Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Bailey.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor N Statham and Councillor M Couchman attended as a substitute.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 24^th October 2024 were approved as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor R Claymore and seconded by Councillor S Doyle)

There were none.

The Chair updated the Committee that he had had a constructive meeting with   Jo Sands around the role of the Committee within the Borough.

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

There were none.

(Discussion item)

There were none.

(To receive the Digest from Staffordshire County Council’s Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and an update from County Councillor J Jones)

The Chair confirmed that there was no digest circulated ahead of the meeting and noted that County Councillor J Jones was absent.

The Chair confirmed that he had attended the most recent meeting of the Health and care Overview and Scrutiny Committee at County where he had highlighted Community Mental Health, General Practise and Dentistry and Tamworth and they are all on the future work plan of the Committee.

(Report of the Assistant Director, Assets)

The Chair confirmed that the expected report was not ready and would be deferred to the next meeting but Officers have offered a briefing session on this matter with the Committee and the Chair invited all Members to attend.

(Presentation from the Assistant Director, Partnerships supported by External partners)

The Chair welcomed the Assistant Director, Partnerships who introduced Lee Bates from the Community Together CIC who would be provided a presentation on behalf of partners on what the Council are doing with their Partners around the impact of the winter fuel allowance changes and getting residents to apply for Pension credit before handing over to Lee Bates who talked through the presentation confirming that today was Fuel Poverty awareness day. That Tamworth were very good at partnership working  and that hose partners  have been encouraging people to claim Pension Credit to be eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance.

It was confirmed that the deadline for claiming Pension credit was the 21^st December in order to get this year’s Winter Fuel Allowance payment highlighting the following information.

The Committee made the following comments/observations and asked the following questions:

1.     Whether you still had to apply for the Winter Fuel Allowance if you were receiving Pension credit?

It was confirmed that a form had to be completed but that the CIC could assist with as well as applying for other benefits that you may be entitled to if you are entitled to Pension Credit such as Council Tax Reduction.

2.     Whether there were any plans to drop in to Places of Welcome to talk to people rather than them coming to the CIC?

It was confirmed that the check and claim session were mobile and that this suggestion would be taken on board.

3.     Whether all Council properties contained efficient central heating.

The Officer was unable to answer this question but agreed to provide a written response.

4.     The Committee acknowledged that there could be a number of causes for food insecurities including poverty/cost-of-living crisis, food supplies chains, but that this can lead to residents buying cheaper rather than healthy food leading to obesity and other health related conditions and whether the Council has a food champion and if not whether this was something that the Council should consider. A recommendation was made around this.

The Officer confirmed that there was work being done on Health Inqualities in this area by the Integrated Care Board and some funding was expected in this area. It was also confirmed that the Local authority was keen to look at food nutrition and cooking sessions had been run with tenants to educate them that you can cook in a healthy way for a reasonable cost.

5.     Whether there were figures on how many people who were entitled to but were not claiming Pension Credit?

It was confirmed that the data suggested that there were approximately 3444 pensioners that could apply for Pension Credit in Tamworth and 1600 claim pension credit (This was taken from ONS data).

The Committee acknowledged that for some there was a stigma around claiming benefits.

6.     The Committee highlighted that it would be useful to look at the voluntary sector to ensure that work is not being duplicated, perhaps through an audit of the provisional of the services that is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To provide any update on any working groups

There were none.

(Discussion item – link to the Forward Plan attached)

Browse plans - Cabinet, 2024 :: Tamworth Borough Council

There were no new items identified from the Forward plan.

(Discussion Item - To review the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Plan)

The Committee highlight that they would like to see the following items added to the work plan for future meetings and that Work Planning Proposal forms would be completed –

Ø  Community mental health provision within the borough.

Ø  An audit of services available across Tamworth including the voluntary, community and faith sector.