Developing a Strategy for Older People for North Somerset Council Consultation Paper The consultation period for this paper is from Monday 9th July 2007 to Friday 28th September 2007. We would encourage all older people and those who work with or care for them in the district to have their say. Please answer the questions in this document and return it to: Abby Elias Partnership House Building 400 Worle Parkway Weston-super-Mare BS22 6WA The document can be downloaded from the council website www.n-somerset.gov.uk either by clicking on the link on the homepage or by putting "older people strategy" into the search box. This document can also be completed online. If you require the document in a different format or language please contact Abby Elias on 01934 426038 or at abby.elias@n-somerset.gov.uk If you don't want to use this document and just send in written comments that is fine. 1. Introduction 1.1 In North Somerset people over 60 account for 25% of the population compared to the national average of 21%. In twenty years time it is expected that people over 60 will account for around 34% of North Somerset’s population. It is important therefore, that the council has a clear plan about how we can meet the needs of a quarter of our area's population. To help us do this, the council will, produce a five-year strategy for how we will work with older people on their issues and concerns. 1.2 To start the process of developing the strategy, the council has produced this consultation paper. It: • explains some of our present work with older people, • sets out current issues, and • asks for views about priorities for the way forward. What do we mean by “Older” People? 1.3 There is no agreed definition of what "older" means. The starting point for many people is 60 and 65, as they are the point at which retirement pension can be claimed. The "Better Government For Older People" project however takes 50 as the starting point as it argues many of the changes that affect people beyond 60 start to take place then. Who is being asked to comment on this document? 1.4 This consultation paper and the final strategy will take 50 as the starting point for older people. The setting of 50 as the starting point for older people is a relatively new one however, and therefore identifying issues and responses to people between 50 and 60 is "work in progress" for this council. In responding to the document we welcome comments from people between 50 and 60, those over 60 and also the general public and organisations who have an interest in knowing what services will be provided by the Council, and understanding how the Council intends to work with older members of the community. 1.5 In 2006 the council underwent a Corporate Performance Assessment. This independent report was positive about the work the council undertakes with older people with health and social care needs, but made the following observation about our approach beyond health and social care: "The council needs to develop a corporate and strategic approach to meeting the needs and aspirations of older people which goes beyond health and social care for the more vulnerable elderly population." The consultation on this document and the final Older People’s strategy will therefore aim to address the needs of older people from a broad perspective, and will consider issues affecting Older People which relate to all of the services the Council offers. 2. What are some of the Issues Affecting Older People in North Somerset? 2.1 According to the 2001 Census the breakdown of people over 50 and above in the UK and North Somerset was as follows: Over 50 Over 60 Over 70 Over 80 United Kingdom 33.3% 20.8%, 11.5% 4.2% North Somerset 39.5% 24.8%, 14.4% 5.6% (Figures are a percentage of the total population) 2.2 According to the Office for National Statistics 2004 sub national population projections the numbers of older people will increase by 2029 to: Over 50 Over 60 Over 70 Over 80 United Kingdom 40% 28.2%, 16.0% 7.1% North Somerset 47% 34.8%, 20.9% 9.9% (Figures are a percentage of the total population) The impact of this on council services will be to increase pressure on adult social care services since frailty and dependency increase with age. 2.3 Over two-thirds of North Somerset is rural. There is growing evidence of numbers of older people being isolated, vulnerable and lonely with little extended support networks. Nationally for example studies show that older people spend between 70-90% of their time in their home and around 30% of people over 65 do not see a friend at least once a week. 2.4 There is a particular issue of "community cohesion" in parts of North Somerset. This is particularly true in wards with a high turn-over of population, and a wide range of ages from young single-person families to very old people. This can cause tension between older people and younger people in the community. 2.5 Community safety is a concern for all members of the community. It is high in any local consultation on issues that are important. The fear of crime is particularly likely to affect the quality of older people's lives undermining their well-being and contributes to making people feel excluded from their communities, although Home Office research shows older people's risk of suffering from household or personal crime is much lower than for other age groups. Older people's concerns about crime are however very important, and have influenced the development of the North Somerset Safer Community Strategy. 2.6 There is increasing evidence to show that as people get older they become more vulnerable to abuse. The House of Commons Select Committee on Elder Abuse in 2004 suggested that nationally, half a million older people in the UK are being abused at any one time. More recently Action on Elder Abuse published the briefing paper; “The UK study of Abuse and Neglect of Older People 2007”. The council has a central role in co-ordinating safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable adults including older people at risk of abuse. 