Minute of 17th September
2007
Venue: St Columba’s Church, Crieff.
Present :
Norman Jarvie (NDJ)
Chairman PKCTG
Jim Gibb (JG)
Treasurer PKCTG
Frank Muggridge (FM)
Strathcare
Morna Calcott (MC)
Kinross Volunteer Group & Rural Outreach Scheme
Kelvin Reay (KR)
Kinross Volunteer Group & Rural Outreach Scheme
Ann Munro (AM)
Kinross Volunteer Group & Rural Outreach Scheme
Jane Laahs (JL)
Voluntary Services Manager
Angela Prescott (RDW)
RDW PKCTG
Late arrivers:
Kathleen Coffey (KC)
WRVS
John Berry (JB)
P&K Public Transport Unit
Neill Aitken (NA)
On behalf of Comrie Hospital Cars
Apologies
Karen Thomson
MacMillan House
Donald Isles
Pitlochry Senior Citizens
Lloyd Girling
Age Concern
Richard McDermid
Capability Scotland
Isobel Watson
Pitlochry Senior Citizens
Sue Sadler
PKCTG
1.
Welcome and Apologies
Norman D. Jarvie welcomed those present.
2.
Minutes of the previous minutes of 26th March 2007.
Proposed by Ann Munro seconded by Frank Muggridge.
3.
Matters Arising
Item 4 RDW has
obtained the pack to enable PKCTG to register as an intermediary body for CRBS. Anne O’Neill from CRBS, Stirling has volunteered to meet with groups to discuss disclosures after October 2007.
Item 5(i) RDW advised Jim Gibb.
Item 5(iii) Chair contacted Patrick Boase who was appointed
and carried out the 2007 Social Audit for PKCTG.
4.
Discussion Topic
¨
The Future of PKCTG
NDJ stated that PKCTG are in a climate of fiscal constraint and the priority in his opinion should be
to:
- Concentrate on local issues
- Maintain and secure RDW role
Social Auditing should be peripheral for the time being with a suggestion
from JG that this be carried out every three years. Those present agreed with these points. At a recent Officers Meeting the
contract for the RDW was discussed. The only change made is the reduction of notice period from two months to four weeks.
NDJ expressed the need for a Vice-Chairman however there were no volunteers forthcoming. JG also said there could be the opportunity
to increase the numbers of people receiving MiDAS Training.
Jim Gibb produced a report on the PKCTG
current financial position:
PKCTG currently have £12,557 in the account and are currently within budget.
£150 is still due from Inland Revenue in payment for on-line submission of tax return. Monthly commitments at the moment are
£1485.
A refererence to the constitution was made to allow officers of PKCTG to
reclaim expenses.
¨
Membership
Following a meeting with the Council NDJ stated that co-operation with them
but not compliance is something CTG can do effectively and if Groups are functioning well, should be left to do so. If conditions
are imposed this could lead to withdrawal of co-operation.
NDJ proposed to offer free membership to all interested parties for a limited
time. Those present did not object to this however the suggestion was made that membership be offered for the balance of the
financial year followed by payment of a nominal charge of £10. The group agreed.
NA felt that PKCTG needed more exposure and publicity and suggested writing
to Community Councils
Action:
RDW to produce a leaflet with amended logo, offering free membership, information on CT and information on MiDAS Training
etc.
MC asked whether PKCTG were to expand and become a TACTRAN region wide group.
NDJ advised not at the moment.
¨
Funding
There is an urgent need for PKCTG to identify funding streams. The group
is autonomous and must seek external funds. JB stated that money in the region of possibly £9,000 may be available from the
Joint Improvement Team. The single string attached would be the formation of the Community Car Association. NDJ said that
this does not prelude other applications for funding and a list should be made of whom to approach.
Action:
List to be formulated by the Officer’s Group
¨
Community Car Association
NDJ stated that the governance issues are difficult but not insurmountable
and that the aim of the CCA would be to support existing Community Car operatives and those proposing to join. A date should
be set for a meeting with prospective members to form a sub-committee. The driving idea appears to the collective insurance.
