Community Planning

The local Health & Social Care Forum last met on 18 February 2008 - download the notes from that meeting here

The S&L Community Planning Partnership has not met since April 2007and is currently under review.

SKYE AND LOCHALSH COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD IN
MORRISON HOUSE, PORTREE
ON TUESDAY 24TH APRIL  2007  AT 11.00 AM

PRESENT:

Councillors:  Drew Millar, Hamish Fraser, John Laing, Isabelle Campbell, Bill Fulton

Highland Council:  John MacDonald, Alaisdair MacKenzie

Scottish Natural Heritage:  Alex Turner
Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association:  Lachie MacDonald
HIE Skye & Wester Ross:  Clare Hannah
Northern Constabulary:  Sgt Andrew Shaw
Scottish Ambulance Service:  Willie John  MacLure

Councillor Drew Millar welcomed those attending the meeting.

1 APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Councillor Iain MacDonald, Robert Muir (HIE), Chrisanne MacDonald (S&LCVO), Alison Hudson (NHS)

2 MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 30th JANUARY 2007

(a) The Minute of the meeting held on 30th January 2007, a copy of which had been circulated with the Agenda, was approved.

(b)
(i) John MacDonald reported that Sheila Campbell Lloyd, Northern Area Manager with Scottish Water, had agreed to meet with the Partnership to discuss current issues, the programme of work and areas where water and sewerage infrastructure were constraining development.  It was agreed that this would be helpful and a date in June was suggested.

(ii) It was noted that £9m had been invested in housing development in 06/07 and a similar amount anticipated in 07/08.  Although any increase in affordable housing stock was welcome the issues with Homelessness was increasing pressure on the housing available.

3 MATTERS ARISING

(a) Clare Hannah reported on the progress being made to introduce a new LEADER scheme following the recent consultation carried out by the Scottish Executive.  The new Scheme would be managed by SERAD and Local Action Groups should not cross Local Authority boundaries.  It was likely that there would be three separate Local Action Groups in Highland - one in each of the three Corporate areas.  It was hoped to have the new arrangements operational by December and the particular theme would be agreed by each Action Group.

(b) There was also some initial work being done on a Cross Border initiative involving Northern Ireland, Eire and the Western Seaboard of Scotland which may be of interest to an area such as Skye and Lochalsh.  Marine Tourism and coastal facilities would be one of the main themes which would be considered.  It was noted that the FSB had an interest in being involved with operating this scheme and that Scottish Enterprise had been co-ordinating the early negotiations.

4 AMBULANCE SERVICE IN SKYE AND LOCHALSH: CURRENT ISSUES

Willie John MacLure, local Area Lead Ambulance Paramedic attended to respond to recent concerns over ambulance cover.  The present difficulties could be traced to the NHS Agenda for Change, the effects of which had been to change the on-call arrangements and payments for Ambulance Crews. 

After discussion it was agreed to write to the Highland Manager of SAS and the Chief Executive of SAS outlining the frequency of occasions where there is no or very poor cover in Skye and Lochalsh and urging more resources be awarded to the Service to meet its obligations to staff and the public.  Highland MSPs should be copied into the correspondence.

5 NHS LOCALITY UPDATE / CAPITAL PROJECTS AT KYLE AND BROADFORD

As Alison Hudson was unable to attend this item was deferred to the next meeting.  However it was understood that the contract for the new Health Centre in Kyle had been awarded.  Councillor Millar explained concerns which had been passed to him over the apparent non-use of some of the new Wards at Portree Hospital.

6 BROADFORD AIRSTRIP

The Partnership indicated disappointment at the recent statement from Hi-Trans that it could be 2012 before an air service was operating from Skye and agreed that all public sector partners should use whatever opportunities existed to lobby to have this date brought forward.  It was also believed that a service could operate using a twin otter and minimal site facilities e.g. portakabin for terminal building, check-in desk, waiting area, etc.

7 HIGHLAND WELLBEING ALLIANCE - UPDATE

The structure of the Highland Wellbeing Alliance was presently under review and it was likely to be some weeks yet before the outcome was known.  Meanwhile local Forums would be set up in each of the new Wards, involving Councillors, Partner Agencies and Community Councils.  It may be that these Forums would take on the responsibility for community planning at a local level.

