Agenda and minutes

Venue: Health, Wellbeing and Partnerships Scrutiny - Hybrid Meeting - Conference. View directions

Contact: Geoff Durham 742222 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor J Waring, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest stated.

3.

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING pdf icon PDF 227 KB

To consider the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 1 June 2020.

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 1st June 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

4.

UPDATE FROM CABINET

Nothing to report.

Minutes:

There were no items to update from Cabinet.

5.

UPDATE - TOWN CENTRE REOPENING POST LOCKDOWN, HOMELESSNESS LESSONS LEARNED AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES POST LOCKDOWN pdf icon PDF 364 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Helena Maxfield, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, presented an update report on a number of services within the Committee’s remit that had been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic:

 

-       Work undertaken to ensure town centre visitors feel safe with the reopening post lockdown – the report outlined the various measures undertaken to provide Covid secure town centres including signage, markings to encourage social distancing and provision of hand sanitiser.  There had been a number of measures introduced for the market including minimum spacing between stalls and contactless collection of rents.  There had been thorough cleansing of the street environments in the main centres and floral displays in place.  Partnership working had taken place with the Newcastle Business Improvement District and other agencies including Staffordshire County Council. 

-       Homelessness, rough sleeping and temporary accommodation, lessons learned – the report outlined how services had adapted to provide for homelessness and rough sleepers.  Work was continuing to develop provision for those needing temporary accommodation and to find an alternative way to provide furniture and white goods for those moving into permanent accommodation following the closure of Furniture Mine.  The focus of the service was now towards preparing for colder weather and sub-zero temperatures.

-       Domestic violence post lockdown – Councillor Maxfield outlined that Police had reported no increase in cases since lockdown. The weekly Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) dealt with more serious cases and had four cases at the time of writing the report with a further four to be considered the following week.  The GLOW service was for children and young people and had seen an increase in all areas of its service provision. 

 

Members raised a number of queries and issues as follows:

 

-       Some shops did not have signage relating to Covid secure measures and there was concern that some shoppers did not wear face coverings.  Roger Tait advised that signage had been displayed in town centres and Environmental Health Officers had visited some premises to give advice.  The Chief Executive pointed out that the Council could not mandate how shops and businesses operated.  Members noted that signage could be displayed but it was not the role of shopkeepers to enforce and there was a risk of verbal abuse.

-       There was concern about young people gathering in the town centre and it was reported that students had been told that if they did not have a lecture then they were not to be on site.  It was recognised that many young people would be from outside the area and may have some anxiety about being in a new town and at a new setting.  Members referred to a meeting with the County Council which was going to address these type of issues direct with the college.

-       Were specific figures around homelessness available and could they be included in future reports?  Councillor Maxfield advised that this was possible and that the current figures were 18 families in accommodation detailed as follows - 1 family  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

PARKS AND GREEN SPACES

To consider a verbal update on progressing the Parks and Green Spaces Scrutiny Review.

Minutes:

The Head of Operations referred to the meeting of the Committee on 2nd March 2020 when it had been agreed to set up a Task and Finish Group to look at the topic of encouraging greater use of parks and green spaces to promote physical and mental health and wellbeing.  A group of Members had been set up but had not yet been able to meet.  He referred to how beneficial parks and green spaces had been during lockdown.  He asked the Committee whether it wanted to continue to progress this work through a Task and Finish Group or whether he could prepare a report to the next meeting outlining the important role of parks and green spaces.

 

Members agreed that parks and open spaces were important and the value of the Scrutiny Review and agreed to progress the topic through the Task and Finish Group.

 

Resolved: that the Scrutiny Review of encouraging greater use of parks and green spaces continue through the Task and Finish Group set up on 2nd March 2020. 

7.

MINUTES OF THE HEALTHY STAFFORDSHIRE SELECT COMMITTEE - pdf icon PDF 196 KB

To receive feedback from members of this committee who attended the meetings of the Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the digests from Staffordshire County Council outlining the work of their Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee at the recent meeting on 10th August 2020. 

 

Resolved: that the update be received. 

8.

WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 165 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered the current Work Programme.  Councillor Gardner referred to previous meetings and consideration of Domestic Abuse services.  Members had received an update in December 2019 on service provision and noted that the current service had only been in place for 12 months at that time.  Members had asked for an update in 14 months.  Members also discussed the impact of Domestic Abuse on young people.  It was noted that Members had previously distributed booklets on Domestic Abuse support services to various outlets in their Wards and this had been seen as very useful and perhaps could be repeated.

 

Members discussed Mental Health as an important topic.   Councillor Moffat advised that she was the Chair of North Staffs MIND and suggested a presentation on their work be made to a future meeting. 

 

Resolved: That the Work Programme be updated with items for the December meeting of the Committee as follows:

-       Update on the Scrutiny Review of Parks and Open Spaces;

-       An Update on the areas requested from Cabinet raised as part of the Covid update report – safe opening of town centres, homelessness and Domestic Abuse services taking into account the issues raised above; and

-       A presentation on Mental Health Services from North Staffs MIND. 

9.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

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.

Minutes:

There were no Members of the Public present.

10.

URGENT BUSINESS

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

11.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - 7 DECEMBER 2020