Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 22 March 2022 be confirmed as a correct record.

https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/how-we-work/our-constitution/

AGREED:

To note the Terms of Reference for Scrutiny Commissions as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Pantling

Councillor O’Donnell

Councillor Aldred

Councillor Khan

Councillor Pandya

Councillor Sangster

Councillor Westley

1 Non-Group Place

AGREED:

To note the membership of the Commission for 2022/223 as follows:

Councillor Pantling (Chair)

Councillor O’Donnell (Vice Chair)

Councillor Aldred

Councillor Khan

Councillor Pandya

Councillor Sangster

Councillor Westley

(1 unallocated non-group place)

2 June 2022

11 August 2022

6 October 2022

1 December 2022

17 January 2023

16 March 2023

AGREED:

To note meeting dates of the Commission for 202/23 as follows:

21 June 2022

11 August 2022

6 October 2022

1 December 2022

17 January 2023

16 March 2023

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no questions, representations and statements of case had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Chair advised that she had agreed to take an item under Any Other Urgent Business which referred to the issues concerning the Rough Sleepers Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant, and a report had been circulated as a second despatch.

The Chair also agreed to a change in the running order of the published agenda to take the item “Emerging Trends and Health Related Issues” for consideration as the next item, then the item of Urgent Business as detailed above would be discussed, then the remaining agenda items would follow.

The Director of Public Health gave a presentation to advise the Commission of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which had recently replaced Public Health England (PHE).

It was reported that the Agency now led on work concerning infectious disease outbreaks & other chemical/radiation incidents and regional health protection teams (HPT), which now provided specialist support to local authorities, the NHS, and other agencies.

Members expressed concern with the ongoing problems that were reported to them with the difficulties in gaining GP appointments.  It was suggested that a special meeting be convened to address that issue as a single item, and that members of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission be invited.

AGREED:

That the update be noted, and consideration be given to a Special Meeting of the Commission to consider the issues concerning access to GP services.

The Chair confirmed that the following item was to be considered as urgent business and advised that papers had been issued to Commission members as a ‘Second Despatch’:

The Director of Health submitted a report, which outlined a new programme to support individuals who were rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping to engage into drug and alcohol treatment.

It was noted that the programme was delivered collaboratively across Leicester and was supported through a new central government grant the Rough Sleepers Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG). 

The funding was to support work with people who were rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping who had substance misuse problems. It had been estimated that only a third of this vulnerable group were in drug/alcohol treatment. 

The programme was in its relatively early stages and Recruitment of staff to run the project had begun and was being rolled out, with most staff expected to be in place by May 2022. The report also outlined the Rough Sleeper ‘model’ and stakeholder engagement whare it was noted that a range of partners had been consulted in the process of putting together the bid including the Leicester City CCG, LPT, Inclusion Health Care, Action Homeless, Help the Homeless, The Bridge, The Centre Project, and St. Mungo’s. It was also noted that the initial bid was led by the Public Health team in conjunction with colleagues from Housing and Adult Social Care.

Councillor Westley commented on his experience as the Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Commission and clarified that the requirement to assist the homeless and people seeking assistance and the need to ensure that funding continued was essential.

The Director of Public Health advised of the complexity of the ‘entrenched’ behaviours and commented that it was difficult to manage for a long-term solution, given the uncertainty of continued funding which did not allow for strategies being set.

The Assistant City Mayor (Health) updated the Commission on the joint work with Adult Social Care and Housing and referred to the support offered by partner organisations. A close collaboration and debate between Scrutiny Chairs and the sharing of information was encouraged. The current cost of living crisis was also mentioned as a key aspect where there was an expected need to assist the vulnerable.

AGREED:

To support the development of the RSDATG and provide an update to a future meeting in due course.

The Director of Public Health gave a presentation to update members on the current position in respect of Covid and the vaccination programme.

In terms of the current Covid data, it was reported that although significant work and progress had been made, it was confirmed that the weekly updates being submitted to Commission Members would be continued.

In relation to the vaccination programmes, the issues concerning the take-up of vaccinations and particularly boosters were reiterated, as highlighted in previous discussions.

In conclusion the Director of Public Health expressed his concerns relating to the current situation, which still caused anxiety.

AGREED:

That the update be noted.

The Scrutiny Policy Officer submits a document that outlines the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission’s Work Programme for 2019/20.  The Commission is asked to consider the Programme and make comments and/or amendments as it considers necessary.

The Commission’s Work Programme was submitted and noted.

The meeting closed at 7.45 pm.