Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Brookfield (substituted for by Councillor L Braithwaite), A Critchley, S Gardiner (substituted for by Councillor S Edgar), P Redstone and N Wylie (substituted for by Councillor J Saunders).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2019.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

No declarations of interest were received.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the Agenda

No whipping declarations were received.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: in order for officers to undertake and background research, it would be helpful if members of the public notified the Scrutiny Officer listed at the foot of the Agenda at least one working day before the meeting with brief details of the matter to be covered.

The Chairman invited members of the public present to speak to the committee. Pursuant to Minute No. 44 (Health and Adult Social Care and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 7 November 2019), Ms Debbie Jamison came forward and spoke to the committee in respect of Everybody Sport and Recreation (ESAR).

Ms Jamison stated that the Portfolio Holder for Communities holds quarterly meetings with ESAR, and suggested that the outcomes of these meetings and discussions should be presented to this committee. This would help the committee to regularly scrutinise and monitor whether ESAR is delivering for all groups and people in the borough.

Ms Jamison continued that she attended her local leisure centre to take part in the ESAR annual survey, and noted that the process was not inclusive enough and did not encourage engage as many groups as it should.

RESOLVED –

The committee thanked Ms Jamison for taking the time to attend the meeting and make this statement.

To scrutinise the activity and performance of the council against the key objectives and aims in the recently published Mental Health Strategy.

Consideration was given to a report on Cheshire East All Age Mental Health Strategy – Overview and Current Performance (Implementation Report) presented by Keith Evans, Head of Service for Mental Health and Learning Disability Services and Mark Hughes, Senior Commissioning Manager for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health.

There was some discussion on:

·         In patient demand for mental health provision, Members noted Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) successfully manage demand within it’s footprint;

·         The provision of acute beds across, Eastern Cheshire, Members noted the Authority had been working closely with the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to ensure services were achievable, affordable and proportional for the population;

·         That Partnership and integrated ways of working was being done with partners;

·         The future protection of mental health services, it was noted that the Authority would be considering wider broader issues such as housing, socioeconomic determinants, and promoting emotional health and wellbeing as earlier preventative measures;

·         That although the Autism Strategy presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board, it was an aspirational document.  Members agreed that for this reason there needed to be more collaboration on these reports and for them to present at Overview and Scrutiny as part of ongoing development.

RESOLVED –

That the briefing report be noted.

(1)  To consider a report detailing and explaining what the ‘tartan rug’ is and how it is used.

(2)  To consider a report on how the council (with and without partners) is working to reduce health inequalities and disparities across the borough, e.g. varying levels of deprivation.

Consideration was given to a report by the Acting Director of Public Health on the Tartan Rug: Current Position and Future Planning.  The report described the use of the ‘Tartan Rug’ or the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA as it is more formally known) as both a visual display that showed the health inequalities that existed across Cheshire East and a call to action to the Council, its partners and residents to work together to address these inequalities.  The report also set out the Council’s intention to develop a place-based approach to its Joint Strategic Needs Assessment that would provide a detailed reflection of the health needs and opportunities for targeted work to address them in each of the eight Care Communities.

The Committee were advised that this Authority had taken considerable steps in the area of health inequalities since Public Health moved into Local Government.  Despite that, these inequalities had existed for many, many years and the current position was still an early stage in a much longer journey.

The JSNA had been a successful tool in getting people to understand the differences in socioeconomic differences in the borough.  It resonated well with health partners and internally with other parts of the council e.g. the Place Directorate and how structural elements of council work can impact on peoples’ wellbeing.

The Council reviewed the way the JSNA was structured with a view to align it with the Cheshire and Merseyside Place Partnership.  The 5-Year Cheshire East Place Plan had moved to a more Place orientated approach to enable more depth and detail on what underpinned the JSNA and allowed the system to come together.

Members noted the JSNA was a vital tool to invest and budget for wider determinates, and helping to set wider policy development.  For example, the emphasis on giving every child the best start in life had led to more joined up working by Public Health with the Housing team.

When funding was reduced from a green area they could soon become pink/red, although it was important not to compare wards, as there were always specific pockets of inequality and crime issues, and fill in the gaps (such as wellbeing or poverty) left by wider reports such as The Kings Fund.  Whilst life expectancy gaps had not changed that much, people were living longer but the gap had not reduced. 

RESOLVED –

That the report be noted and that the Council’s approach to supporting Cheshire East Council, its partners and residents to address local health challenges and reduce inequalities using a robust, health intelligence led approach be endorsed.

To consider the task and finish group report – its findings and recommendations – on the local offer of SEND services for 16-25 year olds in Cheshire East.

Consideration was given to the SEND Local Offer for 16 to 25 Year Olds – Task and Finish Group report.

The report presented the final findings of the task and finish group, which was presented to the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25 November 2019 and Cabinet on 3 December 2019.

Members asked questions in respect of the following:-

·         How much support was provided to parents of child under these services and how was it being assessed?

·         How did it work for parents and how easy was it to access services?

·         How was the support for parents and children?

·         How were parents supported and encouraged to report information?

Councillor J Rhodes thanked all of the people that had taken part in the process.

RESOLVED –

That the report of the task and finish group be noted.

Consideration was given to the council’s forward plan of key decisions through to 31 January 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the forward plan be noted.

To review the current work programme.

The committee reviewed its work programme and noted the upcoming items scheduled to be presented at its next meeting on 16 January 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be noted.