Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor D Abbott and seconded by Councillor Mrs D Hollebon that Councillor P Moore be appointed Vice–Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for the 2015/16 civic year.

After being put to the meeting, Councillor P Moore was appointed Vice–Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for the 2015/16 civic year.

RESOLVED – that Councillor P Moore be appointed Vice–Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for the 2015/16 civic year.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.  She also thanked Rachel Poynter and Lydia Journet  for attending as part of their professional experience learning and advised Members that they had been very helpful to the Environmental Health Promotion Officer in relation to the “Crucial Crew” Project.

The Chairman asked that Members of the Committee sit on the inner circle of chairs and reminded Members that non-Members could speak, with the permission of the Chairman.  She asked that she be addressed as “Chairman” or “Madam Chairman”.

The Chairman explained that the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee could not scrutinise social care and the health service as these were scrutinised by Hertfordshire County Council.

The Chairman thanked the Members who had emailed her regarding their particular interest in health issues. 

The Chairman advised that she had attended a meeting of the Hertfordshire Partners’ Foundation Trust and had enjoyed the event.  She explained the improved status of carers.  The Chairman stated that the Vice Chairman was raising money for carers.

The Chairman referred to the launch of the “Carers Passport” and that £500 had been given by East Herts District Council to support its promotion. 

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report which provided an overview of public health and how Members could positively influence the health of residents in East Herts. 

The Environmental Health Manager explained the roles of both the County Council and District Council in terms of their statutory responsibilities and how councils can influence public health in providing a healthier environment in which to live and work in and to also address the factors which contributed to health inequalities. 

The Environmental Health Manager stated that the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee could not scrutinise the NHS as this was a function of the County Council and it could not scrutinise social care as this fell within the remit of another inspectorate.

The Environmental Health Manager explained that public health was central to all of the Council’s functions in that health and wellbeing initiatives had been integrated into the provision of all the Council’s services and that Councillors had a role to play in using their local knowledge of groups and individuals to identify training and act as public health champions.

The Environmental Health Manager provided an overview of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) stating that this online website provided a wealth of statistical information about the health of areas which could be interrogated nationally and at to local level. 

In response to a query from Councillor P Moore regarding joint working with partners, and the difficulties regarding accessibility to social workers and occupational therapists to help a family she was working with, the Environmental Health Officer stated that she hoped that the Care Act would provide a quicker and more holistic approach in service matching individuals and their needs.  The Chairman suggested that it might have been more effective to the Member and family to have contacted the Children’s Centre as a first point of contact and then “Thriving Families”.

In response to a query from Councillor J Kaye, the Environmental Health Officer explained the background to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2013-18, adding that the Council was one of the forerunners in producing such a strategy which also had the County Council’s endorsement.

The Environmental Health Officer explained the two streams of public health funding via the New Homes Bonus and Hertfordshire County Council’s District Offer.  She stated that in relation to the District Offer, all 10 District Councils within Hertfordshire would receive £100,000 for year one and year two public health projects.

The Environmental Health Promotion Officer provided an overview of the work of the Health and Wellbeing Panel to promote public health in terms of working with partners to build a sustainable working model.  He referred to the “Meet and Eat” project and working with people living in sheltered accommodation to try and reduce isolation.  The Environmental Health Promotion Officer referred to the unique position Members offered in terms of their local knowledge of groups and individuals to promote changes and facilitate the work of partner agencies in promoting health and wellbeing. 

In response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

The Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee submitted a report on the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee’s future work programme for 2015/16.

The Scrutiny Officer explained that the work plan had been developed by the previous Health and Wellbeing Panel.  She updated Members on what new items had been added and said that many of the projects in progress could be monitored online.  The Scrutiny Officer said that there was flexibility in the work programme if Members wanted to add items for scrutiny.

In response to a query regarding the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and areas of concern not being addressed within the work programme, the Environmental Health Promotion Officer explained the approach Members had adopted in agreeing the strategy and the work plan.  The Chairman explained that asking specialist speakers to address the Committee would need substantial advance notice.

The Chairman referred to the District Offer from Hertfordshire County Council and was keen that Members undertook a soft approach to monitoring with one or two Members going along to see how groups benefitting from the Offer were using funds.  She suggested that if Members supported this approach and wanted to be part of the working group, then Members should submit their expressions of interest to her.  This was supported.

The Director of Finance and Support Services explained that a small informal working group showing interest could add colour around the projects and add positively to their publicity.  She added that it was important to get a feel of what was going on and give the groups the Council’s full support. 

The Environmental Promotion Officer stated that the Council would be tracking fulfilment of outcomes on specific projects.

