Notes of Meeting held on Wednesday 31^st October, 2007 at the
Government officer for the Northwest
Manchester

Present:

Rt Rev Peter Forster (Christian) in the chair, Khalid Anis (Muslim) vice chair, Muhammad Junejo (Muslim), Helen Boothroyd (Christian), Revd David Emison (Christian), Louis Rapaport (Jewish), Joginder Bhamra (Sikh), David Emison (Christian), Bishop Doye Agama (Christian), Maneck Mehta (Zoroastrian), Suresh Mehta (Jain), Rt Rev John Goddard (Christian), Shiv Pande (Hindu), Steve Cowing (Buddhist),

In attendance:

John Devine (Churches Officer for the NorthWest), Martin Miller (Manchester Diocese), Professor Hilary Russell (Churches Together in the Merseyside Region), David Rayner (DCLG), Evelyn Asante-Mensah (NWDA), Dominic Harrison (Deputy Regional Director of Public Health), Colin McKinless and Zahir Hussein (NHS North West Commission on Mental Health Services), Alison Giles (Director of the "Living Better Living Longer Caring More" programme of the Strategic Health Authority).

Chair 's Opening remarks

The Chair welcomed people to the meeting. New members, Shiv Pande and Steve Cowing, were asked to introduce themselves. Peter Brain had been in touch to thank the Forum for its leaving gift.

Apologies:

David Arnold (Jewish), Zia Chaudhry (Muslim), Abdul Hamid Qureshi (Muslim), Rt Rev David Gillett (Christian), Barry Levene (Jewish), Hardev Singh Sohal (Sikh), Most Rev Patrick Kelly (Christian), Pauline Samson (Bahai)

SUERSH MEHTA, JAIN COMMUNITY

Mr Mehta was asked to give a brief introduction to his faith and community:

The Jains follow the teachings of the 24 Tirthankars. The 24^th, and last, Tirthankar, Lord Mahavira lived from 599 BCE till he achieved Moksha (Nirvana) in 527 BCE. He was a contemporary of Lord Buddha. There are three pillar of Jainism; right belief, right knowledge, right conduct.
2 great principles are Ahimsa, non-violence, and Anekantavada, many-facetted truth.

There is a vibrant Jain Community Centre in South Manchester which has a place of worship as well as community facilities. Some Christians use the building for worship.

Notes of meeting of 20th June 2007

Agreed as a correct record

Matters Arising

Liverpool Youth Event - No further information

Membership Changes

It was noted at this point that Barry Levene had resigned from the Forum. The process for finding a replacement will be managed by the Merseyside Council of faiths.

Welcome to Government office & Emerging Government priorities

The chair thanked GONW for the use of the offices and asked David Rayner to introduce this item.

David welcomed the Forum to GONW. His colleague Jackie O'Neill had hoped to be present but had been called to London.

David outlined significant developments over the summer months:

· Sub-national review of Economic Development and Regeneration
a. Wide ranging
b. Would abolish Regional Assemblies (could conflict with community empowerment objectives)
· Commission on Community Cohesion
a. Aiming for a National Interfaith Strategy by Spring 2008
· Action Plan for Community Empowerment
a. Promotes Participatory budgeting
b. Includes Community Asset Transfer
· Duty to Involve
a. introduced by the Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 - " a step change in the way in which councils, as best value authorities, are expected to engage with local people in the design and delivery of services"
· Central & Local Government Concordat
a. Part of 'TheGovernance of Britain': The green paper on constitutional reform which will agree local government's responsibility to provide effective leadership of the local area and empower local communities
· Comprehensive Spending review
a. Cohesion budget established for 3 years
i. £70m for tackling extremism
ii. £50 m to local authorities
iii. £20m for other work.

Comments from other Forum Members

· There needs to be great care that Muslims are not stigmatised under the tackling extremism heading.
· There is a danger in the sub-national review proposals that an overarching strategy for the Northwest will simply be an economically driven document free of other values.

Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration

John Devine introduced this item. The Regional Assembly, for all its weaknesses, does provide a wider forum for stakeholder involvement in regional issues. In the new proposed arrangements all political parties are co-operating on the retention of an executive Board but this would be dominated by Councillors. There would be15 local authority places with only 6 for others. The Forum felt that the strength of feeling should be made clear to the Minster for the Northwest. John will write to Bev Hughes.

PRINCIPAL ITEM - Health Issues in the North West

Dominic Harrison (Deputy Regional Director of Public Health) made a presentation on the key public health issues facing the region. A copy of the presentation is attached.

Alison Giles is Director of the "Living Better Living Longer Caring More" programme run by the Strategic Health Authority. Alison outlined a key element of the programme; social marketing to combat business practices that encourage unhealthy lifestyles and make healthy choices difficult (for example from the alcohol industry).

Colin McKinless, the former director of Social Services at Tameside, is a commissioner on the NHS North West Commission on Mental Health Services.; established under the auspices of the Strategic Health Authority to review and report on mental health services across the North West.
.
The Commission will report in September 2008 with preliminary findings produced in May 2008. There is a reference group for this work and they will be seeking a faith representative.

Comments from other Forum Members

It was felt that faith representatives could provide particular help with the social marketing strategy. It was agreed to establish a working group to explore with officials potential faith community engagement in the health agenda with an initial emphasis on mental health issues.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

A letter had been received asking the Forum to participate in Holocaust Memorial Day services. The meeting noted that many members are involved in their local events.

FAITHS4CHANGE

John Devine gave an update on the roll out of this project. It was noted that the Climate Change bill had contained provision for weight charging for waste disposal. This would disproportionately affect areas of deprivation as recycling rates are lower in those areas. The Forum will reconsider this issue.

DATES OF FUTURE MEEETINGS

Suggested dates will be circulated

INTEREST GROUPS

John Devine will contact Forum members about participating in the interest groups.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

It was noted that a Cumbria Interfaith forum is being established.

CLOSE OF MEETING

There was a short period of silent reflection at the end of the meeting.
[ Download Minutes 31October 2007 ]