Agenda and minutes

Councillor Northcott declared that he was a Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care on Staffordshire County Council.  

To consider the Minutes of the last meeting of the Health, Wellbeing and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on 7^th March 2022.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

There was nothing to update from Cabinet.

Councillor Heesom, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, requested that Members complete the current consultation from the Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner.

The committee received an update on the odour issues at Walleys Quarry.  The committee had previously been updated on the health impacts but its remit now included environment.

The report outlined the current position since the council had served an Abatement Notice on 13 October 2021 which the operator had appealed.  The current timetable was set out in the report with a hearing scheduled for 24 October 2022. 

Current complaint data to both the Council and the Environment Agency (EA) was presented.  The report also contained data from the four Air Quality Monitoring Stations and how often the concentrations of hydrogen sulphide exceeded the World Health Organisations odour annoyance guideline levels.  The EA had produced a report, as submitted, evaluating measurements of Air Quality at monitoring station MMF9 Gallingale View, between 6 March to 30 April 2021 and the same period this year which showed some improvement.  It was noted by the EA that it was not possible to quantify whether this improvement was due to operations on site or variables such as meteorological conditions.

A multi-agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group had been meeting for over a year, bringing together officers from a range of organisations with roles to play in advising on, or directly acting on, issues relating to the problems at Walleys Quarry.  A new sub group was to be set up involving Councillors to provide political oversight.  This council would be represented by the Leader of the Council.  Members asked whether information discussed at the sub group would be shared with scrutiny and in response, the committee was advised that some information may need to remain confidential but other relevant information could be shared as part of a regular update.

Resolved: that the report be noted.

Click here to watch the debate

The committee considered the Annual Report of the Sustainable Environment Strategy. 

The Strategy had been adopted in December 2020 and contained 4 priority outcomes:

·         Reduce the reliance on the use of fossil fuels

·         Reduce carbon and other damaging emissions

·         Minimise waste and increase recycling

·         Offset residual carbon emissions.

Delivery of the Strategy was through an Action Plan which set out individual actions and timescales against which progress could be measured.

Members were given the opportunity to ask questions or raise issues as follows:

·         Were there conflicts between council departments due to competing priorities and how were these resolved? Members were advised there could be conflicts arising from pressures of funding or land use.  The council had structures in place to manage pressures including an officer working group, member strategy group and through oversight by the scrutiny committee.

·         How would residents be consulted?  The committee was advised that community involvement was through various means including community based groups such as the Staffordshire branch of Climate Matters.  There was information on the website including a dedicated webpage.  Ward Councillors would be kept updated so they could liaise with their constituents. 

·         What monitoring was carried out of newly planted trees to ensure they would thrive and grow?  There were various ways to help trees thrive including planting small trees in close proximity to each other to suppress weeds and ongoing monitoring through Street Scene staff while out in the localities. 

·         Who was responsible for planting on highway verges?  In general this was the County Council as the highway authority.  It was also noted that some verges were the responsibility of Aspire Housing and they had been responsible for a daisy planting scheme.

Resolved: that the update be noted.

Click here to watch the debate

To receive feedback from members of this committee who attended the meetings of the Staffordshire Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny  Committee

The committee considered the regular digest from Staffordshire County Council outlining the work of the Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 March, 11 April and 30 May 2022.

Resolved: that the updates be noted. 

The committee considered a report on proposals by the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust to introduce Integrated Care Hubs including a Hub based at Bradwell Hospital.  The Hubs would provide a single point of access to a range of services. 

A Joint Scrutiny Working Group would be set up, chaired by a Staffordshire County Councillor, and 4 Borough Councillors would be invited to participate in the Working Group.

Resolved: that the report be noted.   

The committee considered the report from the recent meeting of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel held on 25 April 2022.

Resolved: that the report be noted. 

The previous Work Programme is attached for information.  The Scrutiny Chairs and Scrutiny Champions will be meeting shortly to coordinate Work Programmes based on the new remits for the Scrutiny Committees.

The committee considered the Work Programme.  Members proposed items for the next meeting on 5 September including inviting the new Police Commander to discuss the new policing model, proposals by Tri-Services to set up a hub to support mental health and a further update on Walley’s Quarry.   Members also suggested that an update be made to a future meeting on the Air Quality Local Plan proposals relating to the A53.

Resolved: that

(a)  the next meeting include an invitation to the new Police Commander, a presentation on the proposals by Tri-Services to set up a hub to support mental health and a further update on Walley’s Quarry.       

(b)  An item be placed on the Work Programme for November or March to consider the Air Quality proposals for the A53. 

Click here to watch the debate

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.

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

The next meeting is Monday 5 September 2022 at 7.00pm.