Agenda item - Minutes

To consider (a) the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 October and (b) matters arising from the minutes.

90.1 At 83.5 peg feeding was a healthcare technique.

90.2 At Item 84 Sue Howley said all interested in helping engage with older people on Age Friendly City were invited to  the next Pensioner Action meeting, 10am – 12.30am on Tuesday 27 November in the Friends Meeting House, that would be attended by Annie Alexander (Public Health Programme Manager) and Emma Daniel (CVSF)  (ACTION - All)

90.3 At 85.4 The Head of Scrutiny would be asked to invite relevant officers from Social Care, Public Health and Housing to speak at 22 January 2013 OPC meeting on implications of the budget proposals for older people’s services. Members were interested in how the European budget situation would affect project funding, eg Interreg. (ACTION - Scrutiny)

90.4 At 86.1 The annual affiliation fee was £15 and this had been paid.

90.5 At 87.5 Older people were more likely than other age groups to be concerned about restructuring of bowls clubs and mobile libraries.

90.6 At 87.9 Noted that Hove Square proposals were on hold. On proposals for road crossings at Seven Dials, Francis Tonks had written to the Argus that zebra crossings were less preferable for the elderly and partially sighted than the existing traffic lights. Age UK Brighton & Hove had also made representations about erecting a sign to indicate their offices nearby.

90.7 Regarding major development proposals, eg Lewes Road, Brighton Station Gateway and Seven Dials the Chair Jack Hazelgrove noted that OPC members, both individually and as a group could respond. The Council’s Forward Plan would be included on all OPC agendas to enable early discussion and where possible a combined response from an older people’s perspective to influence decision-making, contribute to Age-Friendly City. OPC Member attendance at Committees was a crucial part of getting early information and early input into policy development. (ACTION – Scrutiny, all)

90.8 Penny Morley noted that in development proposals, ‘Consultations’ and ‘Equalities’ did not include ‘older people’ in the list of groups to be consulted;  whereas older people ought to be considered specifically as a matter of course, age being a protected characteristic, and should be part of Equality Impact Assessment.  Councillor Geoffrey Bowden said OPC ought, as routine, to be a consultee on all proposals eg the Seafront Strategy. OPC could write to Councillor Ben Duncan as lead on Equalities. (ACTION - Scrutiny)

90.9 The Chair Jack Hazelgrove noted that in discussion with the Leader Councillor Jason Kitcat, there had to be reluctant acceptance that no more could be done within the Council about holding an Older Peoples Day in the foreseeable future.

90.10 Francis Tonks who served on the Steering Group for (all) People’s Day, said the OPC stall at that event was well linked with other Health and Wellbeing organisations, which was valuable. Harry Steer said some smaller organisations that he represented, wanted an Older People’s Day; they did not consider it worthwhile to attend People’s Day, as they would not be noticed there.

90.11 Members were glad to have participated in Peoples Day and the Tea Party with the Mayor.

90.12 It was suggested that all older people’s groups work closely together, eg towards a consultation launch day for Age Friendly City, to help attract support and funding – so that would be a ‘de facto’ Older People’s Day. The Public Health Programme Manager would be contacted. (ACTION - Scrutiny)