RDW and JG are to receive professional advice from P&K Council insurance department on 21.9.07. Kinross Day Centre for
example would need Employers and Public Liability insurance. JB suggested the approach: Be part of us…. We can offer…
and provide……. to attract new members. A framework needs to be put together to move this forward. JL expressed
that confidence in the driver is essential along with best practice procedures. JB agreed that a system needs to be developed
that is acceptable to all and not just based on trust. NDJ felt that standards are needed but should not be a deterrent to
moving the scheme forward.
NDJ identified that in Crieff, Volunteer Drivers have in the past received
free health checks. This may be something that PKCTG could discuss with the Community Health Partnership, however NDJ said
that he thought an incentive would be necessary for GP’s to offer free medical checks as most of GP’s work is
now target related.
Action:
RDW to set the date and venue for CCA Meeting and distribute.
5.
Any other business
(i) JG
feels that TACTRAN should have contacted groups by now to discuss and explain funding application procedure/availability in
particular.
(ii) JG
will be closing the RCTI Account this week.
6.
Close and date of next meeting
The next Meeting will be held on 26th November 2007. The Venue,
Agenda etc will be distributed at a later date.
Draft Minutes of PKCTG Meeting
26th March 2007
1. Welcome and apologies
Jim Gibb
Acting Chair for PKCTG
Blairgowrie Freedom Coach Association
Frank Muggridge
Strathcare
Kathleen Coffey
WRVS
Anne Munro
Kinross Volunteer Group and Rural Outreach Scheme
Bill Michie
Kinross Volunteer Group and Rural Outreach
Scheme
Neill Aitken
On behalf of Comrie Hospital Cars
Eileen Colley
Alyth Meigle and District Nursing and Samaritans
Association
Carla Donnachie
Scottish Ambulance Service
Angela Prescott
Rural Development Worker PKCTG
Apologies received from
Sue Sadler
(Chair PKCTG) who would be arriving late
Kate Armstrong
Treasurer PKCTG
Jane Laahs
Voluntary Services Manager NHS Tayside
Mark Scholes
Acting head of Support Services PRI
Bill O’Driscoll
P&K Public Transport Unit (Vice chair PKCTG)
Norman Jarvie
Strathcare
John Berry
Public Transport Officer. P&K Council
Penny Brodie
Chief Executive PKAVS
Karen Thomson
Voluntary Services Manager, Macmillan House
Liz Lines
Aberfeldy
Hospital Cars
Richard McDermid
Capability Scotland
2. Minutes from the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous Meeting held on 22nd January 2007 were proposed and approved.
3. Matters Arising (Meeting 22/1/07)
Item 4.1 paragraph 4
Neill Aitken expressed his concern that NHS and P&K Council criticise the Voluntary Sector when in
fact the authorities do not know who some of the groups are. He has concerns from previous meetings that because authorities
fund groups activities, that they should have input as to the way the groups operate. He believes there should be a clear
distinction between those who are funded and non-funded. The authorities should not be allowed to put pressure on groups and
that changes where needed should be based on “where applicable.” If the authorities are not happy with the way
the Voluntary Transport Sector operates then they should voice their concerns directly to a forum, instead of giving indications
that there is vague dissatisfaction.
Item 4.1 RCTI Funding
RCTI funding application for the period October 2007 to
March 2008 has now been submitted. An offer of funding received from P&K Council has taken any immediate funding pressure
off PKCTG and assured 6 to 8 months function. Should the RCTI application be unsuccessful however difficult times will be
ahead.
Comments were given which appeared to contradict the RCTI criteria i.e. two groups were unsuccessful in the last funding round– one because
they were too specialised and one because they weren’t specialised enough.
Item 5 (ii) TACTRAN
It was noted that TACTRAN is already attracting criticism in the press prior to formally
taking over.
