Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2023.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 6 September 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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.

To receive any announcements from the Chair on matters related to the activity of the Board.

No announcements were made.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The Stockport Food Plan aims to provide a set of co-produced priority actions, with measurable outcomes, which can support the work of all stakeholders in the Stockport food system. The stakeholder representatives involved in the development of the Stockport Food Plan will become the Stockport Food Plan Partnership.

The Board is recommended to note and endorse the approach of the Stockport Food Plan to support Stockport residents, which is in line with the ONE Stockport Borough Plan.

Officer contact: Charlee Fitzgerald on 07890 035241 or email: charlee.fitzgerald@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a set of co-produced priority actions, with measurable outcomes, to support the work of all stakeholders in the Stockport food system.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was reported that the stakeholder representatives involved in the development of the Stockport Food Plan would become the Stockport Food Plan Partnership.

·         Thanked officers for a detailed and comprehensive report.

·         It was commented that the Stockport Food Plan provided a vehicle for a multi-organisation, multi-agency response which aligned with the ambitions across Stockport borough.

·         It was noted that 14 organisations had volunteered to lead on specific elements of the Food Plan which was a tribute to the co-production work that had been undertaken.

·         Members welcomed the link to the Climate Action Now work and the recommendations around involving schools and open spaces that came from the Children’s Panels.

·         In response to a query around the mobilisation and communication of the Food Plan, it was commented that the communication would build on the sustainable food partnership model and utilise the working groups to promote the Food Plan and seek guidance around who should be involved. It was noted that the service was currently working with 120 people/organisations including GPs, schools and food producers, however this was a continuous piece of work.

·         It was queried whether the Food Plan could utilise the Family Hubs to promote the work.

·         In response, it was commented that once the locations and networks of the Family Hubs had been established, dialogue would be undertaken to understand what they would like to do in their local area around food, continuing to build on the neighbourhood, place-based approach.

·         It was noted that a meeting of the provider partnership had taken place where one of the workstreams was around diabetes and cardiovascular disease which would link to the neighbourhood work including connected communities, thriving places and a health and care pillar in neighbourhoods.

RESOLVED – (1) That the approach of the Stockport Food Plan to support Stockport residents be endorsed and noted.

(2) That a 12 month update on the Stockport Food Plan be programmed into the Health & Wellbeing Board work programme.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The report presents the statutory Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2021-22, and tells the story of the COVID-19 pandemic in Stockport. The report is structured into themes that match its four core purposes; to record the Stockport Story, to celebrate that we came together in our response and the success we achieved, to describe the ongoing impacts, both the good and the bad, and to learn from our experience, what worked and what didn’t; and make recommendations for the future.

The Board is recommended to:-

(1)  Note the contents of the report and the recommendations and consider how they can continue to address these through their work.

(2)  Seek assurance at a suitable date that the recommendations of this report are implemented, as part of their ongoing work.

Officer contact: Ben Fryer on 07929 847904 or email: ben.fryer@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted the Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2021-22 (copies of which had been circulated) which told the story of the COVID-19 pandemic in Stockport. The report was structured into themes that match its four core purposes; to record the Stockport Story, to celebrate the response and success achieved, to describe the ongoing impacts, both the good and the bad, and to learn from the experience, what worked and what didn’t; and made recommendations for the future.

The following comments were made/issued raised:-

·         It was noted that the report had been written in past tense, however COVID-19 was still an issue. It queried whether the current number of cases was known and whether COVID-19 was as prevalent as it was in 2021/22.

·         In response, it was commented that the data was no longer available to provide a categorically numerical answer to the number of cases of COVID-19. However, through the high level national surveillance of infectious disease, there was both flu and Covid circulating in the community alongside other infectious diseases which was normal for winter. It was noted that coronaviruses had always been part of the seasonal mix of viruses that were generally referred to as the common cold and Covid continued to be a more serious component in that mixture of diseases. It was noted that whilst people were becoming ill with Covid, they were not becoming as ill as they were in the pandemic which