Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 23 July 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-ins to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and includes early performance and financial projections for the year for the Health & Wellbeing Portfolio at the end of the first quarter.

Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

a)      Consider the first update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report,  

b)      Review the progress against priorities, performance and budgets for 2013/14;

c)      Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues.

d)      Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Mike Harradine/ Simon Finch, 0161 474 4680/ 4019, mike.harradine@stockport.gov / simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Commissioning & Transformation) submitted a report of the Corporate Director for People (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the delivery of portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes for the Health & Wellbeing Portfolio at the end of the first quarter of 2013/14. The report was the first time the Scrutiny Committee had received detailed information relating to the portfolio following the transfer of Public Health functions to the local authority and the realignment of portfolios in May 2013.

The Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) attended the meeting to answer questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following issues were raised:-

·         There were a number of performance measures included in the report the achievement of which were not within the direct control of the Council.

·         The reviews of the Public Health contracts were underway, and a number had been completed. There were also a number of very small contracts which were being reviewed.

·         Councillors welcomed the increasing number of those with mental health problems being discharged into the Mental Health Pathway, but queried the proportion of service users this represented.

·         Having agreed definitions used by all those involved in the health economy in Stockport would aid understanding of issues, such as what age range was considered ‘very elderly’. It was also commented that age ranges often did not reflect an individual’s capacities.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and the current format of reporting for the Portfolio report continue for the remainder of the municipal year.

To consider a verbal report from the Deputy Director of Public Health.

At the last meeting members requested an item on the agenda relating to recent announcements from the Government in relation to proposals for measures to reduce tobacco usage.

Officer contact: Donna Sager, 0161 474 3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director of Public Health provided an update on the developments with efforts to reduce tobacco related harm at a local and national level.

The following issues were highlighted:-

·         Recent announcement by the Government that it would not be proceeding with proposals for requiring plain packaging of tobacco products.

·         Approximately 21% of Stockport residents smoked, equating to roughly 47,000 people.

·         The Council, in partnership with the NHS, had very recently launched its ‘Stoptober’ campaign to encourage smokers to give up during October, as a first step toward giving up completely.

·         A Tobacco Control Audit was taking place to determine how effective the Council was at tackling smoking related harm and discouraging take up. The Audit would be assessed by ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) who would make any recommendations for improvements.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Disappointment at the decision of the Government in relation to plain packaging. This initiative was often seen in isolation, but should be seen as part of a broader policy to reduce tobacco usage.

·         The public smoking ban had made a difference in the levels of smoking and the harm caused.

·         The potential impact of e-cigarettes was discussed, particularly in relation to those seeking to reduce or stop smoking. It was emphasised that while the use of these products was less harmful than tobacco cigarettes there was as yet insufficient evidence to say conclusively they were safe. It was also stressed that nicotine was in itself a harmful substance, particularly in pregnancy.

·         There was evidence that levels of smoking in pregnancy in Stockport was as much as one in seven expectant mothers. This was a significant cause for concern.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Director of Midwifery of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust be invited to attend a future meeting to discuss issues connected to smoking in pregnancy and other activities to address lifestyle concerns for expectant mothers.

(3) That the Scrutiny Committee would welcome a report back on the Tobacco Control Audit once complete.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider issues related to health for inclusion in the Joint Scrutiny Review on Inequalities.

The Chair invited the Scrutiny Committee to consider issues for inclusion in the scope for the Joint Scrutiny Review ‘Tackling Inequalities’, particularly those relating to the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The approach of partners in Stockport to tackling inequalities was very much focussed on geographic areas and work was co-ordinated through Neighbourhood Management areas. This could often mask significant variation in inequalities within areas. An example was the Brinnington & Central Ward where settled populations may have better health than those within housing used for more transient residents.

·         It would be a challenge to identify transient residents as part of a data gathering exercise, but there may be methods of making an approximation. GP lists might also give some indication.

·         Focussing too heavily on specific factors may not take account of the wider determinants of inequalities and so targeted interventions and projects may not result in the significant improvements envisaged.

·         The coincidence of high concentrations of social housing, the motorway and flight paths may contribute to poorer air quality and impact on health outcomes for those in Lancashire Hill.

RESOLVED – That the Joint Scrutiny Review Panel ‘Tackling Inequalities’ be recommended to include within its scope the following issues in relation to health:-

·         the impact of transient populations

·         small pockets of deprivation within areas of affluence, focussing the Cherry Tree estate, Romiley and the Marbury Road area in Heaton Chapel

·         the proposed inequalities pilot

·         air quality along the M60 in the vicinity of Lancashire Hill and the impact on health.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of the Chair.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of the Chair.

The Chair referred to the fire that had taken place at the Junction 25 Recycling Centre on Bredbury Industrial Estate over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, which was the first major incident to have occurred in Stockport for some years. He acknowledged that a full report on the incident would be submitted to the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee in due course, to which all members of this Committee were invited, but had asked for an update on the impact of the fire and the resultant smoke on health.

The Deputy Director of Public Health confirmed that a full report would be submitted to the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee that had been prepared in collaboration with partners, including the Fire and Rescue Service, the Environment Agency, Public Health England and Tameside Council.

In relation to health, Public Health England had been involved in the major incident response since the inception and as the fire broke out they undertook an immediate risk assessment. Together with the Council they formulated the health messages to the public and other partners, such as GPs, Stockport Homes and nursing homes. The messages conveyed changed as the incident developed, in particular with the changes to the direction of the smoke plume.

The Council also undertook syndromic surveillance with local GP practices and the Hospitals to determine whether there was increased incidence of respiratory complaints. Only one GP practice reported slightly elevated incidences of respiratory complaints. There was no evidence available to suggest that increased activity at Mastercall had been related to the fire, and Stepping Hill Hospital had reported no increase in presentations at the Emergency Department.

A full report on the health impact was being prepared in conjunction with Public Health England.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concerns were expressed about the communication between the Council and councillors in relation to the incident. It was stated that councillors had received information and briefings from other agencies but little had been provided directly by the Council. It was stressed that the other agencies had praised the role of Stockport Council in its response.

·         Some residents in the Brinnington area may not use local GPs and may travel to the Heatons area. A wider investigation of the GPs may be necessary to ensure that there were no other reports of respiratory complaints at these additional practices.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee wishes to record its gratitude to the Council and other partners for their response to the public health risks caused by the fire at the Junction 25 Recycling Centre, but that the Scrutiny Committee believes more effective communication should take place in the future to ensure members of the Council are kept appraised of the major incidents.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.                                                          

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: Jonathan Vali,   0161 474 3201 , jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.