Minutes September 2011
Held at the Methodist Church, Gellidawel Road, Rhydyfelin.
Monday 12th September 2011. (12:00 - 2:00pm)
Minutes
Present: Marj Milner; Audrey Bonter; Kevin and Christine Ellaway;
Graham Robinson; Ricky Graciz; Mike McGranaghan;
Hafod: Michelle Llewellyn -Tenant Participation Officer;
Bill Daniel - Community Development Officer;
Lesley Mower-Hill -Neighbourhood Services Manager;
Apologies: None
Michelle welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Lesley Mower-Hill, Neighbourhood Services Manager. Lesley introduced herself and a short explanation of her experience and role she will undertake at Hafod over the next two years.
Michelle then read aloud the minutes of the meeting held on 14th June 2011.
Up-dates from the last meeting.
Disability Open Day.
It was agreed that the 2012 Tenants' Conference, would be held incorporating Disability as the theme for the day.
Members present emphasised the need that the venue chosen was to be disability friendly, and the facilities available ensured that they were ensured access.
Each tenants group would need to come forward with suggested venues which would then be visited and a final preferred venue chosen.
The venue, when chosen, would be confirmed in writing so that a contractual agreement existed. This would ensure that those services promised would be provided on the day.
Home Maintenance
Michelle had advised that she had researched this area in anticipation. It appears that Age Concern offer approved contractors who for a reasonable charge would undertake tasks around the property, such as decorating.
Another suggestion from Christine was the feasibility of residents being trained up as Handypersons, which would be the subject of a discussion with Maintenance Staff on 28th September.
Another possibility suggested by Bill Daniel was the services of Care and Repair. To be explored by Michelle. The service for RCT was formerly run via Cynon-Taf Housing Association. Should be checked if this is still the case.
Logo
Kevin explained that due to the pressure of other commitments that he had not had time to work on this .Members agreed that this matter would be deferred to the next meeting.
Newsletter
This was intended to be produced in-house by existing staff and the content of which would be disability- focussed.
Subjects put forward by the members of the Group would be accessing works of adaptation and the different arrangements which exist depending on the Local Authority Area.
Another suggestion would be to put forward items for the 2012 Conference. Included in the suggestions was a Disability Living Centre. This was an idea for a field trip in the 2012 calendar of meetings.
Code of Conduct/ Terms of Reference
Michelle advised the group that she is looking for three or four volunteers who would be able to spare time to agree Terms of Reference and A Code of Conduct for the Group.
Michelle stated that examples of Codes of conduct featured items such as members being committed to the aims and objectives of the group. Respect for others holding differing views could be an idea for inclusion.
Members who volunteered were Christine, Kevin, Marj, Graham and Audrey.
Browse Aloud.
This facility is available to all visitors to the Hafod website and is a facility aimed at making the information contained on the site more disabled- customer- friendly. It involves clicking on to the Browse Aloud icon on the Home page.
Michelle gave a demonstration for the Group, on how they can use it, and its many benefits, particularly those for the visually impaired.
When the minutes are completed they will be added to the website and using this facility, Members can read them ahead of the meeting.
Full instructions on using Browse aloud will feature in the minutes. Also Michelle would enquire as whether other tenant-focussed minutes of meetings could be accessed via the Hafod Website with the benefits of Browse Aloud included.
Any Other Business
Christine asked for a list of schemes.
Marj asked for a Benefits workshop to be run, and Lucy, Hafod's Benefits Advisor would be asked to make contact to arrange.
The next meeting would be the Christmas meeting at Thornhill, Cwmbran, and would feature a Christmas Buffet. This meeting would include a feature on how to cope with Epileptic Emergencies
Members asked that full directions to be provided to the Taxi Drivers.
Suggested meeting Areas for 2012 are
Heath Park, Cardiff
Bridgend - Glan Ogwr House.
Tenants Conference 2012 would be the September quarterly meeting.
Merthyr Tydfil - Christmas 2012 featuring a Christmas meal and choral entertainment.
Ideas for future meetings;
Arthritis Care was suggested by Kevin and Chris suggested the work of the physiotherapist. Michelle invited ideas for further meetings from the Group to be discussed at the December meeting.
Meeting concluded at 2.00 p.m.
