Agenda and minutes

Notes of the Forum meeting held on 10 July 2008 had been circulated and there were no matters arising

The Chairman welcomed representatives and facilitators to the meeting and reminded the meeting that there had been an article about the Local Development Framework in the DDC@Your Service magazine.

The Chairman reported an expected increase in Dover’s population over the next 20 years from 43,000 to 59,000 including an increase in the proportion of older people.

3.1       Derek Hall – KCC Planning Manager for East Kent Adult Social Services spoke about Kent’s Strategy for Later Life and responsibility for all older people in Kent which brought together all agencies in delivering services.

·         this strategy provides over-arching framework for all others and provides means for public to hold service providers to account if not delivering in accordance with strategy;

·         draft document being considered by editorial panel of older people and applications to serve on panel or be part of consultation should be made to   debra.exall@kent.gov.uk

·         final strategy to be ready by end of 2008, has 5 themes: value later life; planning for a secure old age; healthy communities; learning and independent living

·         preparation needed for retirement; specific actions needed on dementia, sensory impairment, advocacy, support for carers, residential/nursing care when necessary.

·         should there be a parliament for older people?

3.2       Ruth Ridley – Care Navigator with INVOKE project explained her role:

·         since November 2007 has contacted 250 people in District 50% of which were over 70; she reaches into communities providing information, promoting services and collating evidence for viability;

·         post is attached to Age Concern, funded by Dept. of Health and designed to help people address their own needs by explaining what help is available and helping to choose what is right for them;

·         referrals dealt with occupational therapy, physio, mobility issues, allowance and benefit entitlement and cases in rural areas, with nearly 100% success rate for benefit  claims; life changing impact from receipt of allowances.

·         more volunteers needed to help with transport, befriending, etc.

3.3       Jane Meehan – Community Information & Liaison Assistant with INVOKE project:

·         purpose of role to promote health and wellbeing and signpost  people to    resources available in District;

·         undertaking pilot project to create an Information Directory of associations, activities, services, etc. to be available at specific hubs for all to access in addition to being on website;

·         information needed from communities and Parish Councils to update directory regularly but distribution of directory limited by resources available to constantly update – at present only one person and low budget;

·        confirmation recently received that project will continue for further year after March 2009;

·        posters and leaflets available to be taken and distributed.

3.4       Chris Tough – Senior Citizens’ Forum:

·        100 members in 2 years with support from newsletters and meetings, is free to join;

·        different areas visited to find out what is needed and encourage more volunteers;

·        helping older people to use computers with free internet use for 3 months on a trial basis and IT support;

·        asked permission to contact those attending the Forum with information.

3.5       Discussion points:

·        Why is dementia increasing?  Mainly due to more people living to greater age; more treatment needed for early onset dementia.

·        Cost of older people staying in own home eats up limited savings whereas is free in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Chairman reported results of scoring the various applications and recommendations to DDC and KCC for grants:

Organisation            Project                                   Amount

Capel-le-Ferne          Refurbish toilets                    £5,000

Village Hall

Temple Ewell Provision of hardstanding/   £1,200

Parish Council           seating

Lydden Village          Toilet facilities for the            £1,500

Hall Committee         disabled and baby               

                                    changing facilities

Capel-le-Ferne          Bus shelter provision            £3,000

Parish Council

Whitfield Parish         Bench renovation                  £685

Council

Alkham Valley            Garden Scheme                    £1,000

Community

Project

Move the Miner          Create new site for statue    £731.61

                                    and purchase 4 smaller

                                    statues

                                                                 Total           £13,116.61

KCC Local Schemes Grant 2008/09

KCC Cllr. Bryan Cope had allocated his funding under the above scheme as follows:

Organisation            Project                                            Amount

Alkham Valley            Therapeutic carriage driving/        £8,578.57

Community                 horse riding for disabled and

                                    disadvantaged children and

                                    adults

Capel-le-Ferne          Virtual Post Office                          £750.00

Village Hall                

                                                               Total                      £9,328.57

Members of the Forum agreed that these amounts be recommended to the Leaders of KCC and DDC for approval.

Joint Forum with Dover North on 20 November 2008 at Elvington Community Centre to discuss Street Scene and Public Realm issues.

Possible topics for 19 January 2009 Forum :

Progress on the Dover Project/ Health trainer programme.

Adult Education/real function of libraries today.

Pre-school playgroups.

            A venue is needed for this Forum.

The meeting ended at 8.50pm