Agenda and minutes

Purpose: To elect a Chairman for the remainder of the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Rick Jones be elected Chairman for the remainder of the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

Councillor Rick Jones stated that he was privileged to be asked to chair the Health and Wellbeing Board as its work was important and effected every person in the district. He stated that it was the most valuable partnership the Council was part of and he hoped that all the members of the Board could continue to be proud of the work they would achieve.  

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 18 May 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2018 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

An opportunity for Board Members to suggest items to go on to the Forward Plan.

Councillor Lynne Doherty requested a report to provide detail on how the elements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy related to the Board’s priority to improve access to employment for vulnerable people.

Andrew Sharp requested that the Board receive an update on the roll out of the Homelessness Strategy Group’s Winter Plan.

To consider outstanding actions from previous meeting(s).

The list of actions arising from previous meetings was noted and updated accordingly.

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Dr Bal Bahia declared an interest in all matters pertaining to Primary Care, by virtue of the fact that he was a General Practitioner, but reported that as his interest was personal and not a disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matters where appropriate.

Andrew Sharp declared an interest in any items that might refer to South Central Ambulance Service due to the fact that he was the Chair of Trustees of the West Berks Rapid Response Cars (WBRRC), a local charity that supplied blue light cars for ambulance drivers to use in their spare time to help SCAS respond with 999 calls in West Berkshire, and reported that, as his interest was personal and not a disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matters where appropriate.

Councillor Graham Jones declared an interest by virtue of the fact he was a pharmacy contractor, and reported that as his interest was personal and a disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interest, he would leave the meeting during any discussion which might arise relating to pharmacy provision.

Two questions standing in the name of Mr Steve Masters on the subject of the Council’s contact with Green Trees Housing Ltd were answered by the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

A full transcription of the question and answer session is available on the Council’s website.

There were no petitions presented to the Board.

To review the progress made by the Health and Wellbeing Board’s sub-groups to deliver the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Board considered a report (Agenda Item 9) regarding the progress achieved by the sub-groups to deliver the Health and Wellbeing Strategy in quarter one of 2018/19. The Board were asked to particularly note the following:

(1)          The Mental Health Action Group had not yet completed their Delivery Plan and might require support from the Health and Wellbeing Board to generate more pace.

(2)          Skills and Enterprise Partnership (SEP) had set three actions as part of their Delivery Plan. The SEP was at the stage of agreeing sub-leads on each of the action and reviewing the SEP membership.

(3)          The Education and Public Health Services, which provide data for a number of measures on the Delivery Plan, had not completed their return for quarter one. As a result there were gaps across a number of areas of the HWBB Delivery Plan, these were highlighted yellow.

(4)          Measures associated with the delivery of the Homelessness Strategy Group’s Winter Plan and Strategy would be added once they had been developed.

(5)          Performance relating to Delayed Transfers of Care (DTOC) was now showing as ‘green’ which was a significant improvement and should be celebrated.

Tandra Forster noted that one of the objectives in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy was to ‘improve rural access to services’ and asked how this was being addressed. Jo Reeves responded that there were 21 objectives in the Strategy and the Board had not directed bespoke plans for each objective. Many of the Board’s partner organisations would address this in their work in any event. Dr Bal Bahia expressed the view that it was a cross cutting theme which effected each sub-group. Tandra Forster agreed that it was a cross-cutting theme and requested information as to whether the matter had been discussed at a community conversation. Andrew Sharp asked which services the Board wanted to improve rural access to.

Councillor Lynne Doherty noted the highlighted section of the performance dashboard in relation to the Children’s Delivery Group and noted that the new chair of that group had been doing some work to restate the group’s action plan. She asked what processes the Board’s Steering Group had put in place to ensure a smooth handover when a new chair came into post. Councillor Mollie Lock suggested that groups could ensure their terms of reference were clear about the relationship with the Health and Wellbeing Board. Dr Bal Bahia noted that the groups had evolved over time and that when chairs changed there was not always clarity within the group on their direction. He hoped that through attendance at the Steering Group, chairs could be supported.

Councillor Rick Jones noted that finding a new Chair for the Skills and Enterprise Partnership would be a high priority.

Matt Pearce supported Councillor Doherty’s view that the Board’s groups should work from a common framework and hoped that as the new Strategy was developed it could be agreed.

Councillor Graham Bridgman noted that in relation to the improved performance to reduce DTOC that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To receive an update of progress made regarding Priority Two (Employment for Vulnerable People) for 2018/19.

The Board considered a report (Agenda Item 10) regarding an update on the progress of the Skills and Enterprise Partnership (SEP) to improve access to employment for vulnerable people.

Dr Bahia noted the synergies with ongoing work to support people with special educational needs and disabilities and praised the approach to support employers to consider all employees’ wellbeing.

Andrew Sharp commented that it was important to include the voluntary sector in the work of the SEP.

Councillor Rick Jones commended the progress that had been achieved and noted that the Board could help to avoid silo working.

Dr Bahia commended the outgoing SEP chair, Fadia Clarke for her enthusiasm and hoped that someone with similar attributes would take on the role as the new chair.

Councillor Rick Jones advised that he would be meeting with all the sub-group chairs to consider how the Board could support them.

Matt Pearce suggested that it would be useful for the new chair to undertake a stakeholder mapping exercise to ensure that they could identify who to link in with.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To respond to the Board's request for the Homelessness Strategy Group to produce a Winter Plan.

