Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors B. Parkinson and Pratt.  Councillor L. Cox acted as substitute representative for Councillor B. Parkinson.     

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations.

To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Friday, 18^th September 2015 for approval as a correct record.

Recommended                     -  That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Friday 24^th July 2015 were submitted for approval as a correct record.  The Co-optees of the meeting requested that their names be added to the meeting agenda and minutes. 

Resolved                            (1)  That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record; and

                                (2)  That the names of the co-optees be added to the agenda and minutes of each meeting.      

To receive a report from the Head of Planning and Transportation on the approach taken to addressing health issues by the Local Development Framework in Hyndburn. 

Recommended                     -  That the report be noted.

The Head of Planning and Transportation submitted a report to provide an overview of the approach taken to address health issues by National Planning Policy Framework and the Local Development Framework for Hyndburn, in particular the Hyndburn Core Strategy that includes a chapter on health.  This would be implemented through the determination of planning applications and incorporation of the relevant policy objectives into development wherever possible.  He also reported that the health of people in Hyndburn was generally worse than the English average and deprivation was higher than average with about 20.5% of children living in poverty.

He reported that the Council received up-to-date statistics on residents’ health and referred Members to appendix 4, key indicators.  He outlined the determinants of wellbeing considered during the planning application process e.g. housing, employment status, water and sanitation, health care services in the area, age of the community and transport.  He reported that these issues had been addressed through the national policy framework by ensuring that the Council’s public resources which presented the community with an opportunity to improve their welfare were protected such as parks and open spaces.  He pointed out that the Council could only provide opportunities for people to be healthy and informed the Committee that all new developments should include the availability of a wide range of resources to improve people’s health such as allotments and nature reserves. 

Responses were provided to the following questions submitted by Members of the Committee in respect of issues relating to:

-        planning applications/developments in Hyndburn which have been influenced by health.

-        how health is built into plans for new developments.

-        the possible impact on District Councils in respect of Lancashire County Council’s plans for integrating a Public Health Officer into the Planning Department.

-        if Public Health had engaged with the Council on policy development.

-        the amount of weight attached to health issues in the development of a planning application.

-        if the Council had any influence on Lancashire County Council’s management of Public Rights of Way?

-        how planning could influence the opportunity to improved health and wellbeing in areas of low income.

-        taking health into account when considering planning applications for takeaways and fast food establishments.

A summary of responses to the issues raised included the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer reporting that planning issues had been focussing on housing need but would be giving consideration to health issues during the next year.  He pointed out that it was important to develop strong policies to ensure that adequate consideration was given to issues such as health when considering planning applications, but advised that it was a multi-faceted issue that could only be tackled by seeking to address all the factors that influence people’s health. 

A Member referred to the listed buildings located in the Church Gateway area and suggested that consideration was given to this area and the Blythes Chemical site.  The Chief Planning and Transportation Officer indicated that the consultation zone imposed by the Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 315.

To receive a verbal report from Sarah McCrossan, the Transformation Project Manager, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. 

Recommended                     -  That the report be noted.

No report was submitted to the meeting and Members requested that this item be placed on the agenda of the Committee meeting scheduled for March 2016. 

To receive a verbal report from a representative of the Clinical Commission Groups.

Recommended                     -  That the report be noted.

A report was submitted by David Rogers, NHS Midlands and Lancashire CSU relating to the Health Access Centre, however, the Locality Manager, Rachel Watkins who had been scheduled to present the report had provided her apologies.   The report referred to the work carried out by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) with patients and clinicians to develop principles and a vision for primary care and referred to the closure of the Health Access Centre and provision for health care thereafter. 

Members pointed out that:

-        The consultation was a way of disguising the eventual closure of the Health Centre.

-        That a move of health to the PALS Centre would provide more difficult access by many patients.   

-        Concern that funding would be restricted and eventually phased out.

-        That changes in health care provision were being resisted by health care providers.

Resolved                               -  That the report be noted.

To make the Committee aware of the latest Health Profile report for Hyndburn.

Recommended                  (1)  That the report be noted;

                                            (2)  That the Committee uses the information in the report to consider potential Scrutiny topics for the municipal year 2016/17.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer submitted a report to make the Committee aware of the latest Health Profile report for Hyndburn. 

The Chair reported that the health profile for Hyndburn was received annually and profiles were created from data collected over a period of time.  She explained that there were 32 health indicators and only 3 indicators showed Hyndburn as significantly better than the national average.  She reported on the work that had been done to improve health indicators and referred to issues that would be focussed on during 2016.    

Resolved                               -  That the report be noted.

To receive a verbal report from the Chair of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

Recommended                     -  That the report be noted.

The Chair expressed concern that Hyndburn were lacking representation at the joint health Lancashire meetings.  She requested that the Corporate Performance Manager added her to the email list for the East Lancashire Locality meetings and included her on the circulation list for copies of the minutes of this meeting. 

Resolved                               -  That the Corporate Performance Manager adds the Chair of Community and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the email list for attendance at the East Lancashire Locality meetings and for copies of the minutes of this meeting.

To update the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on responses of Cabinet and Council to reports submitted by Overview and Scrutiny.

Resolved                               -  That the Committee note the responses.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer submitted a report to update the Committee on responses of Cabinet and Council to reports submitted by Scrutiny.  He reported that the recommendation to extend membership of co-optees to Aldermen had been agreed by Cabinet.  He indicated that discussions had been held around deciding relevant criteria for members acting as co-optees and the Chair requested that the Overview and Scrutiny Officer examined the criteria used by other local authorities and reported back to the Committee.

Resolved                               -  That the Overview and Scrutiny Officer examines the criteria used by other local authorities when selecting co-optees for the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.