2.7 The council has an equality and diversity policy which says the Council will not treat unfairly or unlawfully any employee or person using the services of the council on a number of grounds which include age. North Somerset Council has a harassment and bullying policy and procedure for its staff which includes challenging bullying and harassment on the grounds of age. The council has adopted changes to its employment policies and procedures to eliminate discrimination in employment on the grounds of age. 2.8 The council is working to have a vibrant and varied cultural and recreational life that celebrates the breadth of our communities and gives everyone a greater choice and range of good quality activities. Our definition of culture, leisure and recreation is any activity that people carry out in their free time. North Somerset has a wide range of open space and leisure / entertainment facilities. The higher proportion of older people means that many of our services are geared or have been moving towards serving the needs of older people. For example 25% of visits to North Somerset Museum in 2005/2006 were by older people and 23% of all active library users are over 60, and in 2005, 45% of visitors to Weston-super-Mare were over 55. A survey in 2006 found that people of all ages are more satisfied with cultural services in North Somerset, and that people over 50 are particularly satisfied with museums, theatres and libraries. This is very positive, but there is still room for improvement. 2.9 The council is working to preserve and enhance North Somerset’s environment, however population increase does place some pressure on the local environment and infrastructure, which must be carefully managed. A survey in 2006 showed that satisfaction with environmental services is high amongst all age groups, with higher satisfaction increasing amongst people aged over 50 about waste collection, local recycling facilities, household waste and recycling centres and parks and open spaces within North Somerset. It also showed that people over 50 wanted the council to concentrate on improving the condition of the roads and pavements. 2.10 There are some issues of health inequality for older people in North Somerset, with for example a life expectancy of 77.8 years for men and 82 years for women. Life expectancy is higher than the national average and continues to rise, although there is a 5/6 year gap in life expectancy between the most healthy wards and the least healthy wards. The wards with the highest percentages of people over 75 years of age are the main coastal towns of Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead. 2.11 In North Somerset 35% of households have at least one person over 60 living in them. Nationally, 2.4 million older people live in houses classed as "non-decent homes" and in North Somerset, 39% of non-decent homes are households with older people. The council is developing a separate strategy for housing for older people which is being consulted upon and will be agreed by the autumn of 2007. 2.12 The Government's older people strategy "Opportunity Age: Meeting the challenges of ageing in the 21st century" in March 2005 identified the need to develop educational opportunities for older people. There is evidence that older people taking part in learning can improve the general welfare of older people. 2.13 During the past three years the council has organised several consultation events with older people. The Council also has a "Citizens’ Panel", which is a body of over 1000 local residents who are regularly consulted about different services provided by the council. There are many people over 50 on the panel. The council also works with Age Concern Somerset and the North Somerset Senior Citizens Forum. The council is looking to build on and develop its ways of consulting, talking to and working with older people. 2.14 The issue of income and poverty is key for many older people. For example in 2004-05, 68% of pensioner households nationally depended on state benefits for at least 50% of their income. Where the head of the household is aged 65 and over a higher proportion of money is spent on housing, fuel and food, and pensioners who live alone and mainly depend on the state pension experience the most severe deprivation. 2.15 In Great Britain in 2005 over 6.2 million people aged between 50 and the state pension age were in employment. The employment rate for men between the ages of 50 and 64 is 72.4%, and for women between the ages of 50 and 59 is 68.4%. This compares to an employment rate for all people of working age of 74.6%. According to the 2001 Census, there were 662 people in North Somerset of 50 and over who were unemployed which is 0.9% of the total population in North Somerset aged over 50. 2.16 In order for the council to deliver our work with older people, we must work in partnership with a wide range of organisations. These include central government and its different departments, the community and voluntary sector and business sector across all areas and issues. There are already a number of long-running and successful partnership bodies where older people's issues are considered within their work such as the Health and Well-Being Strategic Partnership and the Culture and Leisure Partnership. The final strategy when published will clearly detail how these partnerships work, and the impact the strategy will have on partnership working. In this consultation phase, the Council is keen to hear from our partners about what they believe the priorities for work with older people are and what are the strengths and weaknesses of current partnership working. 2.17 Like all local authorities, North Somerset Council has to balance the needs and demands for local high-quality services with the ability of the taxpayer to afford them. A substantial amount of the council's funding comes from central government, and there is always an issue regarding what central government assesses we need and the actual reality of demand for our services. There is also increasing concern amongst the public about the level of council tax, which has tended to rise much faster than inflation over the past ten years. The Government has also indicated that, in future, it will expect Councils to look for ways to reduce expenditure and that new services will need to be funded by cutting existing costs and redirecting resources. 