The Board considered a report (Agenda Item 11) to present the Homeless Strategy Group’s Winter Action Plan, which sough to provide extra support to rough sleepers, and to reduce the number of individuals needing to rough sleep over winter.

Sam Headland reported that a range of stakeholders from voluntary agencies, statutory agencies and the commissioned provider (Two Saints) had come together as part of the Homelessness Strategy Group to produce the Winter Plan. The group’s remit would include all homelessness but in the short term their focus had been on rough sleeping.

Since the report had been published, an outreach worker had come into post who had been funded by Rough Sleeper Initiative funding. Unfortunately, West Berkshire Homeless had advised that they would be unable to deliver an overflow facility so in order to mitigate any potential gap Two Saints would investigate whether they could provide any more emergency spaces.

Councillor Rick Jones asked whether there would be a gap between the numbers of rough sleepers and the emergency accommodation available. Sam Headland advised that there were 26 people identified as rough sleeping in West Berkshire and there would be 20 emergency spaces available at Two Saints. It was likely these numbers would change as people moved on into accommodation.

Andrew Sharp gave thanks to all involved in producing the Winter Action Plan, particularly Sam Headland, Lindsey Finch and Sally Kelsall. He stated that the group had achieved the most rapid turnaround the Board had seen and should be commended for their joint working.

Andrew Sharp noted that there still might be people at risk of rough sleeping who would not want to go to Two Saints and they would need a move on plan. All partners would need to continue to work together in the long term as their success would depend on all playing a part. He pressed the Health and Wellbeing Board to set a target date to end rough sleeping and expressed the view that services provided across Berkshire West should be assessed to ensure they were delivered in West Berkshire.

Sam Headland agreed that accountability was important and advised that any emerging issues would be escalated to the Board as appropriate. Partners were already in a far better place to work together and communication between them was much improved.

Tandra Forster asked which agencies had been contacted regarding the potential shortfall in emergency accommodation. Sam Headland advised that she would be holding discussions with the Council’s Housing Team in the first instance, before discussing accommodation providers and the voluntary sector. Andrew Sharp noted that conversations were ongoing with Greenham Common Trust.

Councillor Lynne Doherty asked whether the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) programme had begun to make a statistical impact on homelessness in West Berkshire. Sam Headland advised that she was unable to comment however in her experience the MEAM clients were supported and were engaging with services. Councillor Doherty commended the plan and sought clarification on local connection to the Severe Weather Emergency Plan.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To note the Health and Wellbeing Board’s West Berkshire Vision 2036, which has been published for consultation.

The Board considered a report (Agenda Item 12) to present the West Berkshire Vision 2036 which is currently out for consultation. The document was the culmination of an evidence review and workshops to agree aspirations of partners for the future of West Berkshire.

Gabrielle Mancini advised that the public consultation would be open until 31 October 2018 and encouraged all members to respond and to share the document within their organisations.

Matt Pearce expressed the view that it was fantastic that the document was overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board as health went beyond the NHS and it would support a health in all policies approach. Gabrielle Mancini advised that West Berkshire had been the first area to take that approach.

Luke Bingham asked whether comments which had arisen at a workshop for Board members had been taken into account. Gabrielle Mancini confirmed that where there had been wide agreement they were included but she would encourage consultation responses if there were specific matters. A number of revisions would be made to respond to consultation feedback. So far, consultees had been positive regarding the broad direction of the document. Some had promoted particular projects, however these would be determined after the overall ambition had been set.

Andrew Sharp expressed his support for the document and particularly highlighted the need to strengthen the workforce.

In response to a question from Dr Bahia, Gabrielle Mancini advised that she was hoping to run a consultation event in a school as it was important to engage with young people about their future. She had written to all Headteachers to promote their schools contributions to the document.

Councillor Graham Jones commended the document which promoted a holistic approach to improving lives. Gabrielle Mancini pressed the importance of all partners’ contributions.

Tandra Forster noted that there was potential tension between maintain the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with providing more housing. Gabrielle Mancini noted that it would be a challenge for spatial planning however the vision document needed to be ambitious.

RESOLVED that the Board note the draft West Berkshire 2036 Vision.

For the Board to review the take up of seasonal 'Flu vaccines in 2017/18

The Board noted a report (Agenda Item 13) which provided information regarding the Berkshire Seasonal Influenza Campaign 2017/18.

Councillor Mollie Lock noted that more people should be encouraged to take their vaccinations in pharmacies.

Andrew Sharp hoped that all organisations represented at the Health and Wellbeing Board supported the ‘flu campaign for 2018/19.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To present the final version of the SEND Strategy for the Board’s information.

The Board noted the report (Agenda Item 14) which presented the SEND Strategy for West Berkshire. Councillor Lynne Doherty thanked Jane Seymour and her team for their work.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Members of the Executive to answer questions submitted by Councillors in accordance with the Executive Procedure Rules contained in the Council’s Constitution. (Note: There were no questions submitted relating to items not included on this Agenda.)

There were no questions submitted by Members.

Health and Wellbeing Problem Solving Session (closed) – 18 October 2018

Health and Wellbeing Development Session (closed) – 22 November 2018

Health and Wellbeing Board – 24 January 2018

The Board noted the upcoming meetings:

Health and Wellbeing Problem Solving Session (closed) – 18 October 2018

Health and Wellbeing Development Session (closed) – 22 November 2018

Health and Wellbeing Board – 24 January 2018