Agenda item - Reports from Members, the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer

7.1             Francis Tonks:

·        Attended the LiNK meeting with partners and raised the issue of the closure of St. Patricks. There was discussion on the consultation of the Traveller Strategy and violence against women. The Home Office figures reported 3 million women had violence against them and 5-10k suffered domestic violence. The Black, Minority and Ethnic (BME) members of the Community Forum felt that they were unfairly represented. Some of the statistics were doubted.

·        Letters published in the Argus against the proposed budget cuts for Meals on Wheels and the closure of some of the public toilets.

7.2             Harry Steer:

·        Would feedback about a potential co-optee for the OPC.

7.3             Colin Vincent:

·        Attended a Health, public meeting organised by Pensioner Action.

·        Attended a meeting on Care Home Contracts which provided information for carers visiting Care Homes.

·        Attended the Palliative Care Project with partners.

·        Took part in the Local Account consultation on behalf of the OPC with Philip Letchfield.

·        Would investigate further on the alternatives to the closure of St Patricks.

7.4             Colin Carden:

·        Had been contacted by the Communities and Equalities team in relation to neighbourhood councils. The information needed to be forwarded to the Chair for his response.

7.5             Peter Terry

·        Attended the Eastern Road Partnership meeting where there where a speaker presented information on Drug and Alcohol Abuse within older people.

7.6             Mike Bojczuk:

·        The Crisis in Care- House of Commons White Paper due in April proposed for providing care. It would be useful to find out what the issues could be in relation to the proposals.

·        Facilitated the meeting for the Palliative Care Project, King’s College, London. A draft response had been sent.

·        Letter published in the Argus on housing proposals and ensuring future plans also included housing for the older people.

·        Requested it would be useful to have links to all council services and link to the OPC website so users could access information such as fuel efficiency, active for life etc…

7.7             Jack Hazelgrove:

·        Renew links on intergenerational work  and favoured a further meeting with the Youth Council

·        A PHD student needed an older person to film for a Dementia project. Colin Carden volunteered.