Agenda and minutes

Councillor Phil Larratt welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced himself as the new Co-Chair as appointed by the Council’s new Administration.  He explained that he had been a Council since 1983 except for one term, firstly for Kingsley and Phipsville and now for East Hunsbury.  As a disabled person himself he explained that he had appreciated the past good work of the Forum and was very much looking forward to working with the group in helping to improve the lives of disabled people in the Borough.

Lindsey Ambrose, Community Engagement & Equalities Officer, welcomed Cllr Larratt to the Forum.  She explained to the group that Cllr Larratt had been a great supporter of forums and had worked actively with Northampton Youth Forum in the past.  Through this he coached youths, including young disabled members, and encouraged them to take up volunteering in the community after they left the Youth Forum.

The Members of the Forum introduced themselves to the new Co-Chair and welcomed him into the group.

Lindsey Ambrose then explained that the Forum were now in a position to appoint a Co-Chair from the community.  She advised that there would be a process of open nominations, then a postal vote.  She said that during the summer she would send information about the role and how to stand for election. The elections process should be completed by the date of the next meeting on 5 October 2011.

To receive the draft minutes of the meeting on 22 February 2011.

Disabled Facilities Grant Paperwork at the One Stop Shop

Madeline Boys, individual member, raised outstanding issues from the minutes of the previous meeting of the 22 February 2011.  Under minute item 2 it stated that the application forms for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) would be available either at the One Stop Shop or one would be posted out on request.  Mrs Boys informed the group that these application forms were not now available from the One Stop Shop. 

Primrose Landstone, individual member, noted that she had also visited the One Stop Shop for the DFG application form and was advised that they were online and she would need to use the computers provided in the One Stop Shop.

Cllr Larratt stated that it was unacceptable for the form to only be available online as many people are not online and are unable to use computers.

Madeline Boys informed the group that there was no paperwork, leaflets or advertising at the new One Stop Shop.  Insisting that people computers who don’t have computers or may be too old to learn to use computers, was not making people ‘equal’.

Councillor Beverely Mennell commented that the new One Stop Shop was wonderful but she was concerned that in having no paperwork or advertising the Council were unable to promote events and new services.  She believed that the removal of paperwork was not using the One Stop shop to the best of its ability.  She noted the environmental implication of supplying paperwork but believed common sense would have to prevail in regard of people that may be elderly or have special needs.

Larry Barber and Councillor Larratt commented hat it was unacceptable for the forms to only be available online as many people are not online and are unable to use computers.  Larry Barber believed that the public should be able to ask the One Stop Shop staff to obtain and print the forms for them.

Lindsey Ambrose advised the group that she had texted the manager of the One Stop Shop during the meeting to highlight the issue as one to be addressed urgently. She said she would get back to the Forum with progress on this issue.

Further to the meeting:

(1)   For enquiries on Disabled Facility Grants including requests for forms, people are welcome to do so by telephoning Sandra Carlin and Luksar Choudhury on 01604 838585.  Information is also available online."

(2)   In the days after the Forum meeting the One Stop Shop responded to the feedback from Forum members. The manager arranged for a range of documents to be available in paper format in the One Stop Shop and for more staff to be available to help people to use computers.

A tour of the One Stop Shop was arranged for the Forum at their meeting on 5 October 2011.

The Provision of an Occupational Therapist

Rashmi Shah raised that NBC are losing the external Occupational Therapists and sending an internal Officer to assess for the DFG.

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Forum received a verbal update from Lindsey Ambrose on Northampton Borough Council’s approach to equalities and the development of the new equality strategy. Consultation would take part in two parts: the first until 30 September and a further period looking at corporate equality priorities would follow and be included in the Council’s corporate plan and budget consultation which normally takes place in December to January period.

The forum noted that the Council’s new strategy document recognised:

• That there was a moral case and a business case to enhance equality as well as there being laws about doing so. For example disabled people and people aged over 65 contribute many £billions to the UK economy each year.
• The Council were committed to reducing ‘Jargon’ and ‘council speak’ and to explaining it where they needed to use it;
• Equalities and a commitment to treating people fairly is important even in times of austerity and cuts as it can help make services more efficient – for example f the Council get their approach to equalities right, they will deal with fewer complaints so officers will have more time to do their jobs and people they serve should get better service. 

The Council would be looking at what it does well and what it needs to improve through consultation. It needs to find out what other people think this is – rather than just the Council assume it knows the situation.

There would be consultation with the public in various ways. This would include attending community events in the summer to meet people who might not otherwise talk to the council and discussion at forums. Recognising many people prefer to do surveys online, there would be online ways to do surveys: with links on the Council’s own web pages and also on Facebook forum pages as some people who do not want, or cannot come to meetings or use the Council website but might feel passionate about disability issues, issues affecting older people and so on.

Councillor Larratt thanked Lindsey for a thorough and informative update.

Larry Barber considered the jargon buster and shorter sentences to be a useful tool.

Rashmi Shah and Primrose Landstone asked if the consultation would be taken face to face to various focus groups, might be mentioned on the radio – not just online or on paper that they would miss the engagements of individuals whose contribution would be useful. Lindsey Ambrose confirmed that there would be surveys done face to face at some meetings and events and she hoped to be able to make use of radio too. She said that if people wanted to suggest groups to attend she would be happy to look to do this.

Madeline Boys noted that people needed to be reached that lived in their own homes rather than council owned properties - people who have worked hard to live independently.

Further to the meeting:

The consultation “Our Approach to Equalities” was taken to community events such as the Umbrella Fair,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Concerns about Disabled Facilities Grants

Primrose Landstowne said she was unhappy about the appeals process for the disabled facilities grant (DFG).  Madeline Boys agreed.

Some members of the Forum said they felt the new One Stop Shop lacked enough privacy so was not appropriate for applicants of the DFG to share their personal details with One Stop Shop advisors. 

Concerns about Housing

Some members of the Forum were concerned about the lack of housing stock and sheltered bungalows, the bidding system and that delays could potentially have impacts on medical procedures if tenants are not in appropriate accommodation to meet their care needs.

Sports Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Graeme Wilson from Northamptonshire Sport noted that his team at the County Council were hoping to come back to the forum with potential sports and physical activities the forum members could get involved with.  He noted that people with physical impairments were often not doing enough sport and activity and he would like to share information with the group at a future meeting and get some feedback from the group on the activities suitability.

Mobility Roadshow - Plan to Go!

Information was shared about this event and how to get free tickets and test drives.

Items for the next meeting would be:

1)     a tour of the One Stop Shop – to see how concerns raised by the Forum at this meeting had been addressed and to see if there were any other concerns that members of the Forum would like to see addressed.

2)     an update on Disabled Facilities Grants by the Housing Solutions Manager at Northampton Borough Council

Items for future meetings might be:

1) a presentation and information packs on ‘Northamptonshire Sport’;

2) an update on Health Transportation issues – in particular about the requirements now introduced for people to be eligible for free help.

3) an update on Communication methods such as podcasts; and

4)     an update on budget cuts and impacts on services.