Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships which provided information contained within the Council Plan 2016-2019, relevant to the work of the Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which enabled members to refresh the Committee Work Programme to reflect the four objectives and actions within the Council Plan for the Council’s ‘Altogether Healthier’ priority theme (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer highlighted the current work programme of the Committee and the cross cutting areas covered across Children & Young People and Safe & Stronger Overview & Scrutiny Committees.  Members were advised that the work programme for 2017-18 would be brought back to the Committee in July 2018.  He also advised that the STP plans were still to be confirmed however, reports would come back to the committee on progress.

Councillor Temple commented that the Committee should concentrate on public health issues that the Council could investigate and report back on.  He suggested that the Committee review smoking in pregnancy and breastfeeding, as these were issues highlighted in the performance report and both related to public health.

Councillor Davinson referred to a small wellbeing pilot in his area, linked to the larger Wellbeing for Life project.  He suggested that this could be a topic for consideration at a future meeting and underpinned all of the factors that the Committee were looking at.  He was happy to support Councillor Temple’s suggestion to carry out an extended piece of work if the work programme allowed this.

Referring to the issue of Health and Social Care, Councillor Patterson asked how this could be integrated by looking at the strategic approach of the Council.

Mrs Hassoon and Councillor Davinson expressed concerns about the STPs.  Councillor Davinson said that the Northern area did not seem to understand the rurality of County Durham and all reports so far were from Newcastle and Gateshead.  The Chairman added that at a recent Health and Wellbeing Board it had been reported that there could be just one STP in future and he was concerned about the future of Durham and Darlington.

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer reported that there was input at the Southern STP from our own directors of Adult and Health Services and Public Health and the Director of Integration.  He would look at replicating this method of input at the Northern area STP.

Resolved:

1.    That the information contained in the Altogether Healthier priority theme of the Council Plan 2016-2019, be noted.

2.    That the comments from the Committee be reflected within the refresh of the Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2017-2018.

3.    That at its meeting on 6 July 2018, the Adults, Wellbeing and Health Committee receives a further report detailing the Committee’s work programme for 2018-2019.