Venue: The Jeffrey Room, The Guildhall, St. Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE. View directions
Contact: Tracy Tiff, Scrutiny Officer, ext 7408
Items
No. |
Item |
1. |
Apologies
The Chair to note
apologies for absence.
Minutes:
|
2. |
Deputations and Public Addresses
The Chair to note public address requests.
The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum
of three minutes per speaker per item. You are not required
to register your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at
the meeting a few minutes early, complete a
Public Address Protocol and
notify the Scrutiny Officer of your intention to speak.
Minutes:
|
3. |
Declarations of Interest
Members to state
any interests.
Minutes:
|
4. |
Minutes PDF 117 KB
The Scrutiny Panel to
approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2017.
Minutes:
The Chair signed
the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2017 as a true and
accurate record.
|
5. |
Witness Evidence PDF 128 KB
The Scrutiny Panel
to receive a response to its core questions from:
·
Cabinet Member – Community Engagement and Community
Safety
·
Cabinet Member – Housing and Wellbeing
·
Head of Housing and Wellbeing
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Scrutiny Panel
received written responses from the Cabinet Member for Community
Engagement and Community Safety and the Cabinet Member for Housing
and Wellbeing, the Head of Housing and Wellbeing and the
Partnerships and Communities Manager highlighting the salient
points.
The Scrutiny Panel made comment, asked
questions and heard:
- The Cabinet Member for
Community Engagement would be meeting with Officers and the Cabinet
Member regarding the dementia care village.
- The Memory Day held in
the Grosvenor Centre on 21 September 2017 had been very well
received and supported.
- The Scrutiny Panel heard
of the work that NMHT do with young people that have dementia.
- The Cabinet Member for
Housing and Wellbeing referred to dementia cafes in schools and how
well that they work. Young people can
play a very active role. The Scrutiny Panel supported this
initiative and felt it could be introduced in schools in
Northampton.
- Research has concluded
that keeping the brain active is key to possibly preventing the
onset of dementia. The Scrutiny Panel heard that funding had been
provided for an education centre to run three times a week in
Northampton library; the purpose of which is to stimulate and
support people that have dementia.
Similar projects are run in Holland and have been highly
successful.
- In response to a query
identifying the signs of dementia; the Cabinet Member for Housing
and Wellbeing commenting that diagnosis can often be difficult and
referred to a case of a six year old child who had been diagnosed
with dementia. Dementia in under 65 year olds is rare and for
people below this age, tests for dementia are often the final test
and diagnosis. It is an emotional
journey. Medical science is now very
advanced and people are diagnosed earlier and living longer.
- For Northampton to
become a Dementia Friendly Town gives the ideal opportunity to help
people make a real difference in other people’s lives.
- The Scrutiny Panel heard
that Housing and Wellbeing staff will raise awareness regarding
recognising dementia, will identify the suitability of existing
homes and of temporary housing for homeless people. Priority
transfers to more suitable housing/more suitable locations are
looked at also. NPH manages 12,000
properties. Housing and Wellbeing has
Officers who have undertaken the training and are now Dementia
Friendly Champions.
- The Scrutiny Panel heard
that Call Care provides assisted technology, for example, door
sensors. This equipment means that some
people can remain in their own homes. An example of where a
previous tenant had access to such equipment and which had proved a
real help to her.
- In response to a query
regarding recognising signs of dementia when people present at the
Hope Centre and the Night Shelter Phil Harris advised that he and
his staff have access to 24/7 services and are able to refer if
someone displays signs that they are not thinking rationally.
- Becoming a Dementia
Friendly Town will help to raise awareness to family and carers and
the public in general in recognising the signs of dementia.
- It ...
view
the full minutes text for item 5.
|
6. |
Site Visits
The Scrutiny Panel
to decide upon the towns that it will visit regarding Dementia
Friendly Towns.
Minutes:
The Scrutiny Panel
agreed that it would undertake a site visit to Lutterworth, which is a
Dementia Friendly Town. The Scrutiny Officer would liaise with the
Co Optee regarding the site visit and
what the Scrutiny Panel should be looking for during the site
visit.
The Scrutiny Panel
would also carry out a site visit to see the types of equipment,
such as door sensors, that is available.
|
7. |
Relevant Legislation PDF 190 KB
The Scrutiny Panel
to receive a briefing note around various relevant Legislation.
Minutes:
The Scrutiny Panel
received a briefing note containing a precis of relevant
legislation; the information would inform the evidence base of this
Scrutiny Panel.
The meeting closed
at 7:05pm, following which the Scrutiny Panel watched a very
informative short video regarding the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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