Agenda item

Cllr Jon Hubbard

Philippa Huxtable, newly appointed Age Friendly Co-ordinator, gave a brief update of the work carried out by Melksham Community Support and the CIC.

Points made included:

·         That the group were still meeting all requests for help

·         That staff support from partners had continued and recruitment to volunteer roles would continue to ensure sustainability

·         A robust volunteering framework had been established with guidelines, boundaries, support etc

·         A review had been carried out of users, tasks and call answering times

·         The group continues to gather information to shape the service long-term

·         There is a need for a formal operational steering group to be established to guide the work of the CIC

·         That good collaboration is the key to ensure sustainability, including with representatives of the seniors community in the area

Cllr Hubbard described the model entitled “Melksham Community Support: The Way Forward” which proposes the roles of the partners and others in policy and operations to build a resilient community. This model has formally been adopted by the Melksham Area Board, Melksham Without Parish Council and Age Friendly Melksham CIC.

Decision

·         That the Area Board recognised the excellent work achieved by its partners in the Melksham COVID response team - the joint working in exceptional circumstances achieved with and between Melksham Town Council, Melksham Without Parish Council, Age Friendly Melksham and Melksham Area Board - and the outstanding contributions from community volunteers in the town and villages across the community area.

• That the good work carried out by Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council staff during the lockdown had been much appreciated.

·         That Melksham Area Board, Melksham Without Parish Council and Age Friendly Melksham had all agreed the attached model entitled “Melksham Community Support: The Way Forward” which identified the policy and operational roles of the local partner organisations as we moved forward from COVID support into COVID recovery. (Note: Cllr Pat Aves abstained from the vote)

·         That in particular, the Area Board recognised the ongoing role of Age Friendly Melksham CIC in operational support and service delivery to people without a support network, including those who were vulnerable, socially isolated, and/or with mobility issues.

·         To record that the Melksham Area Board, Melksham Without Parish Council and Age Friendly Melksham had all agreed the use of the proposed consultancy funding towards the part-time post of Age Friendly Co-ordinator, in recognition of changed circumstances but in line with the original outcomes sought through the grant funding. (Note: Cllr Jon Hubbard abstained from the vote as he had declared a declaration of interest that was noted at the beginning of the meeting)

·         That the Area Board recognised the contribution of £3,000 from the Melksham Seniors Group was to help with the production of a 3-year action plan for developing the Melksham Community Area’s role as an Age Friendly Community and recognised the importance that these funds were used for that purpose. The Area Board therefore designated these funds to pay for Age Friendly Melksham CIC to produce a 3-year Age Friendly Action Plan for the Melksham Community Area, working in partnership with Melksham Seniors, the Area Board and other stakeholders. 

(Note: Wiltshire Council legal officers had advised the Area Board      that it was a legal decision to appropriate this funding)

(Note: Cllr Jon Hubbard abstained from the vote as he had declared a declaration of interest that was noted at the beginning of the meeting)

(Note: Cllr Pat Aves and Cllr Hayley Spencer voted in favour as  members of the Melksham Area Board and not as members of Melksham Town Council)