PKCTG hope to lead a CT Forum as an interface is needed for CT and TACTRAN. This would
lead to small groups being able to have one concerted voice.
4. Disclosures.
Angela Prescott (RDW) distributed an updated disclosure leaflet and a clear definition
of the term “Adults at risk.” The Disclosure document was the result of a successful funding application and had
received full approval from CRBS Stirling before publication. The discussion began with groups identifying the advantages
and disadvantages of disclosure checks including :
Advantages:
They highlight previous backgrounds which may affect Volunteer suitability.
Good practice and risk reduction by the Groups themselves
Disadvantages:
Checks may deter volunteers.
Checks are advised by authorities even when groups do not handle adults at risk.
The Volunteer time lost between checks being commissioned and received response from CRBS.
The Volunteer is not allowed to work during this period
Kathleen Coffey (WRVS) identified that all their volunteers, new and retrospectively have
had disclosure checks and that they have lost only one out of a hundred volunteers.
PKCTG are considering registering as an intermediary body for the CRBS which would enable
RDW to visit groups and complete forms and obtain copies of proof of identity.
Action: RDW to fully investigate this possibility
with CRBS and feedback to groups at 23rd July 2007 Meeting.
Angela highlighted changes that have occurred since the last Disclosure Document was produced.
The main changes included:
The change from “Vulnerable Adult” to “Adults at risk” plus associated
definitions, along with the removal of “regular,” “contact” and “reduced physical or mental
capacity due to advanced age or to illness.” These changes have significant
impact on the need for disclosures in the CT Sector.
For a disclosure on a volunteer or paid driver to be necessary, the individual being transported
has to fall into all three categories as defined by the Police Act 1997 Section 10.
CRBS had identified that Disclosure checks should only be applied for when the position
is of a kind which enables a person in the course of his/her duties to have contact with an adult at risk. Those advertising
positions should be able to identify to the applicant or Volunteer why the check is needed.
It is possible that a self declaration pack with accompanying signature by the applicant
may in many cases be sufficient. The self declaration pack would illustrate best practice by the group concerned along with
active risk management.
There was a positive consensus that self declaration packs would be welcomed, however further
meetings would have to take place to fine tune the content of the packs.
Action: RDW to obtain advice from CRBS and
begin preparation.
5. Any Other Business
(i) Voluntary Car Schemes
Jim Gibb stated that he had contacted doctor’s surgeries and clinics in the Blairgowrie
area to ascertain whether there were Voluntary Car Schemes operating. The surgeries have no knowledge of such schemes, although
Kathleen Coffey believes that WRVS cover some areas of Blairgowrie. Jim Gibb is to investigate setting up a Voluntary Car
Scheme within the Blairgowrie area. Carla Donnachie informed the group that S.A.S. recruits their volunteers using posters.
Action: RDW to forward Sandra White WRVS e.mail address to Jim Gibb.
(ii) Comrie 1st Response
Jim Gibb displayed an extract from 26th March Newspaper highlighting the cost of the 1st
Response service in Comrie. Neill Aitken and Carla Donnachie were able to clarify that staff who operate the service are IHCD trained and that they carry defibrillators for use in areas remote from medical services.
Neill Aitken also informed the group that this service also exists in other areas, using staff from RAF Kinloss and Leuchars,
whilst some S.A.S. staff also volunteer to work for 1st Response.
(iii) Social Audit
Every two years PKCTG undertake to complete a full report on their progress. Social Accounts pool information about the activities
and performance of the organisation and includes stakeholder views. An Independent Social
Auditor leads a panle to assess the information presented, in much the same way that a financial auditor verifies an
organisations financial accounts. Names for suggested panel members were invited and John Berry was suggested. A proposal
to appoint Patrick Boase was approved.
Action: Chair to contact Patrick Boase.
6. Close and date of next meeting
The Meeting finished at approximately 12.50pm.
The
next Meeting will be the Annual General Meeting and will be held on 21st May 2007 at the Birnam Institute 10.30am
to 1pm.
