Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Arun Photay, Barry Findlay, Val Gibson, Paula Brookfield and Julien Kramer.

The Chair advised that Cllr Val Evans was in attendance as a substitute for Cllr Paula Brookfield.

There were no declarations of interest.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to an amendment on page 4 to delete Cllr Craig Collingsworth and insert Cllr Craig Collingswood.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

There were no matters arising.

Cllr Stephen Simkins reminded the Scrutiny Board members that the meeting was being held in the purdah period and that councillors should follow the purdah guidelines.

[To approve the proposed joint protocol for the management of unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller encampments.]

Andy Jervis, Head of Regulatory Services provided a report which informed the Scrutiny Board of the Joint Protocol to manage unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller encampments.  He advised that the protocol had been jointly drafted with Inspector Steve Perry, West Midlands Police and it aimed to assist the joint response to unauthorised encampments.

The Head of Service advised that a protocol had been in place since the 1990’s and had last been reviewed in 2008 but that a number of structural changes within both organisations and some important legislative changes were the main drive for the revised joint protocol, which made the process more consistent. He advised that the lead officer Shaun Walker, Section Leader and Inspector Steve Perry had worked together to develop a working group and held initial discussions, consultations and workshops.

The Head of Service outlined the report. Inspector Steve Perry highlighted the need to recognise people’s rights and there were often complex situations relating to unauthorised encampments. He informed the Panel that there was also a Black Country (BC) working group working alongside regulatory services colleagues from Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell to consider common issues that all Local Authorities have and looking for a solution which they currently do not have, such as a Transit Site or a Temporary Stopping Place.

The Head of Service clarified that the Section Leader had carried out some costing work in relation to a possible Transit Site and that there is a need for a solution exercise to consider where a site could be located. When and if that is solved the protocol will be reviewed again.

Cllr Ian Angus recognised the excellent work that had taken place to bring co-defined into one place. He suggested that councillor awareness be raised in relation to incursions and the code of conduct.  The Head of Regulatory Services clarified the material action of any breach of the code would be compliance however those that do not, or do not continue to, abide by the code will face actions by the Authority and the Authority’s position will be strengthened.

Cllr Phil Bateman welcomed the Black Country approach to managing unauthorised encampments and the protocol.  He suggested that there was a weakness in our intelligence to know whether moving was by force or by will, and that this information was important. He indicated that there were some steps in the process missing particularly how the Local Authority responds and communicates through social media. Regular updates to local residents, telling them what is happening, raising awareness of local residents in relation to services being offered by the unauthorised encampment inhabitants and giving contact numbers if there were concerns.

The Head of Regulatory Service agreed that there was a need to strengthen and develop communications; he advised that real time advice was helpful and that an intelligence data base was being developed based on the police model. He clarified that trading standards work closely with police and their regulatory services colleagues in relation to the use of intelligence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

[To receive feedback from the Scrutiny inquiry session on tackling child obesity and to consider the main messages from the session.]

Ros Jervis, Service Director Health and Wellbeing outlined the report.  She advised that the Inquiry group had received information and data relating to the scale of childhood obesity in Wolverhampton, and witness evidence about initiatives, including school based activity.  The evidence presented had provoked a lively discussion which had resulted in five recommendations outlined in the report. 

Cllr Peter O’Neill, Chair of the Inquiry session highlighted that the meeting had been very productive and in addition to the recommendations from the session he highlighted a need to note that getting the obesity framework right was extremely important.  He indicated that there were sensitivities around obesity especially informing parents that children fall within the overweight and obese category. 

Cllr Sandra Samuels, Cabinet Member Health and Well Being welcomed the report, she highlighted that the inquiry had identified the issues and how much was already happening to tackle childhood obesity.  She thanked the individuals who had contributed to the review.

The Service Director outlined the five recommendations in the report and gave Public Health perspective to respond to each recommendation.  In relation to recommendation one she highlighted the need to focus on teaching staff and teaching assistants in Wolverhampton Primary schools.

She indicated that the second recommendation was the most important to motivate information, communication and the menu of support and services relating to Childhood Obesity to all School Governors and Leadership Teams in schools across Wolverhampton.

She advised that the ‘Daily Mile’ initiative was one of many interventions to improve activity with children and that dietary advice is as important, she welcomed discussions taking place at Governors meetings.

In relation to the third recommendation the Service Director indicated that the standard of school meals was good and there is a need to promote the uptake of free school meals.  She suggested that school policy would determine what is done in schools to advise on the contents of school lunch boxes and what support is required for teachers in relation to this.

The fourth recommendation highlighted the need to develop cooking skills in young people and families within the City.  The Scrutiny Board considered how cookery classes could be financed and if Council buildings with kitchen facilities were underutilised across the City, such as Aldersley Stadium kitchen.

The Service Director referred to recommendation five and how evidence had identified that some schools were actively engaged with the PASS team to deliver activities.  The Scrutiny Board agreed that the real work was to engage all schools and that more work was needed around communication and engagement with schools to tackle a number of approaches to tackle childhood obesity.

