OLDER PEOPLE'S CONSULTATIVE FORUM
MONDAY 21 APRIL 2008
MEETING ROOM 4E-01 ST ANDREWS HOUSE
Attendees:
Shona Robison MSP Minister for Public Health (Chair)
David Manion Age Concern Scotland
Barbara Barnes Alzheimer's Scotland
Dr Gurudeo Saluja Black and Minority Ethnic Elders Group
Cllr Ronnie McColl CoSLA representative on older people issues
(West Dunbartonshire Council)
Sylvia Murray CoSLA
Jean Elgar Dumfries and Galloway Council
Jacqueline Brown DWP - Pension Service
Liz Duncan Help the Aged in Scotland
George Henderson National Pensioner's Convention Scotland
Diana Findlay Scottish Older People's Advisory Group
Phyllis Herriot Scottish Pensioners Forum
Martin Brickley West of Scotland's Senior Forum
Andrew Jackson Women's Royal Voluntary Service
Apologies:
John Wilson Scottish Pensions Association
Irene Sweeney STUC
Secretariat:
John Storey Head of Older People and Age Team
Mabel McDowall Older People and Age Team
Brian Nisbet Older People and Age Team (minutes)
Neil Rennick Head of Older Peoples Unit
1. WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND APOLOGIES
Shona Robison (Minister for Public Health) welcomed members to the meeting, and said she was glad of the opportunity to chair her first meeting of the Forum. The Minister asked for brief introductions round the table, and then ran through the agenda circulated prior to the meeting.
2. UPDATES ON ISSUES CARRIED FORWARD FROM 14 AUGUST
PAPER 1:2008 ALARM SERVICES
The Minister invited members to comment on paper 1:2008 on Housing Support Charges for Alarm Services.
Members felt that charging for alarm services was disgraceful, and feedback received by the West of Scotland Seniors Forum suggested that people's personal safety was being put at risk as some people were cancelling alarm services because of the charges being levied by some local authorities.
George Henderson stated that CoSLA originally supported not charging for alarm services, but that during the review by CoSLA of Charging Policies in 2005/06 their politicians rejected proposals recommending that charges should not be levied for community alarms.
Sylvia Murray said that CoSLA's Charging Policies are to be reviewed again by October 2008, and it is fundamental that the retention of maximum flexibility for local authorities should underpin the review. In reaching this decision, CoSLA politicians were aware that the guidance leaves it to councils' discretion as to whether or not all or part of a charge should be made in cases of hardship.
Cllr McColl said that CoSLA issues guidelines, and it is up to individual local authorities as to how they interpret and implement the guidance that has been issued. There is no free service: someone has to pay for it. His own local authority does not charge older people who have been discharged from hospital for the first year after discharge and are reviewed after this. Cllr McColl estimated that around 60-65% of older people in West Dunbartonshire receive free alarm services. West Dunbartonshire had reviewed its policy on alarm charges as its previous system discriminated against older people in housing association and private accommodation. As a result of this review, it has implemented a £1.50 charge for all users whether they are in council, housing association or private housing.
Cllr McColl noted that alarm service charges do not just maintain the alarm service infrastructure, but also fund training for wardens and support services for users and their families.
Members asked for more details on the means testing provision for alarm services by local authorities.
Action Points
- The Minister said that the Forum would have another look at this once CoSLA has issued its new guidance. As this is expected in October, this would likely be 2 meetings from now.
PAPER 2:2008 NATIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY
The Minister asked for comments on Paper 2:2008 on the National Transport Strategy.
It was noted that a review of Concessionary Travel was to take place during 2008; the initial reaction to this was to ask what would be removed from the scheme. The Minister confirmed the review was still to take place: once there are clear indications of what is happening, we would pass them on. [ note: John Storey confirmed by e-mail on 24 April that, as a new policy, the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People will be reviewed during 2008-09 to make sure it is achieving what it set out to do. External stakeholders, including the Confederation of Passenger Transport and Passenger View Scotland, will be consulted. The review will report to the Minister for Transport in the autumn. ]
Andrew Jackson (WRVS) felt that the paper was particularly positive on Demand Responsive Transport. He asked whether within the new Concordat with local government an increased emphasis would be placed on Demand Responsive Transport.
The Minister responded that under the Concordat investment in Demand Responsive Transport would be down to individual local authorities and the needs of their areas, and how it fitted into their wider strategic transport plans.
Phyllis Herriot asked if the concessionary travel scheme would apply on Edinburgh's trams. The Minister advised that as the tram scheme was some way from conclusion it was unlikely that decision on this would have been taken, and we would come back to members when the position was clearer. [ note: John Storey confirmed by e-mail on 24 April that Edinburgh's trams are currently expected to come into operation on 3 May 2011 - 3 years from now. No decision has yet been taken on the scheme's applicability to them.]
Action Points
- It was agreed the Forum would keep a watching brief on Demand Responsive Transport.
- information would be given to the Forum on the review of Concessionary Travel [as noted above].
ANY OTHER CURRENT ISSUES
It was generally agreed that the difficulties faced by older people because of rising fuel costs was a major issue. Ms Robison stated that the Government was committed to its fuel poverty programmes, but that the rising cost of fuel was currently undermining the effectiveness of these initiatives. She informed members that Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport, has made representations to fuel companies about rising costs and has also contacted Ministers at Westminster as fuel issues are a reserved matter.
