Agenda and draft minutes

Members of Prestwich Township Forum are asked to consider if they have an interest in any matters on the agenda and, if so, to formally declare that interest.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting, held on 12 November 2014. Minutes are attached.

That the Minutes of the last meeting of the Township Forum held on 12 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

A copy of the Action Checklist is attached

In respect of Minute PTF.429 Open Forum, relating to grit bins in the Borough, it was reported that no response had been received from the Highways Department. The Chair, Councillor Heneghan, placed on record his disappointment and concern at the lack of response from the Highways Department and formally requested on behalf of the Township Forum that the matter be actioned.

A presentation will be given at the meeting.

Heather Hutton and Katie Wood 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

During discussion of this item it was confirmed that off site links could be added to the site to allow community organisations to advertise their services.

Clive Brown, Public Governor for Pennine Care, welcomed the site as positive means of informing the public about local services and forging links with public service providers

It was agreed:

That the information provided be noted and that Heather and Katie be

thanked for their contribution to the meeting.

Representatives from Greater Manchester Police attended the meeting in order to provide an update on key Police issues in Prestwich. It was reported that new intelligence was being examined in relation to recent reports of drug related anti social behaviour in the Clough.

A local resident addressed the meeting and reported on a speight of vehicle crime in the Kingswood Road area. It was requested that follow up action from the Police to keep residents informed of developments was vital.

Jay Leiberman expressed concerns about the rise in anti-semitism and requested the issue be raised at the Sedgley PACT meeting.

Members of the Forum discussed the vital role of PACT meetings and Councillor Quinn suggested the formation of an overarching PACT meeting for the whole of Prestwich. 

It was agreed:

That the update be noted.

Annemari Poldkivi, Healthwatch 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.

Questions and comments were invited from those present at the meeting and the following issues were raised

·         With regard to the issue of collaborative work, Barbara Barlow, Chair of Healthwatch, explained that the organisation had built up strong communication links across Greater Manchester with information shared through the umbrella organisation of Healthwatch England.

·         In response to a question concerning the remit of Healthwatch, it was explained that the organisation was not a complaints service for individual cases. Individual cases would be signposted to the relevant service.

·         With regard to the statutory enter and view powers to care providers, it was highlighted that this option would be used where an evidence base highlighting concerns had been established.

·         Members of the public and the Forum highlighted concerns in relation to GP access. Councillor Simpson stressed that the problem was a national issue resulting from insufficient levels of funding and highlighted that pressures in A & E were largely a result of problems in primary care not being addressed. During discussion of this issue

Barbara Barlow referred to the ongoing pilot in the Radcliffe area to extend GP opening hours.

It was agreed:

That the information provided be noted and Anne-Marie and Barbara be

thanked for their contribution to the meeting.

A period of up to 30 minutes has been set aside for members of the public to ask questions or raise issues of concern relating to the provision of local services.

The Chair invited questions/comments and representations from

members of the public present at the meeting.  The Township

Coordinator undertook to obtain a reply to matters that could not be

dealt with directly at the meeting:-

·         Norman Younger and Isaac Ginsbury addressed the meeting and reported on the positive work undertaken through Prestwich Works to provide individual support to unemployed residents of Prestwich. To date 265 residents had been helped through the service with 1070 support session provided.

·         Hannah Cropper expressed concerns about pot holes on the Longfield Car Park and pedestrian walkway.

·         Darrell Johnson highlighted the need for parking enforcement to be focussed on particular hotspot areas and referred to parking problems in the Kingswood Road area. Members made reference to the development of the Prestwich Parking Strategy, which will undergo a period of public consultation.

·         David Stanley highlighted potential parking problems as a result of plans to open a new restaurant on the corner of Bury New Road and Church Lane.

Report from the Township Co-ordinator attached.

Ruth Shedwick, Township Co-ordinator,submitted an updated Prestwich

Township Forum Plan.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.

Report attached for information.

A copy of the Community Funding report for Prestwich 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.

Please note the next meeting will be held on Thursday 12^th March 2015 (change from original date)

The next meeting of the Prestwich Township Forum will be held on Thursday 12^th March at 6.30pm