2.18 The council's budget-setting process is built around the delivery of our aims and key corporate priorities which are identified in the council's corporate plan. The priorities that are identified in any consultation process have to compete with all the other areas of the council's work, and therefore some may take more time to resolve as resources become available or are redirected from other areas. 3. What are the Issues for Older People and the Priorities for the Council? 3.1 The Government White Paper "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say", came up with seven outcomes that services for older people should aim for. We have used these to give a structure to the following section. We know there is some crossover between some of the outcomes, but we think they are helpful as they cover all the areas of life important to older people. 3.2 Under each outcome there are a list of issues. The lists have been put together from earlier consultations the council has undertaken with older people, and from other research locally and nationally. The list is not meant to be every issue as we have tried to focus on those which have come up most often and are felt to be important for older people and those who work with them. 3.3 After the issues is a list of priorities. These are suggestions of how the council can respond to the issues that have been raised. You will be asked to rank the priorities in order of their importance to you. There is a space for you to put your own priority if the list given doesn't contain what you would want done. 3.4 Please bear in mind when answering that the Council cannot control some services or decide some issues – for example the Council does not provide health services, it cannot decide who should pay Council tax and has no control over the level of pensions available. Outcome 1: IMPROVE HEALTH. What does this mean? This means that: Older people enjoy good physical and mental health. This includes protection from abuse and exploitation, having access to appropriate treatment and support in managing a long-term medical condition or illness independently and to have opportunities for physical activity. The Issues * There are a higher than average number of people in North Somerset who have a long-term illness or disability which can create pressure on local health and social care services, family carers and services provided by the community and voluntary sector. * Older people are very keen that health services are as local as possible. * The issue of the physical inaccessibility of the built environment in North Somerset has been consistently raised by older and Disabled people. * There is evidence that many older people tend to have a more sedentary lifestyle which can cause health problems. Carers tell us that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be difficult due to problems in taking a break. * A significant proportion of North Somerset is made up of people living in small rural communities. While these communities can provide good support networks for older people, a limited public transport system can cause isolation and particular problems such as getting to hospital in Bristol. * Older people have previously raised the issue of a lack of co-ordination between health and social care services which can have a negative impact on service delivery. * As the older population grows, the number of older people with mental health difficulties such as dementia will also increase. * For people aged between 50 and 60, the greatest health benefits will come from a healthy lifestyle: not smoking, keeping a good weight and eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, and being involved in the community. These benefits can of course continue into older age, although the diet and exercise regimes may change. The Priorities Please rank each of the following priorities in terms of how important it is to you as an older person, or as a carer, or as an organisation working with older people. Put a 1 against the priority you consider most important 2 for second most important priority 3 for third most important priority 4 for fourth most important 5 for fifth most important Priority The council to continue to work closely with health partners on initiatives such as the community matrons and expert patient programmes to provide services and support for older people to manage their health conditions themselves. Continue to make access to council services and facilities for older people and Disabled people a priority Concentrate on identifying how older people and their carers can be supported to stay active and how the Council can support this To develop and progress our agreed plan which will better connect and coordinate health and social services for older adults and carers in North Somerset. To continue to work with the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership to improve services for adults and older people with mental health difficulties, their families and carers. Please use this space to add any other priority under improving health that you think we have missed out. Do you have any further comments on issues relating to this Outcome? Outcome 2: IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE. What does this mean? This means that: Older people have access to services in both the private and public sector that everyone else has access to and in particular social, leisure and learning activities. Quality of life also includes ensuring security inside and outside home which covers community safety and crime, and access to transport. The Issues * Older people are more likely to know about and use the museum, but are slightly dissatisfied with it compared to people under 50. * There is a concern among older people that leisure centres do not offer enough activities targeted at older people, and that poor transport availability can make getting to the leisure centres difficult. * Research shows a high level of unmet need amongst older learners. There are many older people who would wish to undertake courses, but cannot do so due to being unable to get to the course, the cost of it, or the range of courses is limited. * Many older people are involved in conservation and environmental issues, and are concerned that not enough is being done either to conserve the environment or challenge global warming. * In some areas the