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  • Agenda and draft minutes
  • Agenda and draft minutes

    Venue: Council Chamber, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone. View directions

    Contact: David Geoghegan - Community Liaision Manager  07786 191667 Email: david.geoghegan@kent.gov.uk

    Items
    No. Item

    1.

    Welcome to the meeting - Mr M Angell Chairman

    Minutes:

    Mike Angell welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He was disappointed at the low turn out and agreed this would be an informal event.

    2.

    Declarations of Interests by Members in Items on the Agenda for this Meeting

    Minutes:

    There were no declarations of interest.

    3.

    Notes of Local Board Meeting held on 28 February 2008 and progress on any action

    4.

    Question Time - Your Opportunity to ask questions about local public services

    Minutes:

    Victim Support

     

    Wendy Bartlett spoke about domestic violence.  From 1st May Kent Victim Support was merged into a National organisation to benefit from economies of scale.  Funding will run out for an Ashford Co-ordinator in 2009.  She gave us the following facts:-

     

    ·              Two women are killed every week as a result of domestic violence;

    ·              One in four women will be victims;

    ·              One in six men will also be victims;

    ·              In the UK there are only 212 refuges for women (there are 1,500 for animals);

    ·              There is only one refuge for men;

    ·              90% of incidents investigated show children witnessed the domestic abuse (DA) or were in an adjoining room;

    ·              30% of all violent crimes in Ashford are DA;

    ·              The DA forum in Ashford meets four times in a year.

     

    Q.     Have you seen a change in society’s views on DA over the years?

     

    A.     No, there has been no real change.  We need to educate children more about what a healthy relationship is all about.

     

    Ashford Samaritans

     

    Judith Feline spoke about the work of SAMs in Ashford.

     

    ·              Nearly 7,000 people die each year from suicide;

    ·              Suicide is the biggest cause of death for young men;

    ·              83 prisoners have killed themselves in the last 11 months;

    ·              70% of gay people have thought of suicide;

    ·              The first SAMs phone lines were set up in 1953;

    ·              There are now 16,000 volunteers who each work at least 23 days a year for SAMs;

    ·              There are now over five million phone contacts a year but there can be email, text, face to face or letter contact as well;

    ·              The Ashford branch has 40 volunteers and 20,000 contacts;

    ·              It costs £10,000 a year to run the branch;

    ·              SAMs now trains prisoners to be “listeners” and have a programme to talk to schools.

     

    Q.     Is suicide of the elderly an issue?

     

    A.     Yes it is.

     

    Q.     You mentioned confidentiality is always maintained; what about where a crime is being committed?

     

    A.     It is always maintained.

    Ashford Refuge Centre

     

    Lucy Bramley spoke about the centre and made the following points:-

     

    ·              Using five houses in Ashford while the main centre is being refurbished;

    ·              Space for 18 women and their children;

    ·              The new centre will include facilities for disabled clients;

    ·              As well as providing support the centre will signpost women to other partners and agencies who may be able to help them.

     

    Q.     Who pays for the centre?

     

    A.     Women pay £8.45 a week, housing benefits are used and central government pays for CASA.

     

    Q.     Do you take local women?

     

    A.     No, but we will take women from Canterbury and Folkestone etc.

     

    Q.     How do you deal with inappropriate contact and harassment from former partners etc?

     

    A.     We move the women.  However, they normally can stay for up to two years.

     

    Q.     This is a general question for all the speakers; are the services offered adequate and what can KCC do to help?

     

    A.     We could always do more.  The libraries are good at promoting our services but leaflets in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

    5.

    Future Local Board Meetings in 2008/09 - Dates, venues and possible agenda topics

    Minutes:

    The next Local Board meeting will be on 17 July 2008.

    6.

    Any Other Business notified to the Chairman prior to the meeting