Agenda and minutes

The committee scrutinised the following cabinet items:

Alternative Model – Older Person’s Council

The Older Person’s Council (OPC) had not been reviewed since it was set up in 2005. With an ever increasing older population, plus changing issues affecting older person’s lives, as well as the big changes around adult social care, it was the right time to form a different type of model.

Members emphasised how important it was for the voice of older people to be heard loud and clear within Neath Port Talbot. Discussion had taken place over the last 2 years with members of the OPC, as well as various other groups within the local community which engage older people. It was planned to hold a symposium around April 2020 to speak to older people about the issues which affect their lives. A mix of additional methods would be used to capture the views of older people, including over the internet and face to face.

Members praised the work of the current OPC, and noted that the same members could also be a part of the new remodelled forum, if they so wished. Members stressed the importance of capturing the views of representatives of older people, such as carers.

It was noted that there would be no change to the current age criteria, and older people would be able to join from the age of fifty.

Following scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by cabinet.

The scrutiny officer advised members that a number of dates had been changed in order to accommodate the recently announced UK Parliamentary Election on 12 December 2019. The forward work programme had been updated accordingly.

The committee noted the Forward Work Programme for 2019/20.