Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Jenny Molineux. Councillor Paddy Short substituted for Councillor Molineux.

There were no Declarations of Interest and Dispensations.

The Minutes of the last meeting of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 8^th September 2021 be submitted for approval as a correct record.

Recommended                     -   That the Minutes of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 8^th September 2021 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Wednesday, 8^th September 2021for approval as a correct record.

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

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer submits a report to inform the Committee of the approval of the proposed Co-optees by Full Council as set out in the report.

Recommended                     -   That the Committee note that the Council approved the reappointment of Bernard Dawson MBE and Paul Barton and the appointment of Jean Battle MBE and Kimberley Whitehead as co-optees to the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee until the end of the Municipal Year 2022/23. 

Councillor Bernadette Parkinson introduced a report on the appoinment of co-optees to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The report was for information only. Councillor Parkinson highlighted that Bernard Dawson, Paul Barton, Jean Battle and Kimbereley Whitehead had been appointed and welcomed them to the Committee.

Recommended          -           That the report be noted.

To inform the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the findings and recommendations of the Suicide Prevention Scrutiny Panel.

2.1       That the Committee submits the following recommendations to Cabinet:

Recommended                 (1)   That the following recommendations be submitted to Cabinet:  

                                                   That Cabinet resolve:

-       To sign up to the Mental Health Challenge for Local Authorities.

-       To appoint an elected member as the Council’s ‘Mental Health Champion’.

-       To identify a member of staff within the Council to act as ‘Lead Officer’ for mental health and wellbeing.

-       To implement a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Action Plan, as detailed in Appendix 1.

The Scrutiny and Policy Officer, introduced the report on behalf of the Suicide Prevention Scrutiny Panel. The Scrutiny and Policy Officer reported that the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a report and presentation from Lancashire County Council Public Health at its meeting on 8th September. The report highlighted concerns that Real Time Surveillance data of suspected suicide rates in Hyndburn have increased. Consequently, the Committee resolved to appoint a short task and finish group to determine what action the Council takes, and what further action the Council could take to support suicide prevention.

The Officer reported that the Suicide Prevention Panel contained 5 Councillors from this Committee, and was supported by officers from Lancashire County Council Public Health, and the Head of Policy and OD and the Head of Audit and Investigations from Hyndburn Borough Council.

All details of the review were included in the report. The role of this Committee was to consider and approve the recommendations to be submitted to Cabinet.

Questions were raised on the following topics:

-       How the Council works with LCC Public Health?

-       What is the role of the Member Champion?

-       What further role was there for Councillors to support the agenda?

-       What is the time frame for the action plan?

-       Who would be responsible for monitoring the action plan?

Councillor Kate Walsh, suggested an additional recommendation be added to ensure that this Committee receives regular updates on the action plan, if it is approved by Cabinet.

Recommended          -           That the Committee submits the following recommendations to Cabinet:

That Cabinet resolve:

-       To sign up to the Mental Health Challenge for Local Authorities.

-       To appoint an elected member as the Council’s ‘Mental Health Champion’.

-       To identify a member of staff within the Council to act as ‘Lead Officer’ for mental health and wellbeing.

-       To implement a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Action Plan, as detailed in Appendix 1.

And:

That the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee receive regular updates on the implementation of the action plan.