Agenda item - Update of items

7.1         FT informed members that the OPC had been invited to input into the  Stanmer Park Consultation.

7.2         JH had attended the Speakers Corner which was a national set up and the Philosophy in Pubs would be opening soon.

7.3         CV attended the 17 March, Adult Social Care Committee meeting. CV also attended the Board meeting as the Director of Grey Matters Production and informed members that there was a promise for some further funding. CV was planning to attend the Local Account meeting, which was a summary of Adult Social Care services; views were collated as to how well services were provided. Additionally CV had attended the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) South East, in Brighton where there was discussion about promoting the NPC Dignity.

7.4         MB attended the south east Ageing Policy planning meeting, there would be a voluntary work feature and was in discussion with Age UK on the Lottery Fund.

7.5         PM had attended the AFC Steering Group meeting which consisted of a variety of organisations. Brighton should be mapping out all their older people’s services. A focus group on public toilets at the Open Market had informed that people could show their medical cards to other organisations so that they could use their facilities if required. Sheltered Housing visits would continue. The Chief Executive from the National Pensioners Convention had recently said that the UK pension was the lowest pension internationally other than Mexico.

7.6         HS reported that training for social workers on social abuse was being organised.

7.7         SH was dealing with the production of the Pensioner and people writing into the magazine. The website was to be launched in July 2014.

7.8         JW had attended the recent Planning Committee meeting where the Dyke Road open air theatre had been discussed but there was no decision due to inaccuracies in the presentation of the scheme.

7.9         Councillor Bowden had been re-elected as the Chair of the Economic Development & Culture Committee. The Policy & Resources Committee on the 1 June, 2014 would be voting on the restructure of a Health & Wellbeing Board which should be more effective and incorporate adult social services. The Chair of Adult Social Care would have a place on there. Members were informed to try and get representation on this. At the recent Housing Committee meeting a Letters report had been heard about the legalistic and threatening tone of letters across the board, which could alarm older recipients. The National Pensioners Convention were seeking to establish a Brighton branch and was running a national campaign on bus passes. A local NPC could complement the work that the OPC were carrying out.