pavements may not be in as good a condition as they should be, and pavements in poor condition can lead to falls and injury for some older people. * Some older people have expressed concern about the “Blue Badge” parking scheme, feeling that cars without badges park in Disabled people's spaces. * There is clear concern amongst many older people about the very limited public transport system. Many older people appreciate the new national bus pass scheme, but highlight that the level and frequency of bus services is still very poor. * Older people are more dissatisfied about litter on streets and places like beaches, but they feel this is an issue of personal responsibility and one of community leadership for the council. * For many older people the issue of over development in North Somerset is a major concern. Some older people have commented that the existing infrastructure is not sufficient to cope with the increased housing. These issues have a seriously negative impact on the quality of older people’s lives. * Some people over 50 are more likely than people under 50 to see anti-social behaviour as a problem across the district and think it has got worse over the last three years, but some people think that anti-social behaviour has improved in their local areas. * There is some distrust among some older people of younger people believing that any grouping of younger people is bound to either be the cause of trouble or likely to cause trouble. The Priorities Please rank each of the following priorities in terms of how important it is to you as an older person, or as a carer, or as an organisation working with older people. Put a 1 against the priority you consider most important 2 for second most important priority 3 for third most important priority 4 for fourth most important 5 for fifth most important 6 for the sixth most important Priority Encourage leisure centres to develop more programmes and activities focusing on older people. Focus work with transport provider partners on the transport needs and requirements of older people particularly subsidised schemes for rural areas and community transport and dial-a-ride schemes. Continue to work with developers to make sure that all future developments in the district are sustainable. Work with schools to explore the potential for older people to become involved in joint schemes to raise awareness of recycling and green issues. Develop a strategy within the crime and drugs partnership to promote projects which encourage older and younger generations to work together to develop trust and respect Work in partnership so that neighbourhoods feel cleaner, safer and greener by tackling litter, graffiti, abandoned vehicles and fly tipping by using the new enforcement powers alongside better education. Please use this space to add any other priority under improved quality of life that you think we have missed out. Do you have any further comments on issues relating to this Outcome? Outcome 3: MAKING A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION. What does this mean? This means that: Older people are able to actively participate in the community through employment or voluntary opportunities, are involved in local activities and in the development of policies and services that impact on older people. The Issues * Many older people lack basic qualifications, which are increasingly required by employers regardless of alternative practical experience. Older people who have received employer-delivered training over a number of years may have up-to-date skills but they often lack paper qualifications to demonstrate this. * There is still evidence of employers not wishing to retain or recruit older employees which can significantly impact on personal income. * Opportunities for work and leisure for older people and carers can be limited and hampered by inaccessible public transport and limited respite services * Some older people who wanted to help local organisations have commented that becoming a volunteer can be a complicated process, involving lots of paperwork which puts people off. * There is a concern among some older people that the council does not consult enough with older people and sometimes does not respond to what is said during the consultation. The Priorities Please rank each of the following priorities in terms of how important it is to you as an older person, or as a carer, or as an organisation working with older people. Put a 1 against the priority you consider most important 2 for second most important priority 3 for third most important priority 4 for fourth most important 5 for fifth most important Priority Work with local organisations to identify best practice and practical solutions to assist those older people and carers who want to continue or get employment. Working with the community and voluntary sector and council directorates to increase the volunteering opportunities for older people. In all future strategies ensure that issues raised by older people are specifically reported and solutions identified where possible. Work with older people and their organisations to improve the involvement of older people in developing policies and services. To undertake consultation with older people on the best way for the Council to consult with them in the future Please use this space to add any other priority under making a positive contribution that you think we have missed out. Do you have any further comments on issues relating to this Outcome? Outcome 4: EXERCISE OF CHOICE AND CONTROL. What does this Mean? This means that: Older People have access to information, are able to choose and control services, and are able to manage risk in their personal life. The Issues * Many older people use and prefer traditional sources for information such as print copies, face to face and public meetings rather than electronic means such as the internet. * There is still concern from older people about the difficulty of getting information from the council about what it does and how it can help older people. * Many older people praise the mobile library service, but express concern about the limited range of books etc. * There is a concern about the level and accuracy of information for older people who fund their own care packages and how