Draft UNADOPTED MINUTES Gartmore Community Council (GCC) Extraordinary General Meeting re Stirling Council’s Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) plans 8th January 2014 at 1930 in Gartmore Church Present: Ms A Jackson (Planning Representative), Ms J Billett (Chair), Mr W Glasse-Davies, Ms R Clements, Mr I Dinwoodie (Vice-Chair) Apologies: Mrs J Fleming (Secretary), Mr C Sheldon (Treasurer), Mr G McGarvey Councillors: Mr Fergus Wood, Mr Martin Earl Members of the public: Mr Iain Roe, Mrs Margaret Miller, Mrs Rosie Series, Mrs Liz McCormick, Mr John Davidson-Kelly, Mr Chris Naylor, Mrs Vicky Glasse-Davies, Ms Carol Irvine, Mr John Poulter, Mrs Mary Milton, Mrs Joy Henderson The meeting opened with Trossachs & Teith councillors FW and ME explaining the background and giving examples of the process of Priority Based Budgeting. They were very helpful in providing detail of the areas under discussion. [NB, a table of the Service Options discussed at the meeting follows the minutes below.] EDUCATION SERVICES RS and others were concerned about the proposal to withdraw specialist music teachers from primary schools (EDU054 – see below). The suggested move to group lessons is a concern; musical education of poorer pupils would suffer most; compare the proposed saving (£425K) with the cost of The Big Noise scheme (£600K); Big Noise is laudable but needs to get a bigger return for its investment. JDK insisted swimming lessons are not merely to teach pupils to swim, they provide opportunity for physical exertion, ditto PE lessons (EDU055). If the availability of the lessons were to be reduced to the pupils least able to pay (MM) this would be unmanageable within the school context. Reducing the numbers of lessons would be misguided (VGD) since you don’t just stop once a child can float, you go on to teach her to swim in a teeshirt etc. Regarding Active Stirling (EDU051) this is a service that rural communities like Gartmore largely miss out on already (VGD); many villagers never attend McLaren Leisure Centre, let alone The Peak, therefore we should resist all attempts to cut these visiting services. It was felt that the allocation of primary support staff (EDU083) had already been reduced enough. SOCIAL SERVICES FW pointed out that volunteers already contribute hugely to the service (SOC001); without them it would collapse. ME suggested that the recently- appointed leader (Ms Val De Souza) needs more time to address this, so she should be given the chance. MM would like to see more help for pupils who are supported while in school but who become “invisible” on leaving. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MM and others believed it was unwise to cut the treatment of invasive plant species (ENV020) which would save a mere £10K. There was widespread opposition to the proposed halving of the numbers of buses supported by the Supported Buses budget (ENV059). A local concern is for the Green Routes students, some of whom would find it impossible to get to Gartmore. ME pointed out that Demand-Responsive Transport would also be affected by this measure. Since we do not know which 15 play areas are on the list to be cut (ENV013) we are unaware if Gartmore’s school field would be affected. Might the school field be sold because the village already owns a playing field/football pitch? This item was opposed at the meeting. We cannot make a judgement about bridges (ENV031) without knowing how we would be affected locally but in principle reducing maintenance is undesirable. In the absence of proposals to deal with disposable nappies etc the proposal to reduce the frequency of grey bin collection to 4-weekly (ENV001) was thought undesirable! The similar proposal concerning brown bins (ENV043) was thought more acceptable. HOUSING & CUSTOMER SERVICES Much concern re the fate of local libraries and the mobile library service (HCS060). It was thought this proposal should be removed from the ‘Stop/Reduce’ list in order that a considered review of the service could be held. ASSETS & SUPPORT SERVICES On grounds of safety, the proposal to reduce school crossing patrol service (ASP009) was opposed. Any further cut to public toilets (ASP011) thought inappropriate in busy tourist areas CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE In the absence of further detail reducing grants to the voluntary sector and funding for community grants (CEO010 & CEO013) was opposed. It was thought that the Community Engagement Team did a good job and should be supported (CEO012). One member, Jean Cowie, was singled out for praise. Community Credit Unions do good work, insisted CI, and should continue to be supported (CEO016). AOCB Discussion ensued about the proposed pharmacy in Aberfoyle, which would affect Aberfoyle/Buchlyvie surgeries. JB encouraged the meeting to submit their views by 11th Feb: http://www.nhsforthvalley.com/get-involved/public-consultations/pharmacy-applications/strathard-pharmacy-december-2013 FW encouraged those present to participate in the consultation on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill. Community Councils should have MORE POWERS. Consultation