Agenda

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health

Report of the Leader of the Council

Council resolves to adopt the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Charter, which sets out the care and support that local people living with MND and their carers deserve and should expect.

The MND Charter is made up of 5 points:

1. The right to an early diagnosis and information

2. The right to access quality care and treatments

3. The right to be treated as individuals and with dignity and respect

4. The right to maximise their quality of life

5. Carers of people with MND have the right to be valued, respected, listened to and well-supported.

By adopting the MND Charter, this council agrees to promote the Charter and make it available to all councillors, council staff, partner organisations and health and social care professionals who deliver services for the council.

We will raise awareness of MND and what good care looks like for those living with this devastating disease, as stated in the Charter, and do everything we can as a council to positively influence the quality of life for local people with MND, their families and their carers living in our community.

Council notes with dismay the news that the Department for Transport and the 13 train operating companies it manages have announced plans to close almost all staffed ticket offices in England, totalling nearly 1000, following changes to the Government’s guidance relating to ticket office opening hours and operation. Statutory Consultations began on 5th July and finished on 1st September.

Council believes that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents in Nottingham and support passenger safety, security and accessibility. Having a central place in the station for people requiring advice and assistance provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff and also acts as a point of safety for passengers. At many stations, access to facilities such as toilets and waiting rooms is reliant on ticket office staff.

Not all residents are able to use ticket vending machines or online ticketing platforms. Many journeys require human assistance to ensure customers purchase the most appropriate and cheapest tickets, and do not incur penalties from mis-booked tickets. Ticket office staff have a wealth of knowledge which ensures that customers get appropriate advice for their whole journey.

Council is concerned that the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect disabled, Deaf and older residents in Nottingham – as well as those with poor literacy and IT skills or on lower incomes. Council also notes the possible implications for current station staff and believes that the closure of ticket offices could lead to a de-staffing of rail stations.

Council therefore resolves to:

•  request that the Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Transport, expressing Council’s opposition to the possible closure of staffed rail ticket offices – and in particular the offices at local stations, and;

•  request that the Leader writes to East Midlands Railway expressing the Council’s opposition to any plans to close the staffed ticket offices at local stations.

To note the following changes to committee membership:

a)  Councillors Farzanna Mahmood and Eunice Regan have replaced Councillors Sam Lux and Matt Shannon as members of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee

b)  Councillor Sam Lux has replaced Councillor Eunice Regan as a member of the Health and Wellbeing Board

c)  Councillor Matt Shannon has replaced Councillor Farzanna Mahmood as a member of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee

d)  Councillor Angela Kandola has replaced Councillor Matt Shannon as a member of the Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Committee

To agree to hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on 13 November 2023 at the rising of the Ordinary Council meeting on that day to appoint Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen.