Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs L Harrington, S-J Potter and T Wren.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on Thursday 24 January 2019

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Community Select Committee meeting held on 24 January 2019 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee are invited to discuss delivery of local public health issues with the HCC Director of Public Health, Jim McManus who will provide an update on the work being undertaken at County Level to (i) develop linkages between health and housing; (ii) PHE Vision for a “Better Health for All” and (iii) Current Herts Public Health priorities/key activities. SBC officers will provide a progress update against the Healthy Stevenage Strategy. Also invited to the meeting to comment on public health is a Diabetes expert Nicole Madden, Sharn Tomlinson, Mind in Mid Herts and Juanita Prescott (SLL) on the Stevenage Healthy Hub.

The Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Director of Public Health presented the Healthy Stevenage Strategy 2018-2022 Progress Dashboard for 2018/19, NHS Long Term Plan Overview Report (released in January 2019) and NHS Long Term Plan (Opportunities and Challenges) Summary to the Committee.

Members were informed that the NHS plan attempts to be a system wide prevention plan and the report acknowledges that the NHS cannot deliver this on its own. The issues of long-term funding for Public Health and Social Care still remain unresolved. It was pointed out that the NHS had a mixed record on prevention. The NHS was struggling to cope with demand for services. Members sought clarification on the Sustainability & Transformation Partnerships (STPs) and support for mental health.

The SBC Health and Sport Strategy Manager provided an update on the Healthy Stevenage Strategy and the success of programmes delivered to date. The Committee raised questions regarding costs related to cycling courses at the Cycle Hub and the success of the community kitchen cooking courses.

The Chair gave a personal account of her diagnosis with diabetes. The Chair made a plea for funding and for partners to raise awareness of diabetes support initiatives. The Committee also received updates on mental health support and funding challenges in Stevenage from MIND and the success of the Healthy Hub from SLL.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That the NHS Long Term Plan Report is noted

2.         That the update on Healthy Stevenage Strategy is noted

3.         That the Hertfordshire County Council Director of Public Health provides an update on funding for diabetes courses

4.         That the Hertfordshire County Council Director of Public Health provides an update on arrangements for the Sustainability & Transformation Partnerships

5.         That the Portfolio Holder (Housing, Health and Older People) liaises with HCC regarding funding for diabetes awareness training

6.         That the SBC Health and Sport Strategy Manager provides statistics on the uptake of cycling courses and learn to ride fees from the Cycle Hub

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

None.

To consider the following motions:

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent

None.