Minutes

The Western Locality Forum (WLF)

24thNovember 2014, 6.00 p.m. at Yarm Youth & Community Centre, Yarm

Members
Maureen Rigg (MR) – SBC (Chair), Geoff Turner (GT) – Eaglescliffe and Egglescliffe Parish Council (Vice Chair) , Philip Addison (PA) – Yarm Fellowship Community Centre,Gordon Smith (GS) – Long Newton Parish Council, Janice McColm (JM) - TVRCC, Sarah Bowman (SB) – Public Health, Stockton Borough Council, Marjorie Simpson, Cllr Mark Chatburn (MC) – SBC, Chris Peters (CP) - Thirteen
Advisors:
Sarah Robinson (SR), James Hadman (JH) – Catalyst,
Apologies
Cllr Lewis (AL) - SBC, Jenny Pinkney (JP) – Willey Flats Residents Association, PC Birkett (Cleveland Police), Jennie Beaumont (JB) – Kirklevington Parish Council, Cllr Dennis (PD) – SBC, Gareth Carson (SBC), Diane Reynolds (DR) – Chamber of Commerce, Business Rep,
ITEM/ISSUE / DOI / ACTION
  1. Welcome and Introductions
The Chair welcomed Members and Advisors to the meeting. / None
  1. Apologies
Apologies were noted. / None
  1. Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made. / None
  1. Minutes of Last Meeting & Matters Arising
Minutes of previous meeting on 29th September 2014 were circulated and agreed. / Noted
  1. Task & Finish Group Feedback
Credit Union (Forum wide task and finish group)
A Credit Union task and finish group has been organised for the 1st December. Feedback from this meeting will be provided at the January meeting of the Western Locality Forum.
It was discussed that access to the Tees Credit Union in the western area is limited and that it would be good to have a collection point in the area with the potential to alternate this collection point for example one week in Yarm, the next week in Eaglescliffe.
It was requested that at the December task and finish group, information is sought on what is involved in community champion training.
It was suggested that the name is changed from Tees Credit Union to something like Stockton Community Bank. This is to highlight that this is an ethical way of saving.
Breastfeeding (Forum wide task and finish group)
A further task and finish group meeting to be arranged with representation from Public Health who are currently rolling out a new breastfeeding friendly scheme.
A phoneline was suggested for people so that they could find out where is good to go to breastfeed. It was discussed how to tackle the worse places to change the culture of this.
Promote Good Diet
At the last meeting it was suggested that dental health be included as a priority within the Western Locality Forum Action Plan. However, SB suggested from a public health perspective that tackling the consumption of sugary foods and drinks is the focus (rather than dental health per se) as it will support good dental health and also help address one of the factors contributing to obesity and being overweight (in both children and adults). A programme is already being put in place in schools to support tooth brushing and good dental health, so if the Forums activity was focused on work to ‘Promote Good Diet’, this would address more than one public health issue across the whole population and would have greater impact. Western Locality Forum could contribute towards this for example by promoting healthy diets in the community. There is a new family weight management programme in place which the forum could help promote. It was noted that there had been a presentation to the Northern Locality Forum on childhood obesity and Sarah Webster (Stockton Council) had provided stats on this. Invite Sarah to the T&F group to see if areas can be identified to help map where activities need to be.
SB provided a presentation to the Forum on child dental health and provided further information on the Oral Health Pathway project for schools. The evidence shows that the best protection against poor child dental health is: low sugar diet, promotion of good dental health – regular, effective brushing (coupled with the programmes being rolled out in schools) and fluoridation of water supplies. It is hoped that the messages children get at school on this will be taken home and passed onto parents.The Oral Health Programme is already being rolled out and should be in all schools in the areas of greatest deprivation by April 2015 / None
SR to speak to Diane Patterson about why the collection point at Challoner House ceased.
SR to feedback at the December T&F meeting
MR to attend the next T&F meeting on breastfeeding.
SR to add this priority to the action plan and to arrange a T&F group meeting on this.
SB to provide information on the new family weight management programme.
SR to invite Sarah Webster to the T&F group.
  1. Stop Loan Sharks Charter
Information was circulated on the Charter and it was agreed that the Western Locality Forum would like to sign up to the Charter. It was noted that this also links in with the priority around the Tees Credit Union.
A training session has been organised for the 15th January 2015 on this. Members to contact SR if they would like to attend. / Noted
7. Items for Information
-A request had been sent to MR regarding one representative on Stockton’s IAG. It was agreed that Cllr Chatburn would be the rep on this.
-Gordon Smith reported that Long Newton have been successful in their funding for a bus service and have signed the associated legal agreement. It could potentially start before Christmas but it is likely to be January 2015.
-Jennie Beaumont noted that Kirklevington have also been successful in their bid and are awaiting for the legal documentation to come through
-The Annual Stockton Strategic Partnership Event is taking place on the 9th December. Contact SR if you would like to attend. / JH to circulate the information to MC.
The Western Locality Forum congratulated the parish councils on their funding success
9. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Monday 26th January, 6pm, The Wilson Centre, Long Newton / Noted

1

DOI – Declaration of Interest