Issue - meetings

The Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee submitted a report reviewing the Committee’s work programme for 2015/16 and which considered the work programme for 2016/17.  The Scrutiny Officer asked Members to complete the evaluation questionnaire which she would distribute at the end of the meeting reviewing past work and the outcomes achieved. 

Councillor Mrs D Hollebon suggested that mental health charities such as MIND, should be a topic of further scrutiny and that locality lead GPs from the District and from the Clinical Commissioning Groups be invited to attend a future meeting to consider this and the NHS’s progress on its strategic shift to prevention.

The Chairman commented on how churches were usually central in village life and how these could be developed to help combat rural isolation by the introduction of more activities.  Councillor A Alder stated that the issue of working as a carer for an individual with dementia could also be lonely.

Councillor Mrs D Hollebon suggested that Carers in Herts should be approached for more relevant data. 

Councillors J Kaye and S Cousins sought assurances that the District Plan had public health at its core and that East Herts remained a good place to live and work. 

Members referred to devolution and the importance of continued partnership working and particularly with community groups.

The Scrutiny Officer stated that the District Plan would be reported to Members in September 2016 and a report on the evidence gathered in relation to the implications of isolation would be reported back to Members in November 2016.  She stated that if at that time, Members decided they wanted to look at this in more detail, then faith groups could be invited to give evidence.  The Scrutiny Officer explained that an invitation to the Clinical Commission Groups would be incorporated into the work programme where appropriate.

The Committee approved the report, as now amended.

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