Agenda and minutes

The Chair will welcome everyone to the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the people on the top table.  People were reminded to say their name, the organisation they represent and to use the microphone when speaking.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Donna Hall (Chief Executive, Chorley Council), Jeanette Hickey (Police), David Brown (Chorley Pensioners Association), Jean Cronshaw (Clayton Brook Together),  Dawn Clarke (Equality & Diversity Manager, Central Lancashire PCT),  Colin Everett (District Partnership Officer).

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Equality Forum held on 21 January 2009 (enclosed).  The schedule is enclosed outlining queries raised at the last meeting and since the last meeting.  Please note that several queries requiring a more detailed response will be updated at the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2009 were confirmed as a correct record.

David Melhuish, the Chair of Chorley and District Neighbourhood Watch Association (CADNWA), will present this item.

What is the purpose of the item?

To outline the work undertaken by CADNWA. 

Questions for the Forum

Are there areas where Forum Members would like to set up a Neighbourhood Watch. 

What are we going to do with the information?

To take on board any information provided going forward. 

David can be contacted on David.Melhuish@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

The Chair welcomed David Melhuish, the Chair of Chorley and District Neighbourhood Watch Association (CADNWA) who gave a presentation on the benefits of Neighbourhood Watches, and highlighted where there was a shortage in the borough.

David asked the Forum for suggestions on how potential volunteers could be reached, and how best to publicise existing Watches.  In response Forum members suggested David attend various group meetings, provide information on Neighbourhood Watch’s at the Action Plan Days, and investigate the possibility of forming a young peoples Neighbourhood Watch.

The Chair thanked David for his presentation.  For further information on Neighbourhood Watches contact Margaret Rushton, Crime Prevention Officer at Chorley Police onMargaret.Rushton@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.

Claire Thompson, Performance, Partnership and Equality Manager at Chorley Council will present this item.

What is the purpose?

The Chorley Partnership's Health and wellbeing Group are producing a strategy and action plan to tackle Chorley's health inequalities.  The first draft of the strategy, outlining our key priorities, will be presented to the Equality Forum for their comments.

Questions for the Forum

Do the priorities feel right for Chorley?

How can partners in Chorley work better together to tackle the health issues that affect the most disadvantaged people in our communities?

What are we going to do with the information?

Once we have finalised the priorities in the strategy, we will pull together an action plan to tackle health inequalities in Chorley.

Claire can be contacted on claire.thompson@chorley.gov.uk or call 01257 515348.

The Chair welcomed Claire Thompson, the Council’s Performance, Partnership and Equality Manager who gave a presentation on how the Chorley Local Strategic Partnership is tackling health inequalities in Chorley and explained why the gap for those people more likely to be ill is getting bigger.

From the evidence received there are three main areas of concern which have been identified as priorities: -            

Teenage pregnancy

Alcohol harm

The ‘Big Killers’

·        Cancer

·        Cardio Vascular Disease / CHD

·        Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Although there is a lot of data available in most of these areas it was proving difficult to find evidence on mental health, learning disabilities, and in the areas of COPD and obesity there is little or no ward level evidence.

The Council, in partnership with the PCT, are developing a strategy and action plan which will be presented to the LSP and Council meeting, the aim of which is to reduce the gap and improve the health of Chorley residents.  Claire asked the Forum if any members had suggestions where information could be gathered and what steps could be taken to improve the health of residents. 

The Forum discussed the issues raised in the presentation and in general agreed with the priorities identified.

The Chair thanked Claire for her presentation.  Claire can be contacted on 01257 515348 or email claire.thompson@chorley.gov.uk.

Liz Morey, Neighbourhoods Co-ordinator at Chorley Council, will update the Forum on Neighbourhood Working. 

Liz can be contacted on liz.morey@chorley.gov.uk or call 01257 515812.

 Liz Morey, the Council’s Neighbourhood Co-ordinator updated the Forum on Neighbourhood Working and the seven Neighbourhood Action Plans.

A number of events are taking place between May and July which include days of action and drop in sessions.  It was acknowledged that as the days of action took place during a week day many young people would be unable to attend, and the possibilities of taking children out of school to attend was discussed.  Liz added Forum members would be able to display information on their individual group if they wished.  Confirmed drop-in sessions are:

·              Abbey Village Primary School Wed 10 June 3.00 - 5.45pm

·              Heath Charnock - White Horse Inn, Wed 17 June 1.30 - 4.00pm

·              Clayton Green Library Tuesday 14 July 1.00 - 4.00pm

Liz Morey can be contacted on 01257 515812 or email liz.morey@chorley.gov.uk.

The Forum members took a short break.

No issues were raised.

Alison Hansford queried if an interpreter would be available at the Neighbourhood Days of Action.  Liz Morey advised no interpreter had been booked for these sessions.  However, if there was anyone who had communication difficulties and would like more information, their contact details can be passed to Liz and the other Neighbourhood Officers who will follow them up.

Cllr Iris Smith asked if more disabled parking spaces could be made that were wider than the standard disabled parking bay, as it would be especially useful for wheelchair users. This would be queried with the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation and Improvement).

Maureen Kay enquired if interpreters could be present in the One-Stop-Shop.  Officers undertook to look into this.

Dial-a-Ride is currently charging disabled customers full fare before 9.30am.  Officers were asked to look in to this matter to see what could be done to reduce it.

No issues were raised.

No issues were raised.

No issues were raised.

No issues were raised.

No issues were raised.

Members of the Forum are welcome to inform other members of upcoming event, give feedback or notices. 

If you would like to invite the Chair to attend a meeting of an equality group you are involved in please contact her on hasina.khan@chorley.gov.uk or call 01257 460515. 

The Chair announced the retirement of Rev John Cree, and thanked him for his contribution to the Forum and wished him a very happy retirement.

The Chair reminded the Forum that at a previous meeting it had been agreed the start time of the Forum would be brought forward to 6.30pm to accommodate the winter nights but the time would be reviewed in Spring.  After a vote the majority of members (with one against) agreed for the Forum should remain at a 6.30pm start.

Lesley-Ann Fenton announced the Council had achieved Level 3 of the Equality Standard for local government from the IDeA, and thanked all those who took part in the evaluation process.   Level 3 means that the Council is ’Achieving,’   At the next meeting, in response to a request for the Council’s approach to Equality & Diversity be included in the forward plan, the Council will outline current practice and areas for development based on the feedback from the IDeA assessors.  There will also be an opportunity for members of the forum to give suggestions on how the Equality Forum can be developed further.

·               Thursday, 9th July 2009

·               Wednesday, 7th October 2009

·               Tuesday, 19th January 2010

·               Monday, 26th April 2010

The meetings are being held on a different day of the week to enable those who have fixed commitments on a particular evening to attend the majority of Forum meetings. 

The dates of future meetings were noted.