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Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Whickham Room - Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Melvyn Mallam-Churchill - Tel: 0191 433 2149 - Email:  melvynmallam-churchill@gateshead.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

HW80

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Martin Gannon, Cllr Mary Foy, Cllr Malcolm Graham, Sheena Ramsey, Lynn Wilson, Jane Mulholland and Mark Adams.

 

HW81

Minutes pdf icon PDF 78 KB

The minutes of the business meeting held on 30th November 2019 and Action List are attached for approval.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

As a matter arising it was noted that the Tyne and Wear Fire Service budget consultation has been extended by two weeks and will close on 28 January 2019; Board Members were encouraged to submit their views if they had not already.

 

The Board received an update from the Action List within the agenda pack highlighting matters arising from the last meeting. It was noted that an update report for  the  Delivery of Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Service will be presented in June 2019. Additionally, it was noted that updates on Deciding Together, Delivering Together and the Annual Report on Permanent Exclusions will be presented to the Board as required as part of the Board’s Forward Plan.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)            The minutes of the last meeting held on Friday 30 November 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

 

HW82

Declarations of Interest

Members of the Board to declare an interest in any particular agenda item.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

(i)            There were no declarations of interest.

 

HW83

Gateshead Health & Care Partnership Update: All

Minutes:

The Board received a verbal update on progress relating to the Transformation Programmes which has now commenced. It was noted that good progress is being made and that priority workstreams have been identified which include frailty, people with multiple and complex needs, and children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. It was highlighted that challenges have been identified in terms of resourcing and the need to encourage anf facilitate a change of culture across system organisations.

 

It was highlighted that plans are being developed to support communications across organisations and to ensure that key messages and high-level updates are disseminated to staff.

 

It was stated that the new Memorandum of Understanding for the Gateshead System will be presented at the next Cabinet meeting.

 

A comment was made noting that NHS plans and budgets are not matched in the field of social care which is an issue. It was further noted that the social care green paper has not yet been published. Additional discussion took place on the crucial role of the community and voluntary sector in supporting mainstream services.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)            The Board noted the verbal update and agreed to receive additional updates as necessary.

 

HW84

DPH Annual Report - Alice Wiseman

Minutes:

The Board received a presentation summarising the Director of Public Health’s 2018 Annual Report.

 

The Board were advised that weight is a personal issue for individuals who can feel shame because of the current blame culture and media representation of those who are overweight. It was noted that within the media, those who are obese are perceived as being overindulgent, not in relationships or as comic characters.

 

It was highlighted from the presentation that two in every three adults in Gateshead has excess weight and that one in four adults in Gateshead are obese. It was further noted that in the most deprived areas of Gateshead the proportion of obese adults is almost double that in the least deprived.

 

The Board were advised that since the 1970’s there has been a rapid increase in food production, portion sizes and accelerated marketing of energy dense foods containing cheap and potent sweetening agents. It was stated that human biology has been overwhelmed as a result.

 

It was noted that physical activity levels for the UK have continued to decline and are predicted to further decline by 35.1% by 2030. It was further noted that this decline is a consequence of increased car usage, technologies at work and home in addition to a change in occupational and domestic activity.

 

The Board were advised that obesity does not affect all groups equally, examples of this were provided noting that unskilled manual workers are more likely to have excess weight than white-collar professionals. It was further noted that there is overwhelming evidence of the costs of obesity to individuals, families and wider society; it was highlighted that the full economic cost to society is £50 billion.

 

The Board were provided with a summary of recommendations from the report noting that a whole system approach is needed and that everyone has a role to play. It was also highlighted that this report is a call to action and that the Council and its partners should consider measures that could be implemented at an organisational level to minimise the obesogenic environment for its workforce.

 

A comment was made suggesting that a contributing factor to the increase in obesity is the lack of home cooking education in schools. It was suggested that many young people do not have the skills to cook for themselves at home and have a reliance on readymade/fast foods. It was further noted that austerity has had an influence on families and their ability to access and provide healthy food for themselves, particularly those who are reliant on food banks.

 

It was stated that obesity is an intellectual argument and that collectively, changes can be introduced that will impact on the wider society. It was highlighted that in France, vending machines that offer healthies food items and fruit were popular but are rarely seen in the UK.

 

A discussion took place highlighting the various initiatives in place within partner organisations to encourage healthy weight and wellbeing. A comment was also made noting that employers  ...  view the full minutes text for item HW84

HW85

Research on the impact of the roll out of Universal Credit - Mandy Cheetham pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Minutes:

The Board received a report and presentation from Dr Mandy Cheetham on the Impact of the Roll Out of Universal Credit.

 

From the report it was noted that the full service roll out of Universal Credit (UC) started in Gateshead in October 2017. It was further noted that qualitative research on the impact of the UC roll out was commissioned by Gateshead Council’s Public Health Team. Interviews were held between April and October 2018 with 33 claimants (including people with long term health conditions, disabilities and complex lives) and 37 staff supporting them.

 

The Board were provided with a summary of the aims of Universal Credit. It was highlighted that this new benefit was designed to simplify the benefits system, make work pay in addition to reducing fraud.

 

An overview of issues faced by new claimants was provided. It was noted that there were several issues including the online claims process, 5 week assessment period, incorrect awards and the impact on a claimant’s physical and mental health.

 

It was stated that the online application process was discriminatory, particularly to those who lack the skills and knowledge to use ICT systems including those with mental health problems and learning disabilities.

 

The Board received further information and case studies in relation to the pitfalls felt by claimants of UC which included delays in payments, negotiating the claimant commitment, the rise in poverty and the impact and consequences of declining mental and physical health.