information could be made more user friendly. * Older people overwhelmingly wish to remain living in their own homes and want a range of flexible services to do this, but the growing numbers of older people over 75 also places strain on the council's adult social services which is responsible for assisting people in their own homes. * There is a need to continue to extend the range of services for older people to enable them to live independently in their own homes. * Self-directed care such as direct payments and in-control do give service users much greater control over their lives, but their take-up among older people in North Somerset is relatively low. * Work must be undertaken to effectively include older people in the development and monitoring of services provided to them. * There is concern among older people about the quality and accessibility of public transport information including timetables. The Priorities Please rank each of the following priorities in terms of how important it is to you as an older person, or as a carer, or as an organisation working with older people. Put a 1 against the priority you consider most important 2 for second most important priority 3 for third most important priority 4 for fourth most important 5 for fifth most important Priority To take into account when developing the council's customer access policies and services older people’s preferences for traditional communication methods. To work with partners to explore how learning and education for older people on computers and electronic communication can be improved. To continue to explore ways of developing the mobile library service community cafes and other access points to council information services. The council will work with independent-sector providers to improve the information about the range and quality of services used by people who fund their own care. To give focus to developing and extending the opportunity for self-directed support schemes in North Somerset – there are new ways of offering people more choice and control over services. Please use this space to add any other priority under exercise of choice and control that you think we have missed out. Do you have any further comments on issues relating to this Outcome? Outcome 5: FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT. What does this mean? This Means that: Older People have equality of access to services and are not subject to abuse. The Issues * It is clear from work the Government has carried out and set out in documents such as "The National Service Framework for Older People" and the "All Our Tomorrows" report that discrimination does exist towards older people. There are no statistics collected locally to show how prevalent it is in North Somerset. * The 2001 census figures show a likely increase in older people from black and other minority ethnic groups in North Somerset. It is widely accepted that this was, at the time, an underestimation The last five years have seen significant changes in the population of people from black and other minority ethnic groups in North Somerset. Large numbers of people have been recruited from overseas to service the local tourist industry, care homes and the growing home care sector. Statutory services have also actively encouraged recruitment from overseas to work in transport and health services. Some people may stay and become part of the elderly population over the next ten years and some may have brought dependent relatives with them. Any increase will therefore mean that council services will have to become more aware of and ensure services respond to the different needs of older people from black and other minority ethnic groups. * There have been no initiatives to identify the level of harassment experienced by older people in North Somerset. * It is important that older people receive the same equality of treatment from services as other groups through developments such as equality schemes. * There is increasing evidence to show that as people get older they become more vulnerable to abuse. The House of Commons Select Committee on Elder Abuse in 2004 suggested that nationally, half a million older people in the UK are being abused at any one time. The council has a central role in co-ordinating safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable adults including older people at risk of abuse. Further work may be needed to ensure this happens as very little research has been carried out locally into this issue. * It is important that the policies and services the council delivers to older people take into account the different needs of older people including for example, those with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties and physical impairments. The Priorities Please rank each of the following priorities in terms of how important it is to you as an older person, or as a carer, or as an organisation working with older people. Put a 1 against the priority you consider most important 2 for second most important priority 3 for third most important priority 4 for fourth most important 5 for fifth most important Priority Work with organisations to identify where there may be unfair treatment and discrimination being experienced by older people in contact with the council, and develop actions to tackle this. Undertake work to identify as accurately as possible the current numbers and needs of older people from black and other minority ethnic groups working with the race equality forum. Undertake work to identify and tackle the numbers of older people experiencing harassment in North Somerset. To work across agencies to continue to raise awareness of and provide an effective safeguarding service for all vulnerable adults. In the life-time of the older people strategy work on and produce an "Age Equality Scheme" for the council. Please use this space to add any other priority under freedom from discrimination and harassment that you think we have missed out. Do you have any further comments on issues relating to this Outcome? Outcome 6: ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. What does this mean? This means that: Older people have access to income and resources that provide for a good diet, accommodation and to enable them to take part in family and community life. Also older people are able to meet costs associated with their specific individual needs (eg health care costs). The Issues * There is opposition from some groups of older people to both the principle and level of the council tax. The objection in principle is to it being a property-based tax, and it is argued that increases above the level of inflation hit hardest those on fixed incomes such as pensioners. Although many older people are aware of being able to claim council tax relief, many feel the claiming process is demanding and intrusive. * Nationally between £1.7 billion and £2.9 billion of benefits went unclaimed by older people in 2002/03. Benefit take-up campaigns among older people are therefore important initiatives to help address poverty among older people. The Government has also recently announced that it will be working to improve take up rates and simplify the application process. * Large numbers of older people have a level of income which is just above benefit levels and this creates significant levels of poverty. * There is a growing problem of older people who self-fund their care and whose funding runs out. * Many older people in North Somerset live in housing which is in a poor state of repair, and experience problems with meeting fuel bills. * Many older people are on fixed incomes and therefore increases in inflation can be a significant problem. The Priorities Please rank each of the following priorities in terms of how important it is to you as an older person, or as a carer, or as an organisation working with older people. Put a 1 against the priority you consider most important 2 for second most important priority 3 for third most important priority 4 for fourth most important Priority To continue to make older people aware of the existence of council tax benefit and seek ways to improve the claiming process. Work with organisations working with older people to gain advice from older people themselves on how it could be easier for them to access benefits. To work with organisations providing advice about money and support to older people to develop a strategy for improving advice and information for people on low incomes just above benefit levels and who fund their own care. Through the older people housing strategy develop plans to address the issue of housing disrepair, and continue to raise awareness and information about tackling winter fuel poverty. Please use this space to add any other priority under economic well-being that you think we have missed out. Do you have any further comments on issues relating to this Outcome? Outcome 7: PERSONAL DIGNITY. This includes personal care services that help keep people clean and comfortable in a clean and orderly environment. The Issues * The main issues raised by older people in consultation regarding social care services are often about individual service issues such as the limited range of community meals, a lack of information about how to find the services and to make use of them, that home care staff are too busy to have enough time for individuals or that charges for home care are too expensive. * There is growing evidence that the focus of services on those with critical needs (due to ever tighter central government funding for social care) can take resources away from support services which prevent people from needing help in a crisis. * Some older people have expressed concern about domiciliary care services available from the private sector. * A key issue is that of the estimated 19,000 people who provide care for relatives and friends in North Somerset many are themselves elderly people who may need support. Many of the small informal social support networks that enable older people to remain living at home are provided by older people. * There is a need for new technology in the home to assist with prevention such as avoiding falls and bringing urgent assistance if needed. * A recent independent review of local government functions commissioned by the Government highlighted the current uncertainty regarding future funding for adult social care. The review recommended that there be an open and honest public debate about this issue so that future generations understand the services they can expect to receive and which services will not be funded. * The continued strain on social care funding from central government requires even more effective joint planning and delivery of services from all health and social care organisations. The Priorities Please rank each of the following priorities in terms of how important it is to you as an older person, or as a carer, or as an organisation working with older people. Put a 1 against the priority you consider most important 2 for second most important priority 3 for third most important priority 4 for fourth most important Priority To make sure that funding from central government keeps pace with the increased demand on adult social services arising from increasing number of older people over 80 in North Somerset. Review the existing carers strategy in relation to older carers to make sure the needs of all carers are being met by existing policies and services. To look at how more services can be provided for older people living alone in isolation. To look at how new technology can help older people to remain living at home. Please use this space to add any other priority under personal dignity that you think we have missed out. Do you have any further comments on issues relating to this Outcome? So that we can have an idea about who has taken part in the consultation, it would help us if you could complete the below: Are you a: Older person? If so please tick the age group you are in: 50-59 60-69 70-79 80 or above Carer? If so please tick the age group you are in: 50-59 60-69 70-79 80 or above Group or organisation working with older people: What is your postcode: 4. Consultation process and Time-table 4.1 This consultation process is being publicised to a large number and wide range of organisations and groups. 4.2 When the consultation is ended, a summary of the responses will be sent to everyone who took part in the consultation. 4.3 It is hoped to have the final strategy agreed in the autumn of 2007. Thank you for taking part in this consultation.