open until 24th Jan: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/5740 The meeting closed at 2200. Next Community Council meeting on 4th Feb at 2000 in the Church Meeting Room. http://www.gartmore-village.co.uk/ Table of Service Options discussed during the meeting Title Description Referen ce EDUCATION SERVICES: service options EDU051 Re-negotiation of Active Stirling Service Currently, the core management fee is £1.542m whilst the remaining £0.272m relates to Level Agreement the facilitation of a Lifecycle Fund. This option proposes to review the current Service Level Agreement with Active Stirling for the provision of services with a view to realising and recognising efficiency savings through the wider facilitation of managing sport and leisure facilities for Stirling. EDU054 Withdraw Visiting Specialist Teachers - This option proposes to withdraw visiting music specialist teachers from August 2015. Music EDU055 Withdraw Visiting Specialist Teachers - This option proposes to withdraw visiting Physical Education (PE) specialist teachers from PE August 2015. EDU067 Stop Primary Swimming Programme This option proposes the withdrawal of the primary school swimming programme. EDU082 Maximise Group Lessons for Music This option promotes the use of the group lessons as the core means of the delivery of Tuition music tuition from school session 2014/15. As a result, there will be a reduction in waiting lists meaning that more pupils will be in receipt of the tuition; this will result in increased revenue. EDU083 Review of Allocation of Primary Support This option proposes that a review of the allocation of support staff to primary schools be Staff undertaken for implementation in school session 2015/16. SOCIAL SERVICES: service options SOC001 Redesign of Services - Maximising The proposal suggests that more appropriate services are made available to individuals in community support and individual their communities, reducing the need for access to formal social work through - 1. Advice choice is offered through contact points, local libraries and easy to read web pages; 2. Identification of community resources and supporting sign-posting; 3. Identification of what could be better delivered elsewhere/by others; 4. Reaffirm eligibility criteria based on this. The savings will come from reduced care packages as alternative supports are available. This proposal also encompasses business improvement based on the adult care pathway, i.e. the development of shared pathway with the NHS enabling us to work more effectively and equitably. It is also anticipated that financial controls can be improved so any inefficiencies are driven out and we have a clear picture of spend across the partnership. Efficiencies will be gained through review of performance and financial management, admin support and IT requirements. SOC008 Reshaping Care for Older People - Stirling Council approved the Reshaping Care for Older People - 'right service, right place, Review of Care Home Provision right time', proposal in June 2011 which gave the service the opportunity to redesign services to meet growing demand due to increasing demand within limited financial resources. Since the inception of this model, the requirement for both residential care and nursing care has decreased as older people remain at home for longer and nursing home placements when needed, are for shorter periods. Once the Care Village is built there will be no long term use for the Internally provided residential homes. Within Wellgreen there are only 14 long term residents living in Wellgreen with the remaining 16 beds being available for respite care. The home is not suitable for use for Intermediate Care. The proposal is that the home is closed on a phased basis taking into account the wishes of the long term residents remaining in Wellgreen but that the respite service is commissioned externally. SOC016 Review and Reduction of Respite Consider re-design of respite services as part of wider service redesign and pathway work. Provision - Adults / All Care Groups Current provision of respite is delivered by a range of providers across different care groups with choice and availability being varied, expensive and inequitable. On average respite is accessed for a maximum of 4-weeks per year and this proposal suggests aligning current eligibility criteria to afford 4-weeks respite across all care groups rather than the current entitlement to 6-weeks per annum. Service users have advised that there is a requirement for more flexible approaches to respite and the approach suggested will help to support people at home longer and access other support options consistent with pathway work. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: service options ENV001 Reduce grey bin collection frequency to This proposal is to reduce the frequency of grey bin collections from fortnightly to 4 4 weekly weekly. ENV013 Reduce open space (including Play This proposal is to reduce the areas of land assets owned by the council which are being Areas) asset burden maintained as public open space, in line with the approved open space strategy.