Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor D Abbott and seconded by Councillor J Jones that Councillor S Cousins be appointed Vice–Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Committee for the 2016/17 civic year.

After being put to the meeting, Councillor S Cousins was appointed Vice–Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Committee for the 2016/17 civic year.

RESOLVED – that Councillor S Cousins be appointed Vice–Chairman of Health and Wellbeing Committee for the 2016/17 civic year.

A presentation was given by Stewart McIntosh of North Herts Crossroads Care on the Dementia Friendly Homes Project supported partly through the District Offer Phase One funding.  Members were provided with background information which led to the development of the project, funding sources and successes achieved so far.  

Members sought and were provided with clarification on a number of issues, including to name a few, how the project operated, who benefited and how the Council could work with the project in ensuring individuals needing help could be referred. 

The Committee received the presentation and supported a suggestion that a mechanism be put in place to aid sustainability of the Dementia Homes Project and to increase referrals from Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Buntingford and rural areas in order to raise awareness of the service, especially amongst those living in assisted living facilities.

RESOLVED – that (A) the presentation be received; and

(B)   a mechanism be put in place to aid sustainability of the Dementia Homes project to increase referrals from Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Buntingford and rural areas in order to raise awareness of the service, especially amongst those living in assisted living facilities.

A presentation was given by Karon Gordon (MIND) on the Exercise to Wellbeing project supported through the District Offer Phase One funding and delivered by MIND in order to promote health and wellbeing to East Herts’ residents.  Ms Gordon provided a summary of the projects including general statistics and specifically on those who had attended courses on dancing, Nordic walking and stress less. 

Ms Gordon provided feedback on how successful the courses had been and information on attendance levels, adding that Nordic walking had been over subscribed and particularly successful and what plans could be put in place to ensure continuity of the project.  Mr M Phipps (MIND) said that he had attended the Nordic walking course and how this had impacted positively on his overall health and general wellbeing.

Members sought and were provided with clarification on a number of issues regarding the projects, including who benefited and how the Council could work with the project in ensuring individuals needing help could be referred to the project. 

The Committee received the presentation and supported a recommendation that a mechanism be put in place to aid sustainability of the Exercise to Wellbeing Project, particularly the Nordic walking classes and in order to raise awareness of the activity in rural areas.

RESOLVED – that (A) the presentation be received; and

(B)  a mechanism be put in place to aid the sustainability of the Exercise to Wellbeing Project, particularly in relation to Nordic walking classes and in order to raise awareness of the activity in rural areas.

Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillors P Ballam and Mrs D Hollebon.  It was noted that Councillor C Woodward was substituting for Councillor Mrs Hollebon.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2016

Councillor C Woodward referred to the penultimate paragraph of Minute 571 -  Approval of Draft East Herts Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2016/17  and stated that the content of the paragraph should be amended, as the two sentences were not connected.  It was also noted that the Committee had agreed the proposed workplan for 2016/17 which was guided by the priority elements of the East Herts Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

In respect of Minutes 573 (HCC – Minutes 16 December 2015), 574 (Health and Wellbeing Officers’ Group – Minutes 20 January 2016) and 575 (Ageing Well Steering Group – 26 January 2016), Councillor C Woodward asked that these Minutes be circulated on the Members’ Information Bulletin in order to ensure that all Members (including the scrutiny substitutes) were keep informed of matters.  This was supported. 

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2016, as now amended, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman welcomed new Members and visitors to the meeting.

The Chairman stated that Councillor N Symond’s initiative regarding visiting projects by Members of the Committee to look at work funded by East Herts would be continued and would become a standing item on the agenda.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report which analysed attempts to establish whether or not rural isolation impacted negatively on the health of East Herts residents and which set out a direction of travel for the future.  Officers provided a summary of the report and supporting Essential Reference Papers.

Members sought and were provided with clarification on a number of issues regarding the methodology of data collection and the hypotheses detailed in the report.  Although better transport in some rural areas was thought to be an issue, Members felt that transport generally was a County Council matter and not for consideration by this Committee.

Members supported the recommendations as detailed in the report, specifically:-

·        paragraph 1.6 (the establishment of a project steering group to work with external agencies);

·        paragraph 2.9 in terms of developing and supporting a multi-faceted approach based on a framework developed by the Campaign to End Loneliness and Age UK as now detailed;  

·        paragraph 2.10 that there should be greater involvement with the East and North Herts CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) in terms of how rural isolation could be addressed.  The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing agreed to liaise with the Chairman of Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee on this issue; and 

·        paragraph 2.11 – i, ii and iv.  Members acknowledged that there was a bigger role to be played by Ward Councillors in terms of community involvement to help combat feelings of rural isolation and agreed that the approach taken be recommended to the Executive. 

RESOLVED – that the approach, as now detailed above, be agreed and recommended to the Executive.

(A)To receive an update from the Chairman on HCC health matters; and

(B) To note the Minutes of Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee on 17 and 31 March 2016.  

The Minutes of the meeting held in May are not yet available.

The Chairman reported that she had attended the meetings of Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee but that there was nothing specific to report back.

The Minutes of Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee meetings on 17 and 31 March 2016 were submitted for information.  It was noted that the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2016 had not been available when the agenda was dispatched and that these had been emailed to Members separately.

The Committee noted the Minutes.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes be noted.

The Chairman of Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee submitted a report reviewing the Committee’s work programme for 2016/17.  The Chairman referred to a number of items which could be included within the programme including, in September 2016, extending an invitation to the Head of Planning and Building Control and the Chairman of the Development Management Committee in relation to the report on Health Improvement: Delivering planning and Place. The Chairman also referred to an item to include details on a county-wide business proposal on Housing Adaptations to support independent living in relation to Disability Funding Grants (DFGs).  This was supported.  

Members also supported a suggestion that an invitation should be sent to the Chairman of the East Herts Local Partnership (in relation to the November 2016 meeting) and the inclusion of a report on air quality to the 14 March 2017 meeting, subject to a discussion with the Council’s Senior Environmental Health Officer.

Councillor M Stevenson stated that she found that the “Your Care, Your Future” update provided a useful insight into strategic changes occurring in local health and care services in West Herts and that this might be an item for future inclusion on the workplan.  The Chairman suggested that this would need to be discussed first with the new Head of Service.

The Committee approved the report, as now amended.

RESOLVED – that the work programme, as now amended, be agreed.