Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meetings held on 13 June and 6 August 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meetings held on 13 June and 6 August 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the following: -

Minute No. 8 – Scrutiny Work Programme – the inclusion of a bullet point in the resolution to correctly read -  “an Extraordinary Meeting of the Committee be requested to scrutinise the estates situation at Stepping Hill Hospital”

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The report draws attention to stark health inequalities in Stockport and outlines how social determinants of health play a role in driving and therefore addressing these inequalities. It presents the principle of addressing health inequalities by improving everyone’s health, but doing so according to people’s different levels of need: proportionately more support and resources are needed for those already disadvantaged or at higher risk / need.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the implications of the report, particularly in connection with its planned scrutiny review on the topic of health inequalities.

Officer contact: Jilla Burgess-Allen, jilla.burgess-allen@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been ciruclated) drawing attention to stark health inequalities in Stockport and outlining how social determinants of health play a role in driving and therefore addressing these inequalities and presented the principle of addressing health inequalities by improving everyone’s health, but doing so according to people’s different levels of need: proportionately more support and resources are needed for those already disadvantaged or at higher risk/need.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the detailed and informative report and how much awareness it raised about certain issues.

·       While tobacco use in Stockport was falling, it was still the largest preventable risk factor for disease. Stockport as a borough was close to the national average for smoking rates; but rates varied considerably, 4.4% in an area of Marple compared to 40% in Lancashire Hill and parts of Brinnington. This highlighted that Stockport averages hide considerable inequalities between those living in the most and least deprived areas with smoking estimated to be responsible for between a third and a half of the differences in early mortality between different socioeconomic groups

·       It was commented that the Smoking and Vapes bill was returning to Parliament and would have had a huge impact similar to the smoking ban that would be really welcomed in Stockport.

·       Waiting lists for assessments for autism and ADHD were too long and Stockport has a programme to bring those numbers down.

·       There were priorities in place to mitigate climate change including aims to achieve net zero, but there needed to be an adaptation and mitigation together to address the health impacts on the population.

·       Consideration needed to be given to the design of communities across the borough with the right schools and the right services in the communities to redress the balance and create greater equity and fairness.

·       Clarification was sought regarding how the recommendations would be shared across the Council and the wider borough. In response, it was stated that the information and data would be published on the Council’s website with work being undertaken to produce a ‘digest’ to make it easier to access and read and would also be submitted to the Health Executive Board.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Adult Social Care.

The report outlines the practical framework for co-production, involving and alongside people who draw on Adult Social Care support which includes pragmatic and transparent principles for good co-production practice. It also summarises the process, important learning and messages from the conversations with adults and families, that took place predominantly during May and June 2024 and the good practice that adults, carers, families and advocates said was important to them to feel confident when they contact Adult Social Care and in their relationships with social care staff.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and endorse the report for submission to Cabinet.

Officer contact: Julia Newton, julia.newton@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the practical framework for co-production, involving and alongside people who draw on Adult Social Care support which included pragmatic and transparent principles for good co-production practice.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the report and the work that was being done to improve working together.

·       There was a real focus on training to teach staff to work with care users.

·       Clarification was sought about challenges that existed and how it could be overcome. In response, it was noted that one of the challenges was “data sharing” and information about the client. It helps to avoid clients having to tell their stories over and over to various service areas, so client information is now ‘pinned’ to files to assist each service area.

·       The team had now aligned to each of the commitments in the Charter and was able to now measure the performances.

·       It was commented that there was a cultural change and how was it being embedded into the network. In response, it was commented that the work was being delivered by people with ’lived’ experiences and through inductions sessions and working with senior social workers with a clear action plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance.

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email: charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been ciruclated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

It was noted that the Greater Manchester ICS senior colleagues be invited to a future meeting of the Committee and that be followed with more detail to be confirmed at the next meeting.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance be asked to confirm with the Greater Manchester ICS senior colleagues a date when they would be able to attend the meeting.