Agenda and minutes

None.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, each speaker being allocated a maximum of five minutes, for members of the public to present a petition, ask a question, or comment on any matter on the Agenda or within the remit of the Committee.

None.

Of the meeting held on 20^th June 2022 to be approved and signed.

With reference to minute 5 (Update on the Delivery of the Child Poverty Task & Finish Group Recommendations), the Chair clarified that the reference in the resolution to “Child Poverty Joint Strategic Needs Assessment” should state “Food Poverty Joint Strategic Needs Assessment with a focus on children.” The minutes should therefore be amended accordingly.

With reference to minute 6 (Covid-19 Community Recovery Strategy - Progress Report) the Chair stated that she had received further advice regarding the removal of carpets and this will be shared with Committee Members once she has responded to Officers.

With further reference to minute 6, the Chair stated that there had been a conversation between herself, the Vice-Chair and the Chair of Communities Committee regarding monitoring of the Financial Welfare and Hardship strand. The conclusion was that this should sit within the remit of this Committee. Other Committee Members expressed their support. Officers will check whether this can be established as falling within the terms of reference of this Committee without the need for a formal Constitutional amendment.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th June 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the above amendment.

That the Committee notes the content of this report.

The Committee received a progress report on initiatives related to Active Travel. The Deputy Director – Policy and Strategy presented the report and summarised the main points, including the recruitment of an Active Travel Officer, projects specific to active travel under the Sustainability Action Plan and the Town Investment Plan allocation for an Active Travel project.

The Deputy Director responded to questions and comments from Committee Members. In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

·        With reference to the new surfaced travel routes around Ronkswood, it was noted that local Members had not been informed of the locations. County Council Highways  will be delivering these schemes and will go through their normal consultation procedure, which includes local Members.

·        Officers would welcome assistance from Members in promoting the Active Travel officer position. The job advertisement can be sent to Members when it has been finalised. It is likely that the post will be filled by the end of the calendar year.

·        It is intended that an Active Travel Plan will be presented to a future meeting of this Committee.

·        The bike hire scheme is a complex project with a value of several hundred thousand pounds. It will be subject to further Member decision. Subject to approval, it is anticipated that it will go live in Spring 2024.

·        Officers will assess whether the current restrictions on cycling in the city centre need to be revised to accommodate the bike hire scheme.

·        Officers will consider whether a scheme for recycling bicycles can be encapsulated within the Active Travel Plan.

RESOLVED: That the Committee note the content of this report.

That the Committee:

1.   Notes the dissolution of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) as replaced by the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care Partnership on 1st July 2022;

2.   Notes the Council will be a core member of the Worcester City District Collaborative, which help enable the community and voluntary sector (which are vital to health and care services across the City) to participate, in the development of the ICP, ensuring local integration and resident need are at the heart of the new system; and

3.   Notes that a further report on progress of the Worcester City District Collaborative will be presented to this Committee in six months’ time.

The Committee received a report on reforms to the organisation and delivery of health and care services under the Health and Care Act 2021. The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities presented the report and summarised the main implications for services locally.

One key change was the formalisation of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), which are constituted partnerships that bring providers and commissioners of NHS services across a geographical area together with local authorities and other local partners to collectively plan health and care services to meet the needs of their local population.

A Worcester City ‘District Collaborative’ has been established to help the Council deliver its City Plan 2022 - 2027 and challenge health inequalities, and had recently held its first meeting.

In response to questions from Committee Members, the Corporate Director stated that there is a role for this Committee in terms of providing a steer for Officers who participate in the District Collaborative. There has been no formal discussion with regard to Member involvement at this stage.

RESOLVED: That the Committee note:

1.    the dissolution of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) as replaced by the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care Partnership on 1^st July 2022;

2.    the Council will be a core member of the Worcester City District Collaborative, which help enable the community and voluntary sector (which are vital to health and care services across the City) to participate, in the development of the ICP, ensuring local integration and resident need are at the heart of the new system; and

3.    that a further report on progress of the Worcester City District Collaborative will be presented to this Committee in six months’ time.

That the Committee notes the Council’s Quarter 1 performance for 2022/23.

(Report to follow)

The Committee considered a report on the Council’s Quarter 1 performance for Health and Wellbeing for 2022/23. The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities presented the report and highlighted the main points. He explained that the performance indicators are still in their early stages, hence the lack of graphs in the report.

Committee Members asked questions and commented on various aspects of the report.

In response to a question about the number of health initiatives supported, Officers will look at whether the information provided can be broadened out beyond those projects which the Council is involved with.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the Council’s Quarter 1 performance for 2022/23.

Which in the opinion of the Chair is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

A number of issues were raised by Members:

·        The long waiting times in Accident and Emergency at Worcestershire Royal Hospital – can we make representations to express our concern? The Chair advised that the statistics are discussed regularly at the County Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·        Impact of Poverty on Students – can local High School Heads be invited to attend a Committee meeting to speak? The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Resources stated that he will look into this.

·        A formal response can be provided to the question asked by the public participant at the last meeting.

·        The provision of caffeinated drinks in schools – the Chair advised that is outside the Committee’s remit but the issue can be fed into the work of the Child Food Poverty Group.