 

From the presentation a variety of media coverage reporting on the impact of Universal Credit was displayed. Additionally, a quote was provided from the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights was shown stating “British compassion for those who are suffering has been replaced by a punitive, mean spirited and often callous approach.”

 

The Board were advised that a full copy of the report has been published on Gateshead Council’s website.

 

The Chair thanked Dr Cheetham for the report noting its significance in understanding the real impacts of UC on individuals and society. It was also highlighted that senior members of staff within the Council have seen the full report and that a members seminar has also been held to advise Councillors of the concerns raised.

 

It was asked whether DWP staff who work locally could be interviewed about their views of UC and the impact on claimants; it was noted that this had been explored and whilst some staff were keen to participate, they were unable to do so.

 

It was agreed that the Board would draft a letter to be sent to the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions to highlight the concerns identified amongst UC claimants in Gateshead.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)            The Board considered the research findings and the potential implications.

(ii)           The Board agreed to write to the Secretary of State of Work and Pensions to register concerns about the impact of UC on vulnerable Gateshead residents in light of the research findings.

 

HW86

OFSTED Inspection of LA Children's Services: Self Evaluation & Annual Conversation Update - Caroline O'Neill pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Minutes:

The Board received a report to provide an update on the outcome of the annual conversation held with Ofsted on the 5th December, held under the Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) framework.

 

A summary of the report was provided highlighting that the ILACS is a system of inspection that allows Ofsted to be proportionate, flexible and bespoke to each area they inspect. It was noted that the ILACS system includes:

 

·           Local authorities previously judged to be good or better will get a one-week short inspection every three year (this is what Gateshead will receive)

·           Our short inspections will result in judgements on the established four-point scale and will result in a grade

·           We will receive Focused visits to identify good practice or areas for development (these are not graded inspections)

·           Each year we will have an annual conversation between Ofsted and local authority lead by our Strategic Director of Care, Wellbeing and Learning

·           To support our annual conversation and improvement journey we will complete a self-evaluation (SEF) of social work practice

 

The Board were also provided with an overview of the key points from the self-evaluation and annual conversation which was held on 5 December 2018 in York. It was noted that as part of the meeting the Council set out progress from the last annual conversation (held in October 2017) which was as follows:

 

·           Our Strategic Director of CWL was appointed September 2017 meaning we now have a stable senior leadership team

·           Our Early Help Service now well embedded, caseload capacity has been increased and we have developed a single integrated Early Help Structure

·           We have strengthened our Edge of Care service through the Complex CiN and Rapid Response Teams

·           Our Domestic Abuse services have been reviewed and a new service put in place

·           We have strengthened our performance management information to ensure comparator data is included and commentary provided

·           Regular service performance clinics ensure detailed scrutiny of data, and this now informs robust self-challenge and targets quality assurance work

·           We have reviewed the appropriateness and timeliness of all children subject to Section 20 looked after arrangements which has resulted in a reduction of the cases from 22.3% last year to 16.7%

·           The Jewish Community is now actively engaged in the safeguarding agenda via LSCB representation and safeguarding training with LA

·           We have had our focused visit of the Care Leavers service in March 2018

 

The Board were also provided with a summary of areas identified for improvement that were outlined within the report in addition to key headlines from the feedback letter received following the annual conversation.

 

It was noted that sector led work is being done regionally to prepare forOfsted when they visit. It was further noted that the Council is being proactive in liaising with other Councils to share best practice and ways of working.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)            The Board noted the contents of the report.

 

HW87

Placement Sufficiency and Commissioning Strategy for Children in Care in Gateshead 2018-2021 - Caroline O'Neill pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received the report on ‘Placement Sufficiency and Commissioning Strategy for Children in Care in Gateshead 2018-2021’.

 

The report provided details of the strategy of how Gateshead Council will ensure that there is sufficient accommodation of all types of children in their care. The report included further details under the following titles:

 

·         Corporate Parenting Pledge

·         Gateshead Demographic Context

·         Children in Care and Placement Profile

·         Provision and market analysis

·         Financial Analysis

·         Commissioning Intentions

 

From the report under ‘Gateshead Demographic Context’ a summary of the Gateshead population was provided. It was also highlighted that 1 in 4 children in Gateshead live in poverty. It was also noted that the number of Looked After Children cared for by the local authority has increased over the past 12 months.

 

An overview of ‘Provision and Market Analysis’ was also provided to the Board in addition to a summary of adoption numbers. It was noted that Gateshead received 128 enquiries from members of the public regarding adoption during 2017/18 which is a slight decrease on the previous year.

 

In providing an update to the Board on Commissioning intentions it was noted that there is to be an integrated commissioning approach for children and families across social care and health.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)            The Board noted the contents of the report.

 

HW88

Better Care Fund Quarter 3 Return to NHS England - John Costello pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received the report Better Care Fund: 3rd Quarterly Return (2018/19) for endorsement.

 

It was highlighted that the Board had approved the Gateshead Better Care Fund (BCF) submission 2017-19 at the September 2017 meeting which was approved by NHS England in October 2017.

 

A copy of the return was appended with the agenda pack for information.

 

A comment was made noting that current performance looks good.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)            The Board endorsed the Better Care Fund 3rd Quarter return for 2018/19.

 

HW89

Updates from Board Members

Minutes:

A discussion took place regarding the Council’s motion to address ‘period poverty’ highlighting that many schools have signed up to the Red Box Project. It was noted that more needs to be done to improve access to sanitary products across the whole system. It was highlighted that the contact within Gateshead Council for this is Michael Walker who is the Council’s Poverty Lead.

 

HW90

A.O.B.

Minutes:

There was no other business.

 

 

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