Agenda and minutes

Councillor Grimshaw declared a personal interest in items related to health matters for the reason that she is a member of the Patients Reference Group.           

Delegated decisions:

1. That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 January 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.       

2. That the matters arising update be noted.

Inspector Kenny (GMP) addressed the meeting and gave an update on crime levels in Whitefield.

It was reported that compared to the same period in 2013 there had been 164 less victims of crime in Whitefield. The reduction was as follows:

·        58 less victims of violence (including domestic violence);

·        23 less house burglaries;

·        10 less acts of robbery;

·        25 less car break-ins.

One area of concern related to an increase in the incidence of hate crime, with 11 crimes recorded. The police take the issue of hate crime very seriously will investigate each crime to establish the reasons for the increase. It was suggested that one reason could be that victims were more   confident about reporting crime.

The partnership working that exists between the Police and other organisations such as Bury Council have contributed greatly to the reductions in reported crime.

The Chair invited questions.

MR Marshall asked if the criteria used for recording crime has changed?

It was reported that GMP has a very stringent process for recording and checking crime committed. This process had not changed or been amended.

Councillor Jones asked what the period of was used for the information presented?

It was reported the period of recording crime started on 1 April and ended on 31 March the following year. The periods checked for the purposes of the meeting were 2012/13 and 2013/14

Councillor Mathews referred to the issue of speeding vehicles on Parr Lane and asked what local residents could do to record and inform the police of       such incidents.

Inspector Kenny stated that it was important for residents to record incidents and forward them to the police in order for intelligence to be gathered and co-ordinated action to be taken.

What are the reasons for the reduction in crime?

The reduction is a result of a change in the policing model which has brought       together crime specialists, local Police Officers and Police Community     Supports Officers. Policing is intelligence led and focus has been on the causes of crime.

Councillor Grimshaw reported that the had been an issue with a group of young people which had congregated on the Elms Close after being dispersed by Police Community Supports Officers. Elms Close is in a residential area of mainly elderly residents who may feel threatened by the group.

Inspector Kenny reported that he would make a record and look at the matter, the reasons why they were meeting there and work on a solution.   There were a number of measures to be taken involving talking to the people involved, talking or writing to the parents. This could be enforced               through agreements and contracts if necessary.

Mr Marshall reported that he had witnessed school children walking on the Metrolink track on two occasions between Whitefield and Radcliffe.

Inspector Kenny stated that contact could be made to either Metrolink or the Police. In view of the potential danger the school children were in it may be necessary to ring 999 as an emergency. The Inspector undertook  ...  view the full minutes text for item WUTF.858

The Township Co-ordinator gave an update on the progress of the Township Plan.

The Township Forum received a presentation from Sharon Martin and Dr Stuart North from the Bury Clinical Commissioning Group which is responsible for commissioning of health services in Bury. The transformation of health and care services in Bury was being implemented in conjunction with changes across Greater Manchester under the Healthier Together proposals.

The presentation provided an outline of Healthier Together which would draw together:-

·        A Greater Manchester Integrated Care Programme

·        A Healthier Together Programme

·        A Greater Manchester Primary Care Programme

An ‘In-Hospital Reconfiguration Programme’ would include a clinically led programme of work to develop safer, higher quality hospital services targeting:-

·        Urgent, Acute and Emergency Medicine

·        General Surgery, and

·        Women’s and Children’s services

These changes have been proposed in order to meet an increasing number of demands on resources. The Reconfiguration Programme will provide health services at community level(integrating GPs, hospital doctors, community services and social care) and developing centres of excellence for more specialised need. There would be a move towards lowering the need for emergency admissions/need for A&E visits through the introduction of 7 days a week GP availability. A pilot scheme was currently being run in Radcliffe and had seen improvements in health service provision.

The Chair invited questions.

-    Why has the scheme in Radcliffe received limited publicity?

It has been limited to the patients in Radcliffe only. It is envisaged that a larger scheme will be rolled across the whole of Bury and these will receive a higher level of publicity. Through the provision of a GP service over the weekend it is less likely that an A&E Department will be visited for minor conditions. This will reduce the pressure on hospital services.

- Will there be improved contacts for people who suffer from dementia to ensure that the right services are provided?