8 POLICE COVER

Concern was expressed at the current shortage of Police Officers in Skye and Lochalsh.  There were presently three vacancies and a further transfer from Skye to Dingwall at the end of May.  Recruitment was presently proving difficult and the local situation was exacerbated by a lack of housing and unwillingness to opt to transfer to the area.  Forced transfer was difficult without the provision of housing.

It was agreed to write to the Chief Constable outlining the Partnership's concern and seeking comments on how the situation could be addressed.

9 SKYE BRIDGE PROTOCOL

The need for a Protocol  governing closure of the Skye Bridge was discussed.  Currently the responsibilities of the key stakeholders - Police, Transerve (as agents for the Scottish Executive) or the Roads Authority - were not clear and recent meetings to agree a procedure had been inconclusive.  It was agreed to enquire as to what procedure and arrangements were in place for closures of other trunk roads such as the A9 (for Winter conditions), and other bridges e.g. Kessock and how these had been put in place.

10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed to hold the next meeting once the new Council structure was in place and that the main item for discussion should be the Scottish Water Programme, issues and constraints.

(commplanmin0407 - mp - comm. Planning - 12.6.07)

Summary of Health Sector Meeting

 20 April 2007, 11am

Present:    Alison Hudson, NHS Highland, Locality General Manager, Kate Earnshaw, NHS Highland, Clinical Co-ordinator, Liz Featherstone, Social Work, Community Care Team Leader S&L, Pat Walsh - Community Care Forum

 Apologies:  Chrisanne MacDonald, SLCVO, Maxine Masson, Alzheimer Scotland                              

 1. Welcome and Introductions 

It was agreed that because of the poor turnout to the meeting we would have a general discussion around the main headings of the January 2007 Skye & Lochalsh Locality Highlight report

2. Care of the Elderly Review

 Alison informed the meeting that due to the Highland Council reorganisation it had been considered an inappropriate time to commence a Care of the Elderly review. Alison had also been unable to distribute the Lochaber Care of the Elderly Review report as at the time it was not a public document. This item has therefore been carried forward.

 Respite Care – Liz has held a discussion with Home Farm, regarding Social Work to block purchase a bed, however, there is less demand for a nursing bed than a residential respite bed, therefore, undecided as to whether to go ahead with this as yet. There was a discussion about the potential development of sheltered accommodation at Graham House and whether this could double up as respite beds for nursing and social care. It was noted that there were two respite beds in An Arcasaid, discussion regarding the need for a weekly update on bed states across nursing homes to be developed.

 3. Patient Transport

 Meetings with the Scottish Ambulance continue.

 4. Capital Developments

•  A capital bid has been submitted for upgrade of the Uig surgery and potential release of Corbett Terrace House.
• Raasay current Nurses house, not fit for purpose. Capital bid to be submitted for new build and potential sale of land and Nurses house.  
• MacKinnon Memorial Hospital Broadford, ongoing development in early stages, survey has been conducted and design team appointed.
• Kyle construction team appointed – Tullochs from Inverness. Work due to start May, completion anticipated Christmas 2007.
• Patient Transport – agreed to invite Willie MacLure, paramedic team leader to join the next meeting.

5. Communications 

Deferred to next meeting.

 6. Any Other Business

 There was discussion about the role of the Health Sector Group and the Community Care Forum representative raised a request for an advisory group for the Community Care Forum, which used to include NHS and Social Work managers, which last met in February 2006. 

 Maxine has requested that the Community Care Forum revive this group. Discussion centred on the need for NHS and Social Work managers to sit on the Community planning Partnership, a Health Sector Group and a revived advisory group. It was suggested that the Health Sector Group could incorporate this role and change the name to reflect the nature of business which is not solely health care i.e. ‘Health and Social Care Group/Advisory/ Network/Forum’. Pat agreed to contact Maxine to discuss this proposal further.

 Direct payments – Community Care Forum have prepared a report regarding this to be distributed to all members of the current Health Sector group.

 Care First – Liz talked about the new Social Work system for the single shared assessment which is now in Microsoft Word and can be completed electronically. There was discussion about the need for Health to link into the system too. Liz to follow up.

 AOB Continued - Agreed to change to capture Voluntary Sector and Social Work agenda items and review terms of reference/remit/name of group at next meeting. Suggested agenda attached for comments.

 7. Date of Next Meeting

25^th June at 2pm in Portree Hospital meeting Room.