Agenda item - Members' Update

364.1  Penny Morley:

• Health & Social Care Network - Attended meeting on 21st November coordinated by Community Works with presentations from BHCC officers and

CCG’s Jane Lodge. Adam Doyle CCG discussed the joint relationship between health and the voluntary sector. BHCC officers presenting were Jessica Harper, Commissioning Manager & Emma McDermott Head of Communities & Equalities. The CCG made clear that they would want to evaluate the contribution of the voluntary sector in some objective way. He also outlined yet further organisational name and structure changes re CCG & STP.

• City Wide Connect - Attended North/ Central hub meeting on 22nd November. This is co-ordinated by Possability People across the City. A wide range of participants from organisations across the City discussed - Transitioning from work to retirement, Bereavement, Building Carer Friendly Communities, Digital, Ageing Well and Long-term health conditions. Bus company accessibility officer was very willing to talk to any groups that would want further information.

• Tower House - Attended a meeting organised by Possability People (PP)on the 27th November. Mixture of BHCC, OPC & PP people. PP gave an update on the views of people & their carers that were moved from Tower House to other venues. Principally Barford Court, Ralli Hall, Somerset & Wayfield Avenue. Transport,Communication,Choice & Control and Costs were all raised as themes from the survey. Discussion held about lessons to be learnt from the way the process was handled. Tower House has now re-opened as a day centre run by St Vincent de Paul with lunches on Wednesday & Thursday. Contact 01273-54904 or towerhouse@svp.org.uk.

• CCG Big Conversation - attended STP meeting on the 30th November – now called Sussex & East Surrey Sustainability & Transformation Partnership. By 2020/21 the financial gap estimated to be £900 million if no changes made to way services provided. Currently has no powers to make decisions on behalf of the 24 organisations in the STP but this could change in future but only by Parliament.

• Age Friendly City - attended a Steering group meeting on the 7th December and future structure and terms of reference under consideration. Presentations given by Fabrica & South East Arts about their work for older people in the City. Gay dementia play at Brooke Mead, Albion Street on 15th February at 11.00. Contact 01273 234009 or rainbow.cafe@switchboard.org.uk for details.

• Posh Club - live cabaret & afternoon tea for over 60s coming to Brighton & Hove running every Friday 12 to 3.00 from the 13th April for 10 weeks and will be at Ralli Hall, Hove. They contacted OPC, made contact and they will be advertising shortly and looking for volunteers. See www.facebook.com/ThePoshClub1/.

364.2  Francis Tonks:

·         Laid a wreath on Remembrance Sunday on behalf of Brighton Heritage conservation Commission

·         Attended the Pensioner Convention meeting

·         Attended a Culture Framework meeting

·         Attended Research Group meetings. The Research Group will begin interviewing older people in the new year.The Group is considering extending its purview to include issues around housing. A speaker from the floor welcomed this and suggested that this should include the problems encountered by older owner occupiers.

364.3  John Cook:

·         Has been assisting at Tower House – driving the coach. Tower House now offers lunches on Wednesdays and Thursdays for lonely and isolated people. This will be extended to include Tuesdays and Fridays in the new year.

·         Attended a CCG event on dementia and spoke about the fragmentation of services. However it was disappointing to see so few service users at the meeting and Mr Cook wrote to the CCG about this. Mr Cook has subsequently been invited to join a CCG Primary Care Reference Group which will help plan for constructive public engagement on primary care issues.

364.4  Mike Bojzcuk

·         Asked a question at BHCC Housing & New Homes Committee on the potential for providing free wifi in the common areas of Senior Housing schemes. BHCC has promised to look into this.

·         Has also raised the issue of the provision of dedicated mobility scooter stores in high-rise blocks, particularly as fire safety concerns mean that people may no longer be able to leave their scooters outside their flats. BHCC Housing is now looking at developing storage solutions in at least one block.

·         Has been working with Tower House on a digital inclusion project.

·         Has attended a Carers’ Group meeting focusing on IT solutions.

·         Attended an NHS England Carers’ Convention.

364.5  Michael Whitty

·         Has offered to drive the minibus for Patcham Companions

·         The Westdene Barn renovation is progressing and a lunch for older people will take place there on the 19^th December.

·         The latest Withdean and Patcham newsletter has been sent to 10,000 houses. Mr Whitty has applied for Police & Crime Commissioner funding for the next issue.

·         Has negotiated for information on the OPC to be included in The Post magazine.

·         Has joined the Patient participation Group for Warmdene.

364.6  Colin Vincent (Chair)

Has been in contact with the developers of the Preston Barracks scheme to discuss the scheme’s impact on older people and possible mitigatory measures (e.g. having better crossings with longer crossing times on the Lewes Road. Has also raised the issue of improving disability access to Moulescoomb station.

TOWER HOUSE

Together with Penny attended event to discuss a report by Possability People: commissioned by Social Services on the closure of Tower House. The proceedings in workshop format led by David Brindle BHCC Public Health Programme Manager and included staff from the Council’s Social Services Commissioning Section.

The general conclusion of those taking part was that insufficient time was allowed for representation to be made on issues of the suitability of alternative placements, transport arrangements and cost, all question raised at the time with Councillors and Council Officers by the OPC on behalf of the vulnerable group affected.  

SENPec OFFICERS MEETING

Main topic discussed was National Dignity Day 1^st Feb 2018 when a lobby of NHS health and social care providers organised by the National Pensioners Convention to promote adoption of the NPC’S Dignity Code

is being organised. Locally it was decided to leaflet the Sussex County Hospital and the Eye hospital.

POLICY, RESOURCES  & GR0WTH COMMITTEE

First public presentation of the 2017/18 Budget details at this stage evoked little discussion by members present except for a comment by one Councillor that it was “a boring one” notwithstanding the fact that the report indicated it was necessary make saving of £13M in due to increased demand in areas such as dementia, mental health and adults with learning difficulties.

ALBION IN THE COMMUNITY

Attended an all day Wellbeing event at the Amex for men & women receiving or recovering from treatment for prostate cancer and their carers. A range of presentations on issues from dieting to physical activities, mental health and access to a range of other available support.

HEALTH OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Received a response to the question I raised with the Rob Percy Director of Social Services at the previous HOSC about how the money raised by the 2017/2018 Social Service Precept had been spent. His response was that the money was used to fund living wage increases for home care staff (£1.748m) and changes in the demand/ complexity within mental health, memory, cognitive and learning disabilities (£1.889m)

CARING TOGETHER UPDATE

Presentation by Dr David Supple Chair of B&H CCG and Rob Persey on changes to the way urgent and primary care services will be commissioned across B&H, Horsham & Mid Sussex, High Weald Lewes Havens, and Crawley CCGs. There will also be a combined management structure along with the rationalisation of administration and clinical activities. Formal shadow working together is scheduled from April 2018.

AGE FRIENDLY CITY STEERING GROUP

 With Penny attended meeting chaired by David Brindley who is undertaking a root and branch review of the project’s terms of reference and objectives and is considering a more active role for older participants in a revised consultation process with links to the Council’s decision making committee structure.