Issue - meetings

To consider the attached briefing note.

The Committee considered an update report on the development of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board. 

The Board had now held two meetings and membership had been extended to 13 people including Councillor Flude, leader of the Labour Group and L Scally, Head of Integrated Commissioning and Safeguarding.  The membership was based on the expected statutory membership with additional members to reflect the needs of Cheshire East; it was important that the Board was not so large as to be unwieldy.  It had been agreed that substitutes were not allowed other than nominated deputies for the GP Chairs of the two Clinical Commissioning Groups and chair of Cheshire East Local Involvement Network (LINk)/Healthwatch. 

Draft terms of reference were included in the report and comments were invited.  There was a web page under development and a member briefing session had been arranged for Thursday 24 November. 

Information would be provided shortly from Central Government regarding the transfer of public health to the Council including the shadow allocation of finance for public health.  There would also be an allocation of finance to Public Health England.  Work was underway to identify work currently being done at the Council to support public health.  The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment had also been updated on the website. 

The role of Healthwatch was discussed, which was to represent the views of the public.  Members discussed whether an additional organisation could be included on the Board to also represent the public, such as a voluntary or community organisation.  In response, it was explained that GPs on the Board would also represent patients.  It was important that adequate training and resources were available to support LINks/Healthwatch.  The Committee was advised that legislation was awaited on Healthwatch but in the meantime the Council was looking at how to sustain the funding during the transition period.

The Committee was informed of an asset mapping exercise taking place within the Council and some work being undertaken by the Council for Voluntary Service on an audit of health and social care provision; in addition, a Congress was to be established. 

The importance of wellbeing was discussed including the role of parks, civic halls (which host a variety of activities) and play areas, in supporting wellbeing.  It was reported that guidance was expected in January on producing a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and this would emphasise the role of wellbeing; Scrutiny would be able to influence the development of the Strategy.

RESOLVED:  that the update on the Health and Wellbeing Board be noted.