Brighton & Hove Older People’s Council Annual Report 2016-17 The Annual Report of the OPC is the report of elected members of the Older People’s Council. The Older People’s Council does not form part of Brighton & Hove City Council and the report is not a report of Brighton & Hove City Council The Older People’s Council Chair’s Foreword We are an elected body set up and supported by Brighton Colin Vincent (Stanmer / Hollingdean and & Hove City Council (BHCC) in terms of provision of meeting Moulescoomb / Bevendean) space and other administrative support. In 2012 The Older People’s Council (OPC) The Older People’s Council (OPC) was Our members, all of whom work on a proposed that Brighton & Hove City established to inform the policy and voluntary unpaid basis, represent wards Council (BHCC) apply to the World Health decision making of Brighton & Hove across the City. We attend relevant Organisation to work towards, and be recognised City Council, including services and council and health related public as, an Age Friendly City. The application was given unanimous resources that impact on the quality meetings. Unfortunately this year BHCC cross-party endorsement at a meeting the same year. of life and opportunities available for has decided to discontinue support for older people in the city. This need will the OPC. During this difficult period we The process of achieving the required dress the effect of disenfranchising continue whatever the future form of have continued to actively promote the objectives is still a work in progress. 38,000 over 65s in the city without representation takes for older people interests of older people and our report This work is being undertaken by any prior attempt to ascertain their in the city. outlines our activities during the year. the BHCC Age Friendly City (AFC) views. OPC members attended the Steering Group with input from the committee meeting and attempted to AFC Forum (which is open to all). It contest the recommendation, but the is to be hoped that current financial same political party alliance that was limitations and key staff changes do involved in the original proposal voted Our Purpose not halt or hinder this process. it through. As the council are fully supportive of While considering our options and • We listen to and represent the views of older people an Age Friendly City it is given the threat to our continued in Brighton & Hove to influence change. particularly distressing that existence, the OPC will this year the OPC were continue to promote • We challenge disadvantage experienced by older informed by the council and defend the collective people and promote their human and civil rights. that the administrative interests and welfare of support it provides will older citizens in the city • We scrutinise and actively promote the needs of older be withdrawn in 2018 (according its constitution) people to achieve good quality public services. and in addition they will on a range of issues no longer fund future including; health and social OPC elections. services, transport, housing, • We promote dignity and we support the aspirations safeguarding, dementia care This recommendation of older people wherever they live in the City and support. went before the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee devoid of any In conclusion, we will endeavour as a • We publicise our work through networking, public acknowledgement of the work done democratic non-political organisation meetings, ward events and local media. for the city’s older citizens by past and to work with other voluntary present OPC volunteer members. A organisations, both locally and second report (an Equalities Impact nationally, who have the interests of Assessment) failed to adequately ad- the elderly as their core objective. 2 3 Dementia - OPC members Safeguarding - Graham Bartlett, Secretary’s Report participated in Dementia Alliance the Chair of the Brighton & Hove Penny Morley (Hanover & Elm Grove, Preston Park and events, some having had personal Safeguarding Adults Board, presented St Peter’s & North Laine) involvement in this issue and others a range of information to the with experience of care homes January OPC meeting. There were a It has been an extremely busy year for the providing services. Dementia services concerning number (1,064 last year) OPC. We have had a number of changes with are a growing issue of concern. of safeguarding enquiries regarding Nick Goslett (Hangleton & Knoll & Hove Park) They need greater resourcing and older people. The OPC offered to help leaving and John Cook (Patcham) and Michael Whitty to be made a focus for the future, the Board with building community (Westdean) joining the OPC. with over 3,500 people in the city awareness which was welcomed by diagnosed with dementia. Graham. See www.brighton-hove. Many thanks to Nick for his Fairness Commission - we pressed gov.uk/keeping-people-safe for more contributions and to Mike Bojczuk for greater accessibility for older information. who stood down as Chair in October people across the city and met with 2016. I have also been grateful Possability People to jointly put the The council’s budget and for the support of all of the OPC case to the council. Subsequently its impact on older people members during the year. The OPC they wrote to Councillor Daniel is also grateful to the council officers supporting the OPC priorities relating The OPC worked hard, especially who have provided support for many to social isolation, more progress on from December 2016 to February years, and in particular to Karen becoming an Age-friendly City and a 2017, to lobby the council about Amsden in recent times. greater recognition that digital only the budget cuts which would impact on older people. Full details of the access excludes many older residents. Health - There has been a wide range The OPC activities letters, briefings and press articles are Elder Abuse - met with the Elder of issues relating to health. The OPC to be found on our website in 2016/17 Abuse Recovery Service to discuss had an update on the Brighton Citizens www.olderpeoplescouncil.org The Older People’s Festival - OPC and highlight this growing issue Health Survey from Dr Carl Walker in members participated in an inter- of concern for older people and November. This survey also went to We wrote to all generational debate with Dorothy to identify where they can get the Health & Wellbeing Board of the three political Stringer pupils as to whether the support and help. To contact email: council. We continued to raise concerns parties outlining older and younger generations have [email protected] or call including the closure of GP surgeries our concerns about far more in common than is often 0208 8359280. in Brighton, the debacle about Patient the budget cuts to suggested by the media. Transport with Coperforma, NHS Adult Social Care and objecting to the Residential & Home Care - funding and structural changes. Students proposed swingeing cuts to the Youth discussions were held with the from the University of Sussex observed Service. We had a public meeting in relevant council officer regarding the our meeting in November as part of their December where James Hengeveld from new home care contract which is studies. Colin Vincent represents the BHCC Finance explained the basis of the jointly held by BHCC & the Clinical OPC on the council’s Health & Overview council budget. Commissioning Group for five years. Scrutiny Committee and has been In January 2017 we met with the The OPC members raised questions instrumental in raising a range of issues council Leader Councillor Morgan. re; monitoring, costs, quality of care about services that impact on older We raised issues about the proposed and the need for a follow up plan people throughout the year. on monitoring. cuts to the Health & Adult Social Care 4 5 budget would impact on a range copies for distribution - thanks to Lynn Shields At the ‘Big Health & Care Conversation’ of services including occupational Mike and John for the work on this. in the Brighton Dome I was delighted (East Brighton and therapy, community equipment We continue to participate in Grey to learn that the excellent presentations Queen’s Park) service, Tower House, community Matters Productions, a 55 minute radio from various health workers involved in transport, health improvement, programme for older people on Radio This year has ‘Caring Together’ were being taken on dementia facilities, public transport Reverb. proved challenging the road to inform and support those and public toilets. Subsequently, a for everyone most in need. Knowledge is power. number of changes were made to involved in providing support to With our GP situation in Brighton & the final budget plans and we believe those most in need in our society. To Hove being so precarious, it is essential that our lobbying contributed to paraphrase Churchill “never in the that those most in need understand this outcome. We liaised with other history of the welfare state have so how to get the best from the system. community groups as part of this many owed so much to so few”. I The Citywide Connect Hubs which I process, in particular Community am extremely grateful to those who attend continue to provide an excellent Works. dedicate their lives to public service at a conduit for information and sharing time when they are pushed to do more best practice and they are enabling our and more with less and less funding. OPC Communications various organisations to work more This is not only true of the council and We held public meetings in December, Speakers from the Husting effectively together. event at Brighthelm NHS workers but of those who work March & June with speakers discussing for the third sector organisations.