Dementia is high on the list of priorities and by working with local authorities to identify people who may be affected by mental health issues it will be more effective to put services into place to speed up the process for care.

-      Why are women and children and not men included as a priority area, is there a reduction in cover for men health screening?

No, it is proposed that there will be a follow to the ‘Making it Better’ initiative for men’s health. Women and children’s health has been given priority through screening and immunisations.

- Will elderly people be monitored to ensure they receiving social care 

People over the age of 75 years will provided with a named GP. GPs will also be looking at their patients to identify those with the highest levels of need to work through individual plans and providing localised services, where possible, to reduce the need for hospital visits.

- Will there be special care baby provision at Fairfield Hospital?

Maternity care will be based on capacity for each hospital and where possible child birth will take place at a local hospital. In those situations where special care is required it  ...  view the full minutes text for item WUTF.860

The Chair introduced Diane Hilton (Service Manager - Public Health) to the meeting who gave a presentation on the Joint Strategic needs Assessment (JSNA). The presentation gave data on the wards within Bury setting out rates of life expectancy, inequality and deprivation, lifestyle and living environments.

Diane explained that the purpose of the JSNA was:-

-      An assessment of local health and social care needs both now and in the future

-      It defines where inequalities exist

-      It highlights key findings

-      It should be used to inform and guide commissioning of health, well-being and social care services

The period of consultation will runs from 18 February to 31 March 2014 and will ask contributors:

-      Are these the right priorities?

-      Are there other issues that would benefit from further exploration and why these are important?

Responses can be made via Bury Council website at www.bury.gov.uk or via a leaflet that was circulated at the meeting.

A consultation report will be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board and will consider findings and implications for the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and relevant commissioning plans.

The Chair invited questions:

-      Domestic violence - can it be included as part of the JSNA?

The domestic violence strategy is in the process of being revised following its launch a few years ago.

-      Rates of homelessness in Bury have is this monitored?

Data is produced based on the number of people who present to the Bury Council’s Housing Office to say they have no where to live.

The Chair thanked Daine Hilton for her attendance and presentation.

The Chair invited the members of the public present to askquestions or raise items of concern relating to the provision of local services.

Mrs Marshall reported to the meeting that she been very impressed with what she had seen during her visit to the Victoria Community Youth Centre. The work being done by Marlene Dawson and the other volunteer members at the centre with the young people of the area was very inclusive and positive.

Mr Marshall asked for progress the Council Engineers regarding his suggestion for the road markings at the roundabout on the Manchester Road approach to be improved to reduce that risk out accidents. This would involve remarking the road so that the left lane would allow drivers to turn left as well as go straight on. The centre lane would be for travelling straight on and the right lane would allow drivers to turn right only.

Mr Marshalll also referred to the dumping of garden refuse on the public footpath located between Church Lane and Avondale Drive in Whitefield and asked for bollards to be erected at the Church Lane end of the footpath to prevent vehicles accessing the path.

The Township Co-ordinator undertook to contact the Footpaths Officer on the issue of installing bollards.

Mr Mallon asked for the road markings on Higher Lane and Fountain Place to be improved to filter traffic into a single lane to reduce the chances of collisions as vehicles approached the traffic lights at Fountain Place.

Mr Mallon reported that the residents of Nuttall Avenue would like compensation from Metrolink for the reason that the extension to the Metrolink car park had resulted in having a negative impact on the visible amenity of residents.

The Chair suggested that Metrolink be contacted to attend a future meeting of the Township Forum.

Mr Greenhalgh asked if action could be taken to amalgamate the car parks adjacent to the Aldi Store in Whitefield to make the traffic safer on Higher Lane. The present situation with several different car parks was creating problems for road users as they exited on to the Higher Lane.

Consideration was given to a Community Funding report which provided an update on the levels of funding available in the Whitefield and Unsworth Wards for 2013/14.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.

The Chair gave notices of forthcoming events that would be taking place within Whitefield and Unsworth.

The Chair informed the meeting that Mr Alex Stacey (Whitefield Business Group) had stepped down from his position of Advisory Group Representative. The Chair thanked Mr Stacey for his involvement with the Township Forum and wished him well for the future.