Liz Duncan commented that Help the Aged and Energy Watch were seeking a judicial review to force the UK Government to put pressure on Energy Companies over rising energy costs.
Phyllis Herriot raised rising phone charges at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and plans for building a care home near the Royal Infirmary.
Action Points
- Ms Robison stated that she was happy to pass on the Forum's concerns about rising fuel costs to the relevant Minister at Westminster.
- Ms Robison to write to Phyllis Herriot on the issues she raised.
3. A FAIRER TAX FOR SCOTLAND
Merlin Kemp from the Scottish Government Council Tax Reform team gave a presentation outlining the proposals to introduce a Local Income Tax (LIT).
Merlin explained that the Scottish Government believe the Scottish people have the right to change the way local authorities are funded from local taxation and also to change the nature of that local taxation. That is why the current Government stood for election with a clearly stated proposal to abolish the council tax, and replace it with a fairer local tax based on ability to pay. The current consultation is the first part of making that proposal a reality, and we are asking for your views. The proposals for a new local taxation system to fund local authority expenditure include:
· a tax free personal allowance that matches the UK personal allowance levels
· a 3% rate applied to the income that is subject to basic and higher rates of UK income tax
· collection that complements the existing national system of collection through Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and self assessment
· exemptions for savings and investment income
· a tax for second homes, which will be subject to local requirements, and broadly comparable to the current council tax on second homes.
· an overall tax cut of £281 million.
Q - Is Merlin available to speak to individual organisations about Council Tax reform.
A - Merlin confirmed he would be happy to do this.
Q - What proposals are being developed for water and sewerage charges?
A - Consultation on water and sewerage charges is ongoing, and proposals are currently
being developed.
Q - Who is being consulted on water and Sewage charges?
A - Merlin Kemp to provide details to the Older People and Age Team, who will circulate to
the Forum.
Action
- Forum members to pass information to their members and ask for comments.
4. Benefits Uptake by Older People
Jacqueline Brown from DWP - Pension Service gave a short presentation on the work of her organisation, outlining what they are doing to increase benefit uptake amongst older people.
Jacqueline began by stating that the Pension Service's vision was 'To combat poverty and promote security and independence in retirement for today's and future pensioners'. She explained that the Pension Service has 12 Pension Centres nationally, which deliver the new three in one claims service. There are 188 staff in Scotland and they are responsible for delivery of face to face visiting services, which is enhanced through partnership working.
Jacqueline explained the key goal is to deliver better and faster outcomes for people who use services and their carers, and to develop continuous improvements which are sustainable.
She referred to the Scottish Government's five strategic objectives and the Concordat between central and local government, working on the basis of mutual respect and understanding. Jacqueline stressed that this type of approach was pivotal to the work of the Pension Service. Partnership working between all bodies, especially the voluntary sector, was vital to increasing prosperity for older people in Scotland. Indeed DWP and the Scottish Government are currently working together to increase benefit uptake amongst older people.
The Pension Service has a Memorandum of Understanding with 29 of Scotland's 32 Local Authorities covering Housing, Social Services and Welfare Rights. Jacqueline stressed that although 3 local authorities (Glasgow, Midlothian and Orkney) had not formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with DWP, informal partnership working arrangements were in place to take forward benefit maximisation efforts. She also mentioned The Pension Services partnership with Communities Scotland: Warm Deal, which aims to address issues raised by the fuel poverty group and increase benefit maximisation at the same time.
In conclusion the Pension Service had helped around 68,500 people in Scotland claim money that the were entitled too from a range of benefits including Pensions Credits, Housing Benefits/Council Tax Benefits and Disability Living Allowance in 2007/08.
Q - How does The Pension Service deal with language difficulties from claimants from Ethnic Groups?
A - DWP offer a range of translation services and was approached by Bield Housing association regarding a potential outreach scheme. DWP acknowledge this is a difficult issue given the number of people with different languages now living in the UK.
5. Any Other Business
Due to time constraints the Minister invited members to take Paper 3:2008 as read, and said we would place All Our Futures implementation higher up the agenda at the next meeting to allow adequate time for discussion.
Ms Robison informed the Forum that Policing for Older People was launched by the Association of Police Officers in Scotland on 28 February 2008 (copies were given to members).
The Minister floated the idea of holding an Older People's Assembly or Congress as a one-off event, the idea being that this would bring older peoples organisations together to debate issues of relevance. She added that this was be distinct from both All Our Futures and the Older Peoples Consultative Forum, and be over and above the National Stakeholder events outlined in All Our Futures..
Ms Robison said that if this was to happen, it should be an open event, free ranging and not bureaucratic. It is critical it comes from older people's organisations and is organised by them. She was looking for suggestions and feedback from older people as to how this could operate, and those ideas and proposals submitted would be considered.
Action
- Older People and Age Team to e-mail members about the proposal and seek responses. [note: John Storey e-mailed under the heading Older People's Assembly or Congress on 25 April, and asked for comments by Friday 30 May.]
6. Date of Next Meeting
The Older People and Age Team will be in contact with OPCF members regarding the date of the next meeting. Due to diary pressures this was unlikely to take place before early September.
Older People and Age Team
30 April 2008