Agenda item

(Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee) To consider the attached report (C/013/2007-08).

(1)        That the report and recommendations of the Services for Older People and Disabled People Task and Finish Panel be endorsed;

(2)        That grant aid support to help develop the Older People’s Advisory Group as an independent and self financing organisation be identified by the Community Wellbeing Portfolio Holder in order to:

(a)            support and encourage the valuable contribution made by older people to our society; and

(b)            encourage older people to support each other;

(3)        That the Older People’s Advisory Group be used by the Council as part of its ongoing consultation strategy;

(4)        That the following comments of the Leisure and Young People Portfolio Holder be noted:

(a)        The 50+ New Horizons initiative from Leisure Services provides a wide range of healthy living and social activities, which helps meets the needs of the growing number of older people;

(b)        Home Life is the latest targeted Elderly Person Arts project provided by Leisure Services;

(c)        The provision of the Seated Exercise programme should continue with the support of external funding;

(5)        That, in order to maintain the value of the money on an on-going basis, a means by which the DDF grant to the Handyperson Scheme can become part of the CSB budget be identified by the Finance, Performance Management and Corporate Support Services Portfolio Holder;

(6)        That the availability of the Handyperson Scheme be advertised more widely through The Forester;

(7)        That the changes to the Concessionary Fare Scheme proposed by the Government be kept under review in order to monitor:

(a)        any financial implications for the Council; and

(b)            whether in the light of the changes proposed, the separate scheme with Transport for London would still be necessary;

(8)        That the Council sponsored Day Clubs for the more housebound older people provided in association with Housing Services be kept under review in the light of:

(a)            difficulties in recruiting volunteers to help run them;

(b)            difficulties in providing transport to and from the Clubs; and

(c)        falling attendances; and

(9)        That work being undertaken to address equality issues within the Council’s Services provisions be brought to a conclusion and a Disability Equality Scheme be published without further delay.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented the final report of the Older People and Disabled People Task and Finish Panel. The Panel had been established in June 2006 to investigate the services provided for older people and disabled people by the Council and other agencies such as Voluntary Action for Epping Forest (VAEF). The Panel also investigated services available for the general public that older or disabled people had difficulty in accessing. The full list of recommendations of the Panel had been set out on page six of the report, but the Cabinet’s attention had been drawn to recommendations (4) to (10). Ex-Councillor Mrs S Perry was thanked for her efforts as Chairman of the Panel.

The Leisure Portfolio Holder reported that the 50+ New Horizons initiative from Leisure Services provided a healthy living approach that met the social needs of the growing number of older people and that Home Life was the latest targeted Elderly Persons Arts project provided by Leisure Services. The Seated Exercise programme was currently being funded by Leisure Services with a small fee paid by the participants, however it was expected that the long-term future of the programme should continue with the support of further external funding. The Chairman of the Epping Forest Older People’s Advisory Group was also in attendance and explained the role of the group for the benefit of the Cabinet. The Cabinet were also informed that, following a meeting with the Older Person’s Advisory Group, the West Essex Primary Care Trust had agreed to work in partnership with the Council if it contributed £5,000 in 2008/09 towards the administration cost of holding meetings between the Council and the Primary Care Trust.

            Decisions:

(1)            That, as attached, the report and recommendations of the Services for Older People and Disabled People Task and Finish Panel be endorsed;

(2)            That grant aid support to help develop the Older People’s Advisory Group as an independent and self-financing organisation be identified by the Community Wellbeing Portfolio Holder in order to:

(a)            support and encourage the valuable contribution made by older people to our society; and

(b)            encourage older people to support each other;

(3)            That the Older People’s Advisory Group be used by the Council as part of its ongoing consultation strategy;

(4)            That the following comments of the Leisure and Young People Portfolio Holder be noted:

(a)            The 50+ New Horizons initiative from Leisure Services provides a wide range of healthy living and social activities, which helps to meet the needs of the growing number of older people;

(b)            Home Life is the latest targeted Elderly Person Arts project provided by Leisure Services;

(c)            The provision of the Seated Exercise programme should continue with the support of external funding;

(5)            That, in order to maintain the value of the money on an on-going basis, a means by which the DDF grant to the Handyperson Scheme can become part of the CSB budget be identified by the Finance, Performance Management and Corporate Support Services Portfolio Holder;

(6)            That the availability of the Handyperson Scheme be advertised more widely through The Forester;

(7)            That the changes to the Concessionary Fare Scheme proposed by the Government be kept under review in order to monitor:

(a)            any financial implications for the Council; and

(b)            whether in the light of the changes proposed, the separate scheme with Transport for London would still be necessary;

(8)            That the Council sponsored Day Clubs for the more housebound older people provided in association with Housing Services be kept under review in the light of:

(a)            difficulties in recruiting volunteers to help run them;

(b)            difficulties in providing transport to and from the Clubs; and

(c)            falling attendances; and

(9)            That work being undertaken to address equality issues within the Council’s Services provisions be brought to a conclusion and a Disability Equality Scheme be published without further delay.

Reasons for Decision:

The Cabinet was satisfied that the Older People and Disabled People Task and Finish Panel had fully addressed all the relevant issues in relation to the report and recommendations, and that these should be endorsed.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

The Cabinet was satisfied that the Older People and Disabled People Task and Finish Panel had considered all the relevant options in formulating its report and recommendations. The Cabinet did not consider that there were any other options.