommendations in an Interim Report from the Task Group :

(a)        (i)         That the Council formally recognises the role of Champion for Older                         People.

(ii)        That the Older People’s Champion be a non executive role.

(b)             That the outcomes of the Age Concern project – Linking Communities project be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in terms of how services provided by the Council can be developed.

(c)             (i)         That the Council develop an Older Person’s Housing Strategy.

(ii)        That a Housing sub group be established to advise on the issues to be included in the Older Person’s Housing Strategy.

(d)             (i)         That, in the absence of any other partnerships dealing with  Older                  Peoples issues, the Lancaster District Local Strategic  Partnership be             requested to host an Older People’s public event.

(ii)        That the draft Older People’s Strategy be used to inform                               this event.

(iii)       That a 12 month plan of priorities for Older People be                                               agreed by the partners at this event.

(e)        That Overview and Scrutiny Committee be requested to include Older People’s issues in their Work Programme on an annual basis.

(2)        That the draft Interim Report of the Task Group be circulated to Members for comment before being agreed by the Chairman in consultation with the Head of Governance.

(3)        That a Final Report be produced after the outcomes of the LDLSP event have been agreed.