WBDA Executive Meeting

Notes of WBDA executive meeting, Monday, 3rd August 2015

Liberty House, The Enterprise Centre, New Greenham Park (off A339)

Attending Jane Belcher (JB) Betty Hatton (BH); Sue Hinks (SH); John Holt (JH); Mick Hutchins (MH)

Apologies Betty Hatton (BH); Garry Poulson (GP); John Carr (JC); Allan Flemming (AF)

REACT JC and MH to proceed with the decommissioning of the system

West Berkshire Independent Living Network (WBILN)  WBILN & WBDA public meeting on 15/07/15 deemed a success with over 40 attendees  ACTION – MH & JB to meet with Jackie Wilkinson (WBILN Chair) on 05/08/15 to discuss future joint working – with a view to hold a follow-up public meetings

West Berkshire Neurological Alliance (WBNA)  JH reported WBNA were having a great success as distributors for the local ‘carers grant’ and encouraged carers to approach WBNA to see if they qualified for a grant. WBDA to approach the Berkshire Community Foundation for more funding for the grant in view of the demand.

West Berkshire Council Disability Equality Scrutiny Board  MH & SH reported the last meeting of the DES Board on 16/07/15 focused on: o Access to Taxis – Brian Leahy (WBC Licensing Officer) reported to the Board that he was drafting a proposal to the council to make a condition of a taxi licence that all drivers had to undertake a written exam on disability awareness and pass a test on their own vehicle with regards to securing a wheelchair o NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding and Personal Health Budgets – Liz Ruston (In charge of overseeing NHS CHC and PH Budgets in our area) gave an overview of CHC and PH Budgets and encouraged anyone who may qualify to approach their Care Manager or Health Professional for a referal

Power Gym  JH reported that 217 clients used the gym during the last week in July

WBDA AGM 10/09/15  SH to co-ordinate all Tel RSVP’s

WBDA Newsletter  ACTION – MH to draft – Articles to include: WBILN/WBDA Meeting; Parking Issues in WBC car parks; WBNA Stuff; NHS CHC – Healthcare Budgets; CAMEO; WBDA AGM NHS News  JH reported that the local Neuro Network Group were looking at the issue of Care Pathways for Neuro patients  SH reported that NHS England had been given a year by the Dept of Health to have all information available in alternative formats

AOB  SH reported that she had experienced difficulties with replacing a broken fob to gain access to/from the councils ‘pay as you go’ car park attached to the Kennet Centre. WBC are not doing anything regards replacing fobs as they are undertaking a new tender for managing their pay as you go car parks  ACTION – MH to write to WBC to establish how they will manage the situation in the near future re Blue Badge holders if automatic systems are failing; what is their future plans; and request them to consult with members of the WBC DES Board on the issue

Future WBDA Executive meetings  AGENDA ITEM NEXT TIME – do we need a different day/time to meet?

Next WBDA Executive Meeting  Monday, 7th September, Liberty House