Agenda item

6.00pm            Welcome and minutes

 

6.05pm            Older People’s Strategy

Bill Hodson, Director of Housing and Adult Social Services will tell you about the councils Older People’s Strategy and answer any questions

 

6.30pm            NHS Foundation Trust

                        Find out about the trusts, plans, services and new developments

 

7.00pm            Local Improvement Schemes

Find out more about the local improvement schemes put forward for 2009/2010 ward committee funding

 

7.25pm            Have Your Say

Your opportunity to discuss concerns on local issues affecting you in the ward

1.  6:00pm – NHS Foundation Trust

Patrick Crowley (Chief Executive of the NHS Foundation Trust) spoke about what the Trust has been doing and where it hopes to go in the future, encouraging residents of the ward to become members.

1.1.           The NHS Foundation Trust has just completed it’s first 18 months and is now looking to the public to give more guidance as to what the organisation should focus on in the future.

1.2.           One of the main objectives of the Trust is to focus on the patient, including their safety and general experience when in hospital.

1.3.           The Trust hopes to bring the hospital up to modern standards.

1.4.           One of the main priorities highlighted by the NHS Foundation Trust is to increase bed numbers, which they hope to achieve by December.

1.5.           Other priorities include making the hospital environment safe, improve staffing and reduce waiting times.

1.6.           The main aim of the Trust is to improve communication with the public and engage with the community.

Issues raised by residents were:

a.  Long waiting times for the results of a biopsy.

The response was given that there is a formal complaints procedure, but in this case Patrick Crowley offered to investigate it personally.

2. How are the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and NHS Foundation Trust funds connected? Concern was raised in relation to the PCT struggling with money.

The response was given that the PCT pay the NHS Foundation Trust when they treat somebody. The PCT has a poor rating, but this does not directly impact on the HNS Foundation Trust’s funding.

3. Will the PCT’s problems affect the NHS Foundation Trust at some point?

The response was given that the PCT have a right to identify what services are available, so these could change over time. However, the debt is not severe enough to cause huge change and the NHS Foundation Trust will to keep all of their services.

 

2.  6:25pm – Welcome and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

 

3.  6:30pm – Older People’s Strategy

Bill Hodson, Director of Housing and Adult Social Services informed residents about the council’s Older People’s Strategy.

3.1.           The census from 2001 showed that Micklegate ward has a slightly higher than average number of people aged 85 and older.

3.2.           The Older People’s Strategy provides some good services to older people but they have identified that there are some gaps in the services they provide:

3.3.           They need to provide more effective early support, in partnership with health andvoluntary sector and older people themselves.

3.4.           They could also improve their support to carers.

3.5.           Ideas developed so far in order to progress, include:

3.5.1.    More housing choice for older people including sheltered and extra care for owner occupiers.

3.5.2.    More consultation with older people themselves.

3.5.3.    More community based services for dementia care.

3.6.           There are a number of questions the Older People’s Strategy hopes to answer including:

3.7.           How can they make people feel that they have more control of their own lives?

3.8.           How can we support carers in their role more effectively?

3.9.           What stops older people getting the help they need?

Issues raised by residents were:

a.      When the public are asked for their opinion on the priorities for care consultation, the options need to be worded more positively in order to encourage a response.

b.      Older people are often not in the right frame of mind to ask for help so this support needs to be advertised well and made readily available

The response was that there are a number of quality of life issues to consider when offering services, including the possibility of more help from friends and neighbours.

 

4.  6:55pm – York Fire and Rescue Review

Colin Hunter from the Fire and Rescue Service gave an update on the progress of the Fire and Rescue review taking place in the city:

4.1.           There are currently 3 stations in the city, at Huntington, Acomb and York City Centre.

4.2.           Requirements for the South East of the city are being reviewed, including the areas of Hull Road, the University and the A1079.

4.3.           The first stage of the consultation ended in September and there was a poor public response, so more public opinion is needed in this second stage.

4.4.           The public can give their views by logging onto the website to view the options and then email their ideas, or contact Clifford Street station directly by telephone or in person.

