Agenda item

To present to Members the amended Health and Wellbeing Strategy following a Public Consultation in November 2014.

(Councillor Tony Vickers declared a personal interest in Agenda item 17 by virtue of the fact that his wife was a member of Healthwatch West Berkshire. As his interest was personal and not a disclosable pecuniary interest he determined to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 20) concerning the amended Health and Wellbeing Strategy following public consultation in November 2014.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Marcus Franks and seconded by Councillor Gordon Lundie

That the Council:

“adopt the amended Health and Wellbeing Strategy from March 2015”.

Councillor Marcus Franks stated that the Strategy had been approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board at its meeting on 22 January 2015.

The redrafted Health and Wellbeing Strategy had gone out for consultation to all stakeholders and the public from 27 October 2014 until 21 November 2014. The consultation was conducted by Healthwatch and the final report was received on 9 December 2014.

The report set out the main points of feedback that came from the consultation and made a number of proposals on how the Strategy could be amended to take into account the consultation and what process could then be followed to ensure that an implementation plan could be developed. However, the support received for all priorities was in excess of 65% of all respondents. Two priorities had been amended following consultation where respondents had asked for cancer and terminal illness to be included. As a result cancer had been added to the priority of cardiovascular disease but that terminal illness already fell under the priority of addressing long term conditions and end of life care. One additional priority had been added as a result of comments in relation to the need to tackle loneliness and social isolation as well as mental health and wellbeing.  

There was considerable support for the need to include an Implementation Plan within the Strategy, which would show how the aims of the Strategy would be achieved and how each priority would be addressed. It was therefore proposed that a multi-agency group would be set up to develop the Strategic Implementation Plan that would set out the specific actions that would need to be taken in partnership to ensure that the priorities were addressed. Progress would be reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board throughout the year.

In addition three half day meetings would be set up to focus on three priorities namely; looked after children, mental health and wellbeing and falls prevention.

AMENDMENT: Proposed by Councillor Tony Vickers and seconded by Councillor Alan Macro:

That the Council:

“amends Priority 5 – Health Damaging Behaviours – Alcohol and Smoking by adding ‘Drug Use’ ”

(The meeting was adjourned from 8.25pm to 8.26pm to allow Councillors Franks and Lundie to consult on the amendment.)

Councillor Franks stated that he was happy to accept the amendment.

Councillor Graham Jones explained that life expectancy had increased by an average of 15 years and that much of this could be spent in ill health. This would have a significant impact for the Council as well as the NHS and Clinical Commissioning Groups. He welcomed the strategy which set out a holistic approach and involved a co-ordinated approach to dealing with the health and wellbeing of the District’s residents.

Councillor Gordon Lundie welcomed the Strategy and noted that this was just the start of the journey for the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Amended Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.