Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Bishop, Councillor J Faulkner and County Councillor A Little.

The Minutes of the previous Health and Wellbeing Committee held on the 24th July 2018 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor M Oates and seconded by Councillor R Claymore)

There were no Declarations of Interest.

(Update on responses to Reports of the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee)

The Chair reported that the recommendations from this Committee to Cabinet on adoption of the Motor Neurone Disease Association Charter were endorsed, noting that if it was identified that the adoption would require additional funding, then full Council approval would be sought.

(Discussion item)

None identified at this time.

The Chair reported that he had received a letter from West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust providing notice that the trust intended to change its name to include “University” in it.  The Chair reported that the trust intended to change its name to articulate the trust’s role in education and training.  The Chair confirmed that the letter would be circulated to all Councillors.

Councillors requested that the Chair seek clarification from the trust as to the reasons for the name change, how the change would benefit patients and the cost implications of the change.

(Update from Councillor A Little)

The Chair reported that he would contact Councillor Little and request a written update be circulated to all Councillors, focussing on Staffordshire mental health provision and the new Mental Health Policy.

(Discussion item)

The Forward Plan was discussed, however no further items were identified for consideration by this Committee.

(Discussion item – Councillor M Thurgood)

Councillor M Thurgood introduced the Executive Director Communities and the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods to the Committee who presented an overview of the Housing Allocations Policy review underway and the timescales to complete the review.

The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods reported that the aims of housing allocations were to:

·         Support the Council’s vision and strategic ambitions;

·         Enable choice and informed decision making;

·         Prioritise those in most housing need;

·         Seek to prevent homelessness;

·         Support a range of housing options and solutions;

·         Be outcome focussed.

The challenges faced by the Council in terms of housing allocations were also highlighted.  These challenges resulted from national legislative drivers such as the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, from Government initiatives in terms of reducing rough sleeping and re-invigorating the Right to Buy and developments across the region together with local supply and demand.

It was reported that the Council was due to commission Housing Quality Network, an independent organisation, to support the Council in looking at insight and intelligence to understand impacts and trends and to inform both Housing Allocations Policy and Homes Strategy.

A snapshot of activity on the Housing Register was provided and it was reported that each household in the highest band and therefore with the highest need had a tailored action plan to place them into suitable accommodation.  It was highlighted that the numbers in B&B accommodation had been reduced significantly.  This was reported to have resulted from effective prevention work and using Cabinet approved scheme to utilise private sector leasing scheme and utilising some council stock effectively in place of any B&B accommodation.

It was reported that given the complexity of housing need and the pressures which existed, it was important to ensure that the principles around housing allocations were clear and applied consistently.

The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods highlighted that the draft Housing Allocations Policy was being prepared which was planned to be presented to Cabinet at the end of November 2018 to enable the commencement of the statutory consultation period.  The following principles were under consideration for inclusion in this draft Housing Allocations Policy:

·         Managing expectations and ensuring there was a realistic assessment of housing needs;

·         Robust review process, with more frequent reviews to ensure that real housing need was clear;

·         Consideration of financial resources and the need to balance this with access to subsidised housing;

·         Strengthening local connection;

·         Focussed management of households in most need;

·         Improved delivery.

The next steps for consideration, consultation and approval of the revised Housing Allocations Policy were reported which included consideration by Cabinet of the draft policy at the end of November 2018, which would start the statutory consultation period, during which it was requested that a more detailed assessment of the policy be undertaken at an upcoming scrutiny meeting prior to full approval being sought from full Council at the 19 March 2019 Council meeting.

Councillors highlighted the need to consider further the retention on the Housing Register of households within Band 4, where there was least housing need. 

Further clarification was sought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To change the order of business in the agenda, proposing that item 11 be dealt with before item 10, under rule 9.1.3.

(Moved by Councillor R Ford and seconded by Councillor R Claymore)

(Discussion item)

Councillor Bilcliff reported that following a review of GP practices in Tamworth, only one practice did not provide an ear wax removal service.  Furthermore, both the Robert Peel Hospital and the Samuel Johnson Hospital provided a removal service on referral by a GP.

Councillors agreed the importance of residents being able to access this service locally.

Councillor Bilcliff agreed that he would seek further clarification on why the one GP practice had discontinued provision of the service and report back to a future meeting.

(Discussion item)

It was agreed that this item be considered at a future meeting of the Committee.

(Update and discussion on the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Work Plan)

Councillor Ford reported that the Committee was due to receive safeguarding updates and that these would be added to the Work Plan.  It was also reported that a request had been received from the Derby and Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to attend a future meeting to provide an update on the merger of the hospitals, however, confirmation as to which meeting they could attend was awaited.

Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Work Plan