The Service Director responded to questions, indicating that obesegenic call to action was about a whole system approach to tackling obesity; she highlighted that in some parts of the City there was a food outlet on every corner and that Public Health were working with colleagues in other Council services such as planning and licensing to look at the bigger picture. The Scrutiny Board highlighted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

[To review performance of the corporate performance indicators for quarter three 2015/16.]

Adrian McCormick, Head of Transformation provided an update to panel on the performance of those indicators, for quarter three, published in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2015/16.

In response to a specific question relating to performance indicator WCP1036

– The number of adults aged 18-64 in contact with Mental Health Services who have resettled from permanent residential care into community based services, Viv Griffin Head of Service, advised that there is a programme in operation that stretches over a three year period; she advised that there are fewer new people being admitted into residential nursing care, this figure has reduced to one or two people being admitted.  There had however been less success in moving people out of residential nursing homes.  She advised that there had been a couple of stalling points, namely building work delays and residents not wanting to move out, however these issues were being addressed and the programme will be completed, it would however take three years to complete which is the reason for the red performance indicator.

There being no further questions it was resolved:

1.            That Scrutiny Board receive the update of Corporate Performance – Quarter three 2015/16.

[To consider the Board’s work programme for future meetings.]

Deb Breedon Scrutiny Officer provided an update report of the Scrutiny Work Programme 2015/16.  She advised the panel that two matters were outstanding on the work programme:

•           Special Health Scrutiny meeting that would take place on Thursday 28 April to consider a substantial variation in relation to Pond Lane Hospital

•           The review relating to Electoral Registration and Participation, which will report to Cabinet on 8 June 2016.

The Scrutiny Officer advised Scrutiny Board that in addition to scheduled meetings in the municipal year a number of additional Panel meetings, joint panel meetings, task and finish groups and site visits had been delivered. The Chair added that the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs group had also met on several occasions to consider the development of the scrutiny process and welcomed the feedback from Chairs and Vice-Chairs relating to issues emerging on the panel agendas where there may be cross over with another panel remit.

The Chair thanked the Scrutiny Team, Officers who had participated and provided reports to scrutiny and Councillors for their contribution to the scrutiny work programme and process. He welcomed that more focussed and productive scrutiny had been undertaken this year and that the joint Panel meetings had provided a template for future joint meetings. He highlighted the need to engage with Cabinet Members more in the 2016/17 scrutiny work programme.

Cllr Sandra Samuels indicated that in previous years there had been a regular meeting of the Scrutiny Chair and Cabinet Members to consider key decisions on the forward plan.

The Scrutiny Officer advised that the annual work programme planning event would take place on 2 June 2016 

Resolved

1.         That the update report is received

2.         That a letter of thanks be circulated to all that contributed to the meetings and reviews.

[To receive an update on the consultation plan for the re-commissioning of the City’s 0-19 Healthy Child Programme (HCP) by Public Health.]

Ros Jervis, Service Director Health and Wellbeing and Neeraj Malhotra, Consultant in Public Health provided a paper relating to the future commissioning options and proposed engagement and consultation plan for 0-19 Healthy Child Programme services re-design.

The Service Director advised that the paper had previously been considered by Health Scrutiny Panel and that amendments had been made to the pre-consultation engagement process as a result. Health Scrutiny recommended the revised report be added to Scrutiny Board agenda due to the implications for Children, Young People and Families.    

The Service Director advised Scrutiny Board that commissioning responsibility for school nursing and health visiting fall under the Public Health (PH) remit.  School nursing responsibility came in 2013, Health visiting services transferred to PH in October 2015. The services work together to help promote the welfare and safety of all children. She advised that the Council currently has a contract that will expire in July 2017 and that this is a valuable opportunity for PH working with Children’s commissioning services and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to consider future commissioning options and ensure a new service is in place for August 2017.

The Service Director advised that this is an extremely important piece of work to get the best services and that the engagement and consultation plan has to be comprehensive before going out to tender.

The Consultant PH advised that the paper before councillors has been revised and now includes extensive engagement with parents and young people and the different services that interface with the healthy child programme.  She advised that alongside the engagement on the service model, information will be sought on the experiences that are going well with the areas that need improvement.  She advised that Wolverhampton needs a model that works well for Wolverhampton and the consultation will ensure that people have opportunity to shape the service.

In response to questions the Service Director clarified that there has to be a health visiting services but that there does not have to be a school nurse service. The Consultant PH confirmed that the timelines following consultation are that the tender process is scheduled for November 2016, the contract will be awarded in March 2017 and contract mobilisation March to August 2017.

Cllr Peter O’Neill referred to option 1 – the proposal to go out to tender for a single service specification, he highlighted that the Government intends to make all schools academies and asked if there would be any implications for future provision for 0-5 years olds. The Service Director indicated that this would be taken into account when determining the shape of future services.

In response to a request for clarification by Cllr Dr Mike Hardacre the Service Director clarified that there is no statutory requirement to provide school nurses but that PH is mandated to provide certain services.  Cllr Hardacre asked the Service Director to ensure that there would be school nurse provision in secondary schools. She confirmed that that was absolutely the intention.

Cllr Phil Bateman asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.