Agenda item

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 Larratt responded that it was the first time he had heard that the Occupational Therapists were being replaced.

Councillor Mennell confirmed that NBC were not doing away with this service but the system was changing in that the Officers would home visit and report back to the Occupational Therapists.  She hoped that the new Administration would keep up the good work and plans of the previous Administration

Lindsey Ambrose said that the new Administration had confirmed that they were committed to the Council’s current budget plans which increased the funds for the DFG.

Madeline Boys informed the group that she had not had a good or helpful experience with the Occupational Therapist.

Health Appointment Transport

Madeline Boys commented that there was an issue for the elderly and disabled in attending health appointments at the GP or the hospital.  She raised an issue where she needed to see a consultant regarding an issue with her eyes and was advised that she would need an aide and transportation due to potentially having poor vision after a treatment.  Due to having no family to call on Madeline Boys turned to voluntary service but the charge was £25, which would be too expensive for many of the elderly and disabled.

She asked that the forum look further into this issue and try and find a way of assisting people to their health appointments particularly for people on their own who have no one who can assist them.

Primrose Landstone also confirmed that there was quite a strict basis and set of circumstances that you have to meet in order to get help from the NHS ambulance service, including a letter from your GP.  She confirmed that she was due to have lot of health appointments in the near future and would need transportation and additional care.  She hoped that this being raised in the Forum would help the NHS to find a solution.

Ann Timson suggested that asking for volunteer ‘Foot Soldiers’ might be a solution for those that have no close friends of family to assist them.

Councillor Larratt noted that these were all good points and that the issue of both transportation and care needed to be looked at further.

Rashmi Shah suggested that this information be taken back to Sue Campling in the hope that the hospital can make improvements.

Councillor Mennell noted the importance of people being able to live independently and how Central Government and its ‘Big Society’ encourage this.  She believed an encouragement of volunteers, particularly in this time of financial crisis, might work as a solution through the Council and this Forum.

There was discussion around funds spent on sporting events such as Silverstone and the proposed High Speed Rail between Scotland and London.  Both of which were confirmed to not have received any funds from this Council.