Agenda item - Secretary's Update

SECRETARIAL REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2016

• Annual Report - During summer OPC members provided sections for the report and it was edited. Meet with Council officers for further discussions and report passed to design for production.

• OPC Officers met on the 9th August and discussed a range of issues including Fairness Commission, OPC Intergenerational Debate, Falls and Public Toilets.

• Age Friendly Steering Group - met on the 8th September and discussed Older People and Employment. Presentations and minutes will be circulated. Agreed that any BHCC programmes with partners should ensure that older people are included in support for employment programmes.

• Age Friendly City Forum - The next meeting will be on Monday 26th September at Age UK in Prestonville Road Brighton at 10.15. We will get an update about support from Age UK and discuss the future focus for the forum.

• Fairness Commission - Meeting with Councillor Emma Daniel held on the 6^th September to discuss the recommendations as they affect older people. We discussed our concern about non-digital forms of communication being available to older people and to target those most in need. They wanted OPC to identify three priorities out of the recommendations for implementation. There was a suggestion of a workshop with Possibility people re the Access recommendations. Need to discuss

• Older People’s Festival - This year the Older People’s Day on the 1st October

has been extend to a two week festival with copies of the programme available

on line at http://impact-initiatives.org.uk/opf/ and in paper form. It runs from the 26th September to the 7th October. The OPC are involved in an intergenerational debate at Dorothy Stringer School on the 27th September at 4.15 pm. The topic is that “We believe that older and younger generations have far more in common than is often suggested in the media.”

• NHS Sub-contracting - Correspondence between the Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee & Jeremy Hunt & NHS England on the subject of liability & lines of accountability & monitoring relating to the commissioning of private health providers has been seen by OPC. They raise concerns about subcontracting and accountability which could be raised with HWBB and/or CCG?

• Home Care Contract - A new contract started on the 5th September for 5 years between BHCC & CCG. There are 10 main providers & 10 back up providers and Living Wage of £8.25 is to be paid. OPC to receive an update on contract at October meeting.

• City Parks - A consultation is open until the 28th October re the future of the parks and open spaces. The budget is to be cut by £600,000 to £3.4 million between now & 2020.

• N H S D eme n t i a A t l a s - P l a c e d o n OP C w e b s i t e - h t t p : / /olderpeoplescouncil.org/publichealth.html

• East Sussex Fire & Rescue - Undertaking fee electric blanket testing on September 20th at Hove Town Hall, September 21st at Preston Circus Fire Station & 22nd at Reedman Fire Station. Appointments to be made call 08001777069.

Invitations

• City Wide Connect - The next hubs meetings are East on 22nd September in Dorset Gardens. North/Central 29th September at Brighthelm and West on 5^th October at Ralli Hall Hove.

• Fitness MOT for over 50s - Organised by Active for Life at King Alfred on 29^th September. Free but booking required - contact 01273-292724

• Dementia Friendly Gardening - project of Brighton & Hove Food Partnership with cookery & gardening activities for people with mild dementia. More information on 01273-431700 or helen@bhfood.org.uk

• Age UK - Petition to oppose the Government’s proposals to pass on

responsibility for paying Attendance Allowance to Councils.

• Mayors Office - Brighton Housing Trust dinner on the 8th October to fundraise.Tickets cost £50 a head. Contact Sara Peskett on 01273 326844

• Hangleton & Knoll - Annual 50+ event on Monday 3rd October from 1 to 4 pm at St Richards Community Centre, Egremont Road, Hove.

Newsletters

• Healthwatch - Press Release re CQC Inspection. Report on OPC website as hospital deemed inadequate. Also press release about Patient Transport failings and the Strategic & Transformation Plans calling for local discussions.

• NPC - Newsletter for September circulated. An NPC Transport Conference is being held on the 22nd September. A Parliamentary lobby on the 2nd November.

• Community Works - Regular newsletter. Details of members conference on the 13th October around themes of community cohesion and community safety.

• British Heart Foundation - Active ageing information for Older People’s Day events.