The Committee supported the setting up of a small working group of five Members from which two Members would visit specified groups who had benefitted from  District Offer funding support from the County Council. 

The Committee agreed the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the work programme be agreed;

(B)       the interim report on the implementation of projects within the East Herts Health and Wellbeing Strategy be submitted as an exceptions report, should problems arise; and

(C)       an informal working group of five Members be established from which two Members would be asked to review specific groups / projects which benefit from the District Offer funding.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report which provided an insight into the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and health data and how this could help Members in their role of health scrutiny.

The Chairman referred to JSNA data on Bishop’s Stortford Central Ward adding that it was the 65^th most deprived ward in England.

The Environmental Health Promotion Officer provided an overview of the JSNA and referred to other online sources of health information available to all, the detail of which was set out in the report.  He stated that the JSNA was an online tool which Members could use to extract, compare and contrast data affecting their ward to information held nationally.  The Environmental Health Promotion Officer explained that the JSNA was also useful in providing “soft intelligence” such as perceptions of public safety and comparative data which could then be used to build up a layered profile of the District. 

The Environmental Health Promotion Officer encouraged Members to log onto the JSNA and welcomed their feedback.

In response to a request from Councillor J Kaye that ward information from the JSNA be circulated to all Members, the Leader explained that although a hard copy could be useful, in order for it to be used effectively, the data needed to be compared and contrasted for it to be meaningful.  She added that East Herts was above average for its range of health profile indicators in relation to the Country as a whole but that East Herts should be exceptional.

The Director of Finance and Support Services stated that the Members’ Information Bulletin (MIB) was published weekly and that she would arrange for an overview of the JSNA and the link to the website to be included in a future edition of the MIB.  In the meantime, Officers would circulate a copy of JSNA Ward Profiles to Members.  This was supported.

The Committee agreed the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the data on the JSNA and other health sources be noted as being a central focus for evidence in terms of scrutinising public health areas and outcomes;

(B)       the JSNA and other health data sources be used by Members and promoted to Parish and Town Councils to provide health information at a local level;

(C)       Members needing training on the use of the JSNA and other health data contact Officers;

(D)       feedback on the usability and improvements to the JSNA be directed to Officers; and

(E)       Officers provide Members of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee with a hard copy JSNA ward profile with a subsequent article on the JSNA and link included in a future Members’ Information Bulletin.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report on the Council’s public health work for the 2014/15 year end associated with the East Herts Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Environmental Health Promotion Officer provided a summary of the report as now submitted. 

The Chairman referred to the project “Crucial Crew” and the excellent contribution this had made to the lives of those who had attended the project. 

Councillor D Abbott said that he had visited the Barnabas Centre when one of the “Crucial Crew” meetings had taken place adding that this was a wonderful project made even more fun by the interaction of the volunteers.

Councillor A Alder referred to projects directed at senior citizens and the positive work which had also taken place.  In response to a query from the Member regarding C007 (Assisting with Processing of Disabled Facility Grants (DFG) and why this figure was declining, the Environmental Health Promotion Officer explained that there had been an issue regarding the referral system to Hertfordshire County Council and Occupational Therapist referrals, but this was being addressed.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing stated that he saw all Members as Community Championsand that they should be able to direct those in need to the right channels for help.  He stated that the Head of Community Safety and Health Services would be providing a leaflet for circulation to all Members.

The Chairman stated that minor adaptations such as taps and handrails could be provided by the Council but the more complex issues required referral to Hertfordshire County Council.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that the East Herts Health and Wellbeing Strategy year End Work Plan for 2014/15 be received.

(A)         Minutes: Hertfordshire County Council Health Scrutiny: 25 March and 2 April 2015.

(B)         Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Partnership   Group: 29 April 2015

(C)                Minutes of the Local Strategic Partnership (Ageing          Well) Sub Group: 17 March 2015

The Chairman stated that she had attended HCC Health Scrutiny Committees and was frustrated about the role of Community Champions with many not understanding the remit of the role.  She had spoken on this issue to the Chief Executive Officer.

Councillor Mrs D Hollebon commented that Members were not being given information about who or where the Community Champions were operating. 

Councillor A Alder stated that the Patient Participation  Groups (PPG) were unhappy about the role of Community Champions as the PPG felt that they worked as Community Champions.  Councillor S Cousins stated that the presentation given by a young person representative about the role was very good and the website was user friendly.

The Chairman encouraged Members to feedback issues of concern to her so that she could raise them with Hertfordshire County Council.

The Committee noted the report.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes from HCC and other health groups, submitted for information, be noted.