Agenda and minutes

Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a record be kept of the Members present and that this record form part of the minutes of the meeting. Members who cannot attend a meeting should tender apologies to the Town Clerk.

Apologies had been received from Sarah Jewell, Older Persons Project Co-Ordinator.  The Sub Committee requested their condolences be passed to Sarah Jewell on her recent loss. 

(i)        Under the Localism Act 2011 (sections 26-37 and Schedule 4) and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare any interests which are not currently entered in the Member’s Register of Interests or if he/she has not notified the Monitoring Officer of it.

(ii)       Should any Member have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in an item on the agenda, the Member may not participate in consideration of that item unless a Dispensation has first been requested (in writing) and granted by the Council (see Dispensation Procedure).

Members were asked to declare any interests, including the nature of those interests, which they had in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.  No declarations were made.

To receive questions and statements from members of the public in respect of any item of business included in the agenda, as provided for in Standing Order No.s 3(f) and 3(g).

There were no questions from the public.

(a)             To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Older Persons Sub Committee held on 4 February 2021 (attached) in accordance with Standing Order 12.

(b)              To receive information updates on matters arising from the previous meeting (if appropriate).

(a)       The sub-committee received the draft minutes of the Old Persons Sub Committee held on 4 February 2021.

Minute ref 07/OP Updates and Discussion – it was hoped the 55UP branding would be prioritised on the Helping Hands website and promoted via doctors surgeries, the library and town council noticeboards. 

RESOLVED that that minute of the meeting of the Older Persons Sub Committee held on 4 February 2021 be approved as a correct record and would be signed at a later date when safe to do so.

(b)       No updates were made but would be given later in the agenda if required.

(a)      To receive and consider the summary of work to date. (verbal)

-       Project  - delivery timeline (attached)

-       Web page - https://www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk/55up/

The sub-committee received and considered a report giving a summary of work updates for the project.

UPDATES

1.         Digital Inclusion

The Helping Hands Website had been created and promoted via About Town and Social Media.  Members agreed the website could be more appealing visually giving more information on what Helping Hands offered.  The website was supported by Beds Rural charities and LLTC with Beds Rural charities being the main host and LLTC providing the funding.  It was felt that Beds Rural Communities Charity could offer support to improve the visual look of the website and it was suggested Sarah Jewell could go back to them to ascertain whether this was still a work in progress and how it could be improved. 

2.         Technology Helpline

The Town Council was looking to support 55 year olds and over through a technology helpline.  A specification document had been drafted and circulated to Members. Organisations would be invited to quote against the specifications listed for a 2-year work delivery. The project specifications could be downloaded from the 55UP section of the Council website.

A concern was raised regarding the quotation specification and whether the same questions were being asked of each organisation. It was confirmed that the one specification document provided was the single list of activities organisations would quote against.   After discussion it was agreed that members should look at the brief as it was now and email Vivien Cannon with suggestions in the next week or so.

3.         Tablet Loan

No updates to add to this scheme at present.

4.         Directory Info Hub

The directory information hub was in the early stages at present with the link on the website being a temporary solution until the full hub version had been commissioned.  It would be hoped that each organisation would have its own page on the website and would be in charge of updating this.  The organisation would then have an opportunity to update its page but if the update was not forthcoming, the page could then be deleted. This approach would rely on inbuilt IT systems.

A request was made for a more detailed document for the next meeting which would provide more information on the progress of the directory info hub.

5.         Visual Identity

The 55Up logo was being used on the website and had been promoted in About Town.  Members agreed that when information was being produced some hard copies should be available for people without internet access.  Members were advised that officers were exploring including the logo on the existing Movies for the Mature branding to establish the 55up brand for existing work.  It was recognised that we need things to promote before pushing the branding to the fore. Vivien Cannon and Sarah Jewell were currently liaising with colleagues on fine tuning the web presence, including putting a drop-down link on the Council’s front page to the 55up page.

6.         Grant Funding Scheme

The proposed Grant aim would be to increase and enhance leisure opportunities for those aged  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Proposed future meeting dates as listed below and to be confirmed by Council at its meeting in April.

·         19 August

·         18 November

·         17 February

The next meeting would be held on Thursday 19 August 2021 at 10.00 am with flexibility for an additional informal meeting date to be added.