4.5.           The five proposals within the review are:

4.5.1.     Rebuild Clifford Street station within constraints, including relocating the technical fire safety department

4.5.2.     Relocate the technical fire safety department and community safety department to make more room at Clifford Street station

4.5.3.     Make the station at Clifford Street smaller, with only one fire engine and water rescue and build another city centre station  with one fire engine and an aerial ladder platform (possibly on Hull Road)

4.5.4.     Move the aerial ladder platform to the Huntington station

4.5.5.     Upgrade the Huntington station

4.6.           The current preferred option is option 3 as this is good for the university, as well as there still being a station in the city centre.

4.7.           The public’s views are required by the end of November.

 

5.  7:10pm – Local Improvement Schemes

This was an opportunity for the discussion about the local improvement schemes on the ballot list for Micklegate ward.

5.1.  Comments were made in support of the following schemes:

5.1.1.     No. 18 – Active York

5.1.2.     No. 1 – Increased recycling opportunities in the ward (specifically need plastic and cardboard recycling facilities)

5.1.3.     No.  23 – St. Clements Hall Preservation Trust

5.1.4.     No. 24 – Citizens Advice Bureau and York Credit Union

5.1.5.     No. 15 – Street Sports York

5.1.6.     No. 27 – St Clement’s Church Internet café

5.1.7.     No. 31 – installation of cycle ramp at Micklegate side of Love Lane

5.2. Further issues raised by residents were:

a.      No. 7 – are there more details about how car access would be improved?

The response was that a feasibility study is needed.

b.      No. 9 – cull the geese in Rowntree Park

                                            i.There was a discussion surrounding this scheme, including the suggestion that it is a waste of money as the geese will just come back, and others supporting the proposal because the population of geese has become to high in the last year.

                                          ii.The chair said that the issue was not as straightforward as the resident suggestion, but If the scheme is strongly supported in principle, further studies will be done in order to assess how to respond to the problem appropriately and these would be brought back to the ward committee for discussion.

c.      No. 34 – alleygating fund

                                            i.Cllr. Sandy Fraser declared a personal prejudicial interest and left the room because he is a resident on one of the roads for where alleygating is suggested.

                                          ii.A police constable for the local area showed his support for alleygating as a method of deterring crime, including anti-social behaviour and burglary.

                                        iii.Many residents showed support for the scheme, pointing out that alleygating has been successful in other areas of the city.

d.      How much money is there to spend? This knowledge will help residents to make more realistic choices.

The response was that an exact amount is not yet known, but it is approximately £35,000.

e.      No. 28 – The ballot list says Lowther Street when it should say Lowther Terrace.

 

6.  7:40pm – Have Your Say

6.1.   A discussion took place about problems that occur in the area on race days.

6.1.1.     It was suggested that it would be better to direct race-goers away from residential areas to the main thoroughfares on their route from the racecourse to the city centre.

6.1.2.     A police constable informed residents that they do not have the power to tell people to walk a different route. Instead, police officers are placed on the route in order to minimise destruction. This is difficult when there are 30,000 people on one race day!

6.1.3.     Cllr Dave Merrett said that a further meeting will take place between the ward councillors, the racecourse and the police to look at what occurred last year and what can be done to improve on it next year.

6.2.   Questions were asked regarding the house on the corner of Nunthorpe Crescent, which appears to be falling apart.

The response was that the owner has been asked to do something about it but has yet to do so. The Street Environment Officers are currently working on this in an attempt to improve the situation.

6.3.   Is there any progress on stopping the occurrence of graffiti, instead of spending so much on cleaning it up?

The response was that the Taggy website  is up and running and can now be used by the council and the police as a way of gathering evidence of graffiti in the city.

The police are also going into schools as some ‘tags’ can be found on school premises.

The police should be contacted if a resident sees somebody committing the offence.

6.4.   Dates for meeting should be published more in advance. Please print them earlier to ensure attendance.

6.4.1.     The dates of the next two ward committee meetings were given as Thursday 5th February and Thursday 7th May.

 

 

The meeting was chaired by Cllr. Dave Merrett