Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Janet Clowes, Michelle Davis, Superintendent Claire Jesson, Peter Skates, Claire Williamson, Deborah Woodcock and Charlotte Wright.

Gill Betton, Councillor Stewart Gardiner and Chief Inspector Sarah O’Driscoll attended as substitutes.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

In accordance with paragraph 2.24 of the Council’s Committee Procedure Rules and Appendix on Public Speaking, set out in the Constitution, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the committee on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days’ in advance of the meeting.

There were no members of the public present.

It was moved and seconded that Louise Barry be appointed as Vice Chair.

RESOLVED:

That Louise Barry be appointed as Vice Chair.

To receive an update of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) programme.

The Board received a report which provided an update of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) programme.

The new approach to the development of the JSNA included the production of three separate documents for each review, which were designed for different audiences. Five reviews had already been undertaken and included poverty, smoking, substance misuse, falls and an updated Tartan Rug.

The Board were asked which specific recommendations and areas they would like to focus on and have strategic oversight of.

The Board welcomed the way different chapters were being looked at rather than the full JSNA in one go and the separate documents which appealed to different audiences. Further discussions would be held to look at how the Board could link up with the Health and Care Partnership and how to embed the recommendations within the report and the structure around how this would be done.

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the Health and Wellbeing Board note and consider the key findings and recommendations within the JSNA reviews and the updated Cheshire East Tartan Rug.

To receive an update about the Cheshire East Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

The Board received an update in respect of the Cheshire East Suicide Action Plan which had been developed following the publication of the Cheshire and Merseyside Suicide Prevention Strategy in November 2022.

The plan was underpinned by workshops held to engage with partner and community representatives and further engagement was used to influence the local priorities in the 2-year plan.

The Board agreed that it was a good example of partnership working and were supportive of it being a living document.

Although there had been training carried out around suicide prevention with primary and secondary schools the Board felt that more emphasis was required on getting more education into schools and young people, especially around social media and the internet. The recommissioning of the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service which had just been approved by the Children & Families and Adults and Health Committees would help support that.

Members were encouraged to partake in the free online appropriate suicide prevention training which was available across Cheshire and Merseyside, and to encourage other people to partake in it as it was agreed that the best form of support came from communities.

RESOLVED: (unanimously)

That the Health and Wellbeing Board approve the Cheshire East Self Harm and Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

To consider the new Cheshire East Falls Prevention Strategy.

The Board considered a report which outlined the new Falls Prevention Strategy which had been developed to tackle the significant public health issue that falls cause.

The strategy aimed to build on the work conducted to date which included the commission of strength and balance classes, recruitment of 2 falls co-ordinators and promotion of the issue of falls such as via annual falls awareness week which had just taken place.

Members agreed that it was a difficult problem to tackle and in response to members comments in respect of the link between falls and the quality of the pavements and highways, the Chair agreed to take this back to the Highways and Transport Committee.

RESOLVED: (unanimously)

That the Health and Wellbeing Board endorses the adoption of the new Cheshire East Falls Prevention Strategy.

To consider the findings of the Young Persons Survey.

The Board received a presentation in respect of the actions and objectives of the Trading Standards service and its collaborative partnership approach along with the findings of the 2023 Young Persons Survey.

The product priorities for the service for 2023/24 included alcohol, tobacco, vapes, knives and corrosive substances. Partnership working was key across all areas alongside regional and national focus groups which looked solely at age restricted products.

The annual Young Person Survey undertaken with 14 to 17 year olds tried to understand the root causes and trends for young consumers in relation to age restricted goods, and the results are shared with various services.

One of the concerning trends seen from the result for Cheshire East was the increase in the number of young people claiming to vape regularly and those that were trying vapes either before or instead of tobacco cigarettes.

The Board agreed that emphasis needed to be on the marketing and placement of these products, specifically disposable vapes, and suggested that a focus on the impact they had on the environment might be considered, which was a subject many young people were passionate about.

RESOLVED: That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

1.    Are informed of the actions and objectives of the service and the collaborative partnership approach.

2.    Notes the findings of the Young Persons Survey.

3.    Collaboratively work through feedback and agreed actions.

To receive an update on the work of the Commission and proposals for a re-naming and a future work programme.

The Board received an update on the work of the Increasing Qualities Commission and proposals for re-naming the Commission to the ‘All Together Fairer Commission’ to align its work with the Cheshire and Merseyside ‘All Together Fairer’ programme to reduce inequalities across Cheshire and Merseyside.

The establishment of the Increasing Equalities Commission led to the publication of ‘Living Well in Crewe’ in 2022. Further work was undertaken in preparation of the Crewe Joint Strategic Needs Assessment that builds upon the recommendations within ‘Living Well in Crewe’.

The recommendations of ‘All Together Fairer’ were taken into account in the drafting of the Cheshire East Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Five-Year Plan 2023 – 2028. Further consideration had been given to how to achieve the outcomes of ‘All Together Fairer’ whilst overseeing the implementation of the deliverables within the Joint Local health and Wellbeing Strategy. It was proposed that the Commission would take on the oversight and co-ordination of that work on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

A review of the recommendations would take place to identify those which could be progressed most quickly given the restrictions around budget and resources. To ensure it was clear and what the focus would be it was proposed that the Commission be renamed to ‘All Together Fairer Commission’ which would align to the Marmot Principles which also used the ‘All Together Fairer’ branding.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) That the Health and Wellbeing Board

1.    Acknowledge the work of the Commission on Crewe and the need for an ongoing focus  upon the town which continues to have the worst inequalities in the borough.

2.    Agree to the re-naming of the Commission to the ‘All Together Fairer Commission’ to align its work with the Cheshire and Merseyside ‘All Together Fairer’ programme to reduce inequalities across C&M.

3.    Agree that the Commission focus its next work programme on the recommendations of the ‘All Together Fairer: Health equity and social determinants of health in Cheshire and Merseyside’ Report and their implementation (where relevant, applicable and affordable) in Cheshire East.