Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

Minutes of the last meeting held on 6 November, 2014.

It was agreed:

That the Minutes of the last meeting of the Township Forum held on 6 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair invited questions/comments and representations from members of the public present at the meeting.  The Township Co-ordinator undertook to obtain a reply to matters that could not be dealt with directly at the meeting:-

 - Despite the positive improvements to the Market and success of the Open Day, the toilet facilities were not yet open – why?

Councillor Shori gave an assurance to look into this matter.

 - How is the Community space at the Market intended to be used?

 - Would it be possible for Radcliffe to be considered as an access point for  Manchester Credit Union?

Councillor Shori commented on the success of the Manchester Credit Union and that the Town Hall had been considered as an access point for members.  As the Credit Union continues to grow, access points at community venues would be a consideration for the future.

 - When would the Market signage be erected?

Councillor Isherwood reported that the signage had been planned and budgeted for and would be erected as soon as possible.

 - A request for an update in relation to Radcliffe Baths and confirmation of the cost of the temporary pool.

Councillor Shori reported that the temporary pool would be installed by the end of April 2015 and that the Council were currently looking into the finances for a possible new build project.  It was confirmed that the cost of the temporary pool was £1.15 million.  

An update on local police issues will be provided at the meeting subject to the availability of an Officer from Greater Manchester Police

PC Taylor attended the meeting in order to provide an update on key police issues in Bury.  In December 2014, 136 crimes were committed in Radcliffe, of these crimes 9 were burglaries, 6 were drug related, 8 car thefts, 11 public order offences, 16 related to assaults/harassment and the remainder categorised as “other” offences.

The Chair invited questions/comments from the audience:-

 - How do these figures compare with November 2014 crime figures?

PC Taylor would provide an update at the next meeting.

 - A request for a breakdown of domestic violence statistics for Radcliffe.

An update on these figures would be provided at a future meeting.

 - An update on the recent theft of the Mayoral chains.

It was reported that a car had been recovered in relation to this particular crime. 

It was agreed:

That the information provided be noted and PC Taylor be thanked for his contribution to the meeting.

Heather Hutton, Social Development Manager will give a presentation at the meeting to introduce the new online community directory.

Sarah-Jane Rushton and Katie Woods gave a presentation on the Bury Directory, the new on-line one-stop information point for advice, support, activities and services in Bury.  The presentation included a demonstration on how to access the Bury Directory on-line and navigate the website. The meeting was informed that this community directory had been established as a result of the new statutory duty on council’s to provide easy access for information services for local residents.  In terms of the Bury Directory, this had been established from a social care and community perspective. The following key features of the Directory were presented:-

·      Market themed icons which would allow access to information, services, activities and support for either adults or children and families.

·      Search option for services’ offers for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

·      Information and advice to help adults live independently within the community and support for people when they need it the most.

·      Links to Bury Council’s website.

·      The ability to personalise contacts and information lists.

·      Postcode search facility to access health services

·      Map and distance calculator facility

·      Basic information about services including contact details

·      Review of services function including star ratings and comments

page

·      Text language translation facility

·      What’s on guide

·      Provider update function and community groups pages

The Chair invited questions/comments from the audience:-

- Would there be a suggestions page for users unable to access specific information?

There is a “contact us” option but a suggestions page option could be considered as the site development evolves.

- Can community groups’ information pages be linked to more than one    search category?

It was reported that the site operators can tag different key words to each community groups’ information pages.  It was confirmed that the information pages could include all organisations in Bury, not just Council and charity information.

- It was confirmed that there is a link to the Bury Directory from Bury Councl’s website but the site is separate from the Council’s website with it’s own web address.  A Google search would provide a direct link to the site.  The site had been up and running since August 2014 but the site was continually developing since it’s launch.  Video clips via YouTube were also available on the Directory website.

It was agreed:

That the information provided be noted and that Sarah-Jane and Katie be thanked for their contribution to the meeting.

Annemari Poldkivi, Healthwatch Bury Research and Public Participation Co-ordinator will give a presentation at the meeting.

Anne-Marie Poldkivi and Barbara Barlow representing Healthwatch Bury gave a presentation on Healthwatch Bury, the new consumer champion for both health and social care in Bury, at local level and Healthwatch England, at national level.

The meeting was informed of the key objectives for Healthwatch Bury:-

·      To give adults, children and young people (both individuals and communities) a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care are provided in Bury and to help people get the best out of those services.

·      To provide advice and information services.

·      To collect resident’s views on local health and social care services.  This information will help build a picture of where services are doing well and where they can be improved.

·      To work with a wide range of existing services and organisations in Bury.

·      To provide evidence and feedback to organisations responsible for commissioning or delivering local health and social care services.

·      To work with the Clinical Commissioning Group to help make sure that services really are designed to meet local people’s needs.

·      To represent the views of people who use services and all local citizens on Bury Health and Wellbeing Board.

·      Provide information about what to do when things go wrong and

signpost people to the independent NHS Complaints and Advocacy Services.

The Chair invited questions/comments from the audience:-

- Is this a new organisation or is it an established service with a new name?

The Healthwatch service has been provided in the past by what were previously known as the Community Health Council, the Patient Forum, and The Link.  Healthwatch is a Government funded service and Healthwatch Bury have now established a Board to oversee their work.  Healthwatch Bury is an independent organisation and it’s funding is distributed from Central Government via the local authority.

- Councillor Shori commented on the need of a local independent body which is able to regulate service provision and champion local people’s views on health care provision.  Healthwatch Bury also needs to work closely with Bury’s Health Scrutiny Commission.

- The Bury community needs to be aware that Healthwatch Bury exists and needs to publicise it’s successes

Healthwatch Bury will produce Newsletters and E-Bulletins.  One early success is that Healthwatch Bury will take the lead on a Child Abuse study working with local residents and services.

- Will Healthwatch Bury’s existence be vulnerable to further Government austerity cuts and the information it collates be used at a political level to reduce local health budgets further?

Healthwatch Bury will need a strong, focused and robust Board of Members to ensure it is successful and there is the possibility that it may need to self-finance in the future.  Any information/statistics would be sent to the Department of Health.

- Which local Healthwatch scheme would a Bury resident contact if they are accessing health care outside of the Borough?

Any Bury resident could have contact with Healthwatch Bury irrespective of which are they are accessing services and Healthwatch Bury would contact the provider on their  ...  view the full minutes text for item RTF580

Report attached, for information.

Christine Maksymowski, Township Co-ordinator submitted the draft Township Forum Plan which provided an update on the progress of the themes contained within the Action Plan for 2013/14 which included the following key points since the last meeting of the Township Forum:-

·      November 2014 – The Dark Nights project had been a success.  Leaflets and timers had been distributed to local residents with the support of the local police.                       

·      2 December 2014 – Backing Young Bury Careers event was held and attended by over 300 young people throughout the day.

·      9 December 2014 – The draft operation plan for Our Place had been submitted and the Forum was awaiting feedback.  Once received, the initiative can move forward.

The Chair invited questions/comments from the audience:-

- A question in relation to progress made in terms of utilising community space such as local parks?

Christine Maksymowski reported on the work with groups such as the Friends of Close Park and of the success of the “I Will if You Will” project who were using the local parks for activity sessions.

-  A comment on the need for Radcliffe groups to promote their activities to the wider community.

The new Bury Directory would be an ideal tool for community groups to promote their groups and advertise planned activities and events.

- A Stand Lane resident commented on the lack of use of their local parks space  for activities/events.

Christine agreed to raise this with the “I Will if You Will” team.  Collette Jones representing Friends of Close Park raised the issue of adverse affects of the cuts to the local park rangers service for community groups wishing to use local parks for events and activities and of the problems faced by groups who need liability insurance in place to hold events in the local parks.  The Council were not in a position financially to support groups in this.  The Chair, Colin Jones asked group volunteers to try Bury Third Sector Development who may be able to assist groups with this issue.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.

A copy of the Community Funding report for Radcliffe was submitted, setting out details of the funding allocations to date in support of the work of local voluntary and community groups.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.

Colette Jones representing the Friends of Close Park provided the following update:-

-    Funding had been acquired for a third Heritage Dig following the success and findings from previous digs at the Tower.  This would take place during the time of the late May Bank Holiday.  A number of medieval themed events were in the planning.

-    An update on Historical Panels written and designed by local volunteers

- these would include Apps to access local historical information.

- A quarter of the space in Radcliffe Library had been set aside for the display of local Radcliffe historical information compiled by volunteers from Radcliffe interested in promoting local history.  This new group’s initial meetings had been well attended.

- Tower Beer had been launched in November in Prestwich as all Radcliffe pubs were tied in to Breweries and therefore unable to get involved in promotions. 

- There had been a number of injuries to dogs who were being injured by broken glass in Close Park.  Volunteers were trying to clean up whenever possible. The clean up of the parks had deteriorated since the cuts to the rangers service.

Barbara Law representing Chapelfield Residents Association reported that the Old Mill Lodge on the Barratts Estate had been formally designated as a nature reserve.  This means that a “Friends of..” Group can be established and funding applied for to support the nature reserve. Barbara raised the concerns discussed earlier in the meeting relating to the difficulties faced by community groups having to apply and fund liability insurance costs when using public space for events.

A local resident enquired if anyone present had any old photographs of the Old Tower Farmhouse. A resident suggested contacted Bury Olden Days FaceBook pages for help. It was also reported that volunteers/community groups were being asked to help with the restoration of the Wheel on Zion Street.

Gordon Hartley from Ainsworth Community Association reported that the group had been successful in obtaining grants to assist with the upgrade of Delph Park’s footpaths.  The group had also been involved in a successful project with Bury Rural Equalities Forum to link up the rural villages in Bury.  The “Bury Link” was now on the internet which provided information on local walks linking the villages and historical information.

Ruth Yasmeen representing First Life Film informed the meeting of the training courses on offer aimed at excluded groups teaching volunteers the craft of how to develop and manage a film show.  Previous training offered has included a 13 week screen writing course with the BBC including the opportunity to pitch a film idea which may be commissioned by the BBC.  The organisation has links with work in Bollywood and were keen to discover and use north west locations for future Bollywood films.

It was agreed:

That the information provided be noted, with thanks.

The next meeting of Radcliffe Township Forum will be held on Wednesday 25 February, 2015, at 6 pm at Radcliffe Civic Suite.

The next meeting of the Township Forum would be held on Tuesday 24 February, 2015 at 6 pm.  Possible venue would be Groundwork Radcliffe – to be confirmed.