Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Director of Adult Social Care and the Deputy Director of Public Health.

Policy priorities for 2018/19 were set out within the Council Plan, which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February. This incorporates the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet.

These priorities are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Cabinet to account and for the Cabinet to identify current and future risks to delivery.

This report presents the draft 2018/19 Agreements for the Adult Social Care and Health Portfolios for consideration and comment by the Committee.

Scrutiny Committee is asked to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer contact: Karen Kime/ Emma Bowe; 0161 474 3574 / 218 1026; karen.kime@stockport.gov.uk / emma.bowe@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care and for Health submitted the draft Portfolio Agreements for 2018/19 (copies of which had bene circulated) that articulated the Policy Priorities of the previously approved Council Plan and which would form for the basis for the regular quarterly performing.

The Scrutiny Committee was invited to comment on each draft Agreement prior to their formal adoption by the Cabinet.

Health & Wellbeing Portfolio

The Cabinet Member for Health (Councillor Tom McGee) introduced the draft Agreement and highlighted the following issues:-

·           Ongoing commitment of the Cabinet to address health inequalities.

·           A commitment to early intervention and prevention to reduce costs of later interventions.

·           Public Health Observatory data included an increase in infant mortality, although this was a three year rolling average and may not be reflective of current trends. Assurance was given that each case was subject to a case review.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·           Concern was expressed by data relating to infant mortality showing higher than average rates in Stockport. In response, assurance was given analysis of these deaths was undertaken and action plans developed to address any trends.

·           Although teenage pregnancy and rates of smoking in teenagers were both reducing, there remained a challenged with those in reducing rates of both in deprived communities.

·           In relation to the high rates of residents being hospitalised for alcohol related reasons it was stated this was a long term concern in Stockport and had been the subject of much analysis, however there was no single cause but may be reflective of particular recording practices at the hospital, a more precautionary approach taken by the hospital in relation to injuries, and the relative affluence of the borough (allowing greater access to alcohol for younger people).

·           Concerns were expressed about the impact of reductions to lifestyle services on efforts to reduce health inequalities. In response the challenges of ongoing and in-year reductions in the Public Health grant was emphasised and inevitable impact this would have on the ability to provide preventative services. It was also stated that resources were being made available through the Stockport Together Programme to invest in prevention initiatives such as social prescribing. Nevertheless, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that these reductions would harm efforts at reducing inequalities and so there had to be increased targeting of services to those most in need.

·           The impact of pollution on health inequalities in the Town Centre was queried. In response it was stated that analysis of air quality indicated it was concentrated around the major roads across the borough. It was also stated that there were often other factors involved and in some cases the likelihood of chronic conditions could be identified when a person left school, although this could be remedied with often simple behavioural changes.

·           In relation queries about increasing mortality in some female cohorts it was stated that this was part of a national trend although no conclusive explanation was available.

·           The accuracy of data in relation to smoking prevalence was discussed. It was commented that for some cohorts the data was based on self-reporting which made the data less reliable.

·           It was commented that some people with psychiatric conditions found smoking therapeutic reasons and vaping may be a less harmful alternative and that provision should be made for them to smoke even if in hospital. In response it was acknowledged that those with chronic needs should be given consideration and compassion but that such an approach would need to be nationally driven.

·         There was discussion about the appropriateness of vaping as a smoking cessation aid and whether public health professionals had been too slow to recognise it value. In response it was commented that caution was still needed as there was little evidence of long term impact of vaping on health, particularly during pregnancy. It was further commented that some of the solvents used in vaping devices were considered hazardous substances in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4