Public Speaking Time/Open Session
A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.
Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.
Note: in order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public notified the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda at least one working day before the meeting with brief details of the matter to be covered.
Minutes:
Ms Mabel Taylor attended the meeting to address the Committee regarding respite care. She suggested that there were 4,500 sufferers of dementia in the Borough however it had been reported that there was little take up of local authority respite care offers which meant the Council was proposing to close respite services such as Mountview in Congleton. She went on to suggest that as carers saved the Council money by providing care for their relatives that would otherwise be paid for by the Council there should be provision for respite care to provide carers with the opportunity for time out for themselves to recharge their batteries. She finished by suggesting that due to the closure of Bexton Court people needing care in the North West of the Borough needed to be transported to other centres in the East of the Borough which could not be ideal for those suffering dementia and their carers.
Ms Charlotte Peters Rock attended the meeting to address the Committee regarding dementia care and respite services. She referred to the Support for Older People and Dementia Task and Finish Report contained within the Agenda and suggested that the Committee should support the recommendations. She also referred to the North West Ambulance Service’s Communities Strategy and suggested that a carers needs must be taken into account in the transport of patients which was not currently the case. She suggested that since the closure of Bexton Court, Macclesfield Hospital was short of spaces for respite care which was pressuring family carers. She also referred to the consultation on proposals for the future use of Mountview Community Support Centre in Congleton and was against potential decision to close it.