Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 12 April 2017

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the Joint Meeting of Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and Active and Cohesive Scrutiny Committee held on 12 April 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

Members of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee considered the minutes of the Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee held on 21 March 2017.

Whilst members noted that these minutes were presented for information purposes concerns were expressed at the lack of detail given in the answers to the effects of bed closures at Bradwell Hospital and to patient discharge rates at Royal Stoke Hospital. The Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, as a representative on the Select Committee, was pressed to request the Select Committee to consider these issues as a future agenda item.

Agreed            That the minutes of the Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee be noted.

All members of the Active and Cohesive Scrutiny Committee are invited to attend for this item

Will Boyce, Chief Executive Office of Approach, and Chair of the local branch of Dementia Action Alliance referred to his previous presentations to the Joint Scrutiny Committees and, building on these, he explained how Approach was keen to support the Borough to contribute in a positive way to the lives of its residents living with dementia.

Will Boyce outlined how the CCG had accepted the offer from Approach to freely deliver Dementia Friends induction training to all newly employed staff on a quarterly basis in relation to both employees and elected members.

Continuing, Will Boyce gave examples of how small changes within a building could make a very positive difference to people living with dementia, for example the placing of a mirror or the use of colours to provide appropriate contrast.

The Partnerships Locality Officer noted that the Borough had signed up to the Dementia Action Alliance and stated that Wolstanton High Street was being modelled into a Dementia Friendly Community. In this respect members asked if a visit could be facilitated to the care home at May Place to look at the facilities provided for residents living there with dementia.

Members of the Joint Committees contributed to discussions with examples of how their own area had introduced dementia friendly activities. Following on from this it was considered that a register of initiatives to map provision within the Borough would be a useful and informative resource tool.

Agreed:         That the Partnerships Locality Officer and the CEO of Approach, Mr Will Boyce compile a data base of dementia friendly facilities and activities within the Borough.

Agreed:         That the offer from the Chief Executive Officer of Approach to deliver, on a no cost basis, Dementia Friends sessions as part of the Corporate induction for new staff and elected members be progressed.

Members of the Active and Cohesive Scrutiny Committee left the meeting at this point.

Members of the Health and Wellbeing Committee considered their future work programme.

Agreed:         19 October meeting – To consider an evaluation of the 2017 Space Programme including information on how many young carers accessed the scheme.

                        10 January - To receive the interim report on the progress of the data base of dementia friendly activities including the availability of this information to LAPs and to Parish Council

                        10 January – To examine progress of the dementia friendly training within the Borough Council workforce. 

                        11 April 2018 – To further consider an evaluation of how well young carers accessed the 2017 Space Programme.

                        To examine Autism awareness initiatives within the Borough.

Any member of the public wishing to submit a question must serve two clear days’ notice, in writing, of any such question to the Borough Council.

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

There was no urgent business.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 19 October 2017.