Agenda and minutes

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor S Owen be appointed Chair of the Sub-Committee for 2022-23. There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor S Owen as Chair of the Older Persons Sub-Committee for 2022-23.

Councillor Owen took the Chair.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor M Freeman be appointed Vice Chair of the Sub-Committee for 2022-23. There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor M Freeman as Vice Chair of the Older Persons Sub-Committee for 2022-23.

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 for absence had been received from Councillors Morris and Kharawala.

(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).

Councillor Goodchild declared a personal interest as Chair of Salisbury House GP surgery Patient Participation Group.

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(e)(f)(g) and 3(h).

There were no questions from members of the public.

(a)       To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Older Persons Sub-Committee meeting held on 17 February 2022 (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 17 February 2022. A typographical error would be corrected.

RESOLVED that that minutes of the meeting of the Older Persons Sub Committee held on 17 February 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

(b)             It was noted that contractors for the new care home Marigold House had recently issued a newsletter. The Chair advised he would invite Central Bedfordshire Council colleagues to give a further update about the project later in the year.

42/OP It was also noted that Cultural and Economic Services Committee had agreed the recommendation to award 55up Grant Funds and that funds had been issued.

43/OP A correction was made to the heading; ‘Delivery’. Committee was advised that recruitment had taken place with an offer being made subject to satisfactory references. It was hoped the new person could start in late June and continue with the project work. 

To welcome Liz Stainsby, Citizens Online who will present an update on the project including a project timeline.

By invitation, Liz Stainsby, Digital Champion Co-ordinator of Citizens Online attended the meeting to give a report and presentation regarding the 55Up technology helpline project.

The Sub-Committee heard about previous experience in other locations and how the Digital Champion role worked. Citizens Online had generally found that learners were an even male-female split and ranged from complete beginners to those with a little digital experience but wishing to learn more. Some learners had previously had no interest in using technology and finding something that linked to their interests was key (e.g. cooking, gardening, sport). Support was given in different ways such as 1-1 appointments, drop-in sessions or small groups. Often the learning was focussed on a specific task for example online shopping, using social media or setting up an app such as the NHS app. Online safety was continually promoted and explained.

Feedback had shown that people tended to learn best when shown what to do and then supported to do it themselves. Digital champions did not need to be technology experts but required lots of patience and enthusiasm. Citizens Online offered ongoing training and support to champions.

Callers to the helpline could leave a message and would be called back by a co-ordinator, who would further assess their needs and either assign to a volunteer champion for remote support or advise what face to face options were available. For face-to-face support people would usually see the same champion and therefore be able to build up trust.

Research showed that Leighton-Linslade had just under 30% of its population in the 55+ age bracket, many of whom were already online but might still need support expanding their digital skills. 

The helpline was being promoted by way of social media (targeted to friends and family), advertisements in the local newspaper, Bee Local magazine and About Town newsletter and inclusion in the Bassett Road surgery PPG newsletter as well as the emerging updated version of the “yellow book” of information for older people. Citizens Online had also been networking with local organisations.

One digital champion was awaiting a DBS check before being able to start offering support at the Tuesday Chatty Café. Another champion would offer remote only support and interest had been expressed by several others. The focus in the short term would be on continuing to recruit and train volunteers, to start face to face support sessions and to continue promoting the scheme. Discussions would also continue with the Leighton Buzzard Library service about the potential for partnership working.

A query was raised about how success would be measured. The aspiration was to recruit 20 digital champions over the initial two-year project term to provide a sound basis for the future. The impact would be measured by individual case studies.

Ms Stainsby was thanked for her presentation and for attending the meeting.

To receive a verbal update on options

Further to previous discussion, officers had undertaken further research into the potential for funding or part funding a “Community Agent” through the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity. An example was given of Biggleswade where the scheme had operated since 2016 and was now an ongoing contract. Biggleswade town council funded one person for two days per week with regular reports to committee demonstrating that the impact could be meaningful.

A cost for the period September 2022-March 2023 had been obtained at £8,476 to include £750 start up costs. The cost for the following full financial year would be £13,212.

The sub committee noted that costs for the current year could be covered by the £10,780.40 underspend from monies previously allocated to projects that came in under the estimated spend.  However, future funding would need careful consideration and council support. It was felt that such a scheme would need to run for at least two full years to see any demonstrable impact.

It was proposed and seconded that a recommendation be put forward to the parent committee for consideration.

RECOMMENDED to the Cultural and Economic Services Committee to support the funding of a Community Agent through BRCC for an initial period of 2 years and 7 months from September 2022, with costs for 2022-23 to be met from existing Older Persons budget allocation but noting that commitment to funding for the next two financial years would be required by Council to demonstrate any meaningful impact.

It was noted that should the project proceed, the role of the sub committee might change to primarily monitoring of the service contracts with BRCC and Citizens Online and this would need further discussion.

To receive a verbal update on work progress.

Early-stage discussions on the potential to partner with Leighton Buzzard Library for a tablet loan scheme had taken place. Progressing setting up the loan scheme was held until the Technology Helpline was up and running first. Committee has allocated £15k of its original budget   towards the creation of the loan scheme. The library service was short staffed following the pandemic but was now actively recruiting so it was hoped that discussions could be reconvened once the new officer was in place.

There were no updates regarding the yellow book update or the grant scheme.

To receive a request to move the date of the next meeting from Thursday 18 August to either:

• Wednesday 17^th August 2022, 10:00 am
• Friday 19^th August 2022, 10:00 am

The next meeting would be provisionally moved to Friday, 19 August at 10:00am but this would be confirmed depending on staff availability.

It was suggested that BRCC and the Helping Hands group could be invited to attend the next meeting.

The sub committee placed on record its thanks to Sarah Jewell and Vivien Cannon for their considerable work in progressing the projects supporting older people and wished them all the best for the future.