Laurence has found out that the old library will close on May 9, and the new library will open in June. Paul mentions feedback on the Public Spaces Protection Order. They are discussing future items. Laurence says Northumberland Avenue resembles Kyiv, where the Russians are bombing.

Laurence said that the co-production lead is being axed in June because of budget cuts. "You said, we did, then we ignored you." A woman says: "can you repeat, you spoke a million miles an hour." the co-production role was only a limited position, but she had "an incredible impact."

What does good adult social care look like? There is another exercise. Paul says: "This is a working group! This is really important." Andrew suggests a better interface for getting people to readjust after being hospital eg being discharged and being unable to access their bedrooms, keeping respect

The strategy is focused on support reaching people earlier and reducing waits and delays across services. "A lot of the work has already been done. We've carried out targetted workshops, after the election on 18 May, we'll hold a wider workshop." There will be a formal consultation.

Jackylen Redgewell holds a presentation on the Adult Social Care Strategy, which the council is undertaking, following a CQC inspection. It focuses on 5 priorities: 1) carers 2) prevention 3) partnership working 4) waiting times and 5) accessibility of information and services.

"It's frightening. We are going to coproduce what that means in Reading. We want Reading to be a safe place for people with dementia, we need to work together and grow our understanding. There are numerous different types of dementia. Laurence suggests the Biscuit Factory as a venue for meetings.

An older man points out that this meeting is for retirees. The next presentation from Fiona Price from Age UK Berks on Dementia Friendly Reading. There were 1,637 people with dementia in Reading, which will pass 2000 by 2030. "When people talk about it, they don't fully understand it."

The group was founded in 2013: "We've had some really good speakers, we have helped shape policy." Paul: "Running the Older Persons Day is a very big achievement, it's been growing, it continues to prosper. "Hopefully we can attract some new blood, we could fill the whole meeting with this!"

Paul thanks the group for its "really valuable feedback", but felt it might be tricky to condense what the group has achieved into a list of results. He has chaired the group for the last few years. Laurence Berks also mentions faith groups, of which there are about 58 places of worship.

She also says that people need to know this is a hybrid meeting, and there is no mention of that in current material: "That's a huge oversight. Future promo material should come up with tangible results." She even suggests welcoming people from Wokingham Borough, where she is from.

There is also a suggestion to change the name itself! A woman online says: "I'm really anti-ageist. I was thinking it could be changed to 'Mature Residents', for people who have 'been around a bit'. Now I'm 60, I'm put off 60+ groups who want you to play bingo and vegetate."

A woman asks for the council to pay attention to what is said to make it worthwhile to come to the meeting. "We need to prove what we discuss has action. We don't want to be just a talking action. We want people to say yes, we've achieved it, or sorry, we've failed for whatever reason." + BBC promos

Suggestions include Broad Street Mall and clubs. A man notes that groups have lost contact, there were also various faith groups. "We need to reconnect with those groups somehow, and using the council's correspondence. Cllr Paul Gittings says: "50 is where we start." He suggests people say 3 words.

Councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour) suggests advertising in the leisure centres, supermarkets, and possibly community notice boards, provided they can be protected from rain. The women also suggest advertising at GPs, and Andrew mentions Family Hubs. Volunteers help people at the MERL.

They want to raise awareness through targeted publicity. They want to do press releases through the council and the Ageing Well Partnership. They need to find out where to publicise the group within communities. A woman says the group could be advertised at the MERL, which she loves.

I'm at a meeting of Reading Borough Council's Older Persons Working Group. Topics include the existence of the group, Dementia Friendly Reading and an update on the council's Adult Social Care Strategy. Some in the group want the meeting times to vary, and a more interactive session.

The chamber was cleared very briefly for the decision. The resident who objected was from Caversham, over the bridge from Reading. Paul: "There is no evidence that granting the application would undermine the licensing objectives. Best of luck to you, hope it all goes well!" It's been GRANTED.

"Could you put her mind at rest? There'll be traffic from mopeds, what's your plan there?" Bill: "It is a vibrant area, I struggle to think one pizza takeaway is going to cause huge traffic problems, there is parking, we don't feel there'll be an adverse impact on public nuisance."

Cllr Louise Keane asks why they've applied for so late. Bill: "There's quite a demand, there is a market there for people working shifts and so on, there are other areas that are busy at that time, Oxford Rd and Wokingham Rd." Cllr Paul Woodward refers to the resident's complaint about traffic.

They will have door supervisors if required in a risk assessment, particularly during Reading Festival. Bill thinks the resident representation is invalid. Caversham Rd is extremely busy, throughout the whole day, even through the evening, that said it does ease off at 11pm onwards.

I'm at a meeting of Reading Borough Council's licensing applications sub-committee, where an application for food sales until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays and 2am the rest of the week. The business is located in Caversham Rd. They are represented by Bill Donne, who says hours have been changed.

She also mentions an app with a BSL interpreter; there are apps that are available. The council would have to pay for that service. Andrew mentions an app being bid for by a provider to provide a BSL interpretation service. Will says the bidder is mainly spoken language, but does have a BSL element.

Helen says she will work with the IT department. Andrew says a date in June is TBC, it could be the 18th. Simon from The Avenue School is coming to speak about SEND education. Karen mentions BSL courses, which include Reading Deaf Centre, and support from Chloe & Sophie's Special Ears Fund.

On the Festival of Inclusivity, we had 30-40 participants, we are organising another with Sports Together in Berks on Thurs 23 July - 9.30am-1pm in Palmer Park. He says they'll do whatever they can to let people with dementia take part. Bob mentions a 3hr ordeal trying to get a parking permit.

On the pole: "If you are specific on the location, we can get rid of that so clutter is removed and essentials remain. I know our officers are doing what they can to deal with uneven pavement due to trees, where there are problems, the more specific, the better. We'll look at those as best we can"

Phib, the woman on the wheelchair, says the paving is bad, and sometimes she needs to turn around because it is unsafe. Cllr Karen on food vans, she will work on that with the licensing team. "It's well used, but how are we mixing that with practicality. All other points are noted."

The man with a speech impediment says the pavement is uneven, and walking to the Town Hall, he was hit by a metal pole. Andrew: "If you could email us, if there is an ongoing issue we are able to resolve, we'll do that." On paving in St Mary's Butts, the issue is tree branches. "It's not great."

Andrew: "People go in lots of different directions, so having one set of tactile paving would be a solution, but the developer agreed to put this near the fountain. There is that whole issue of the clutter, like the vans, and seating, which is jumbled, which is not easy to navigate."

In Broad St, there was a lot of puddling, some of those issues have been resolved. Bob mentions the junction of Garrard St and Station Rd, and Will mentions wayfinding in Station Hl, where a food van allegedly obstructs people. He mentions there is a lack of tactile paving there as well.

Feedback from 'tour of the town' in West St, Station Hill, Victoria St and Broad St. Sam Shean from the network management team was there. A previous issue, a lack of benches, has been rectified. On West St, it's not clear where the tactile crossing is. In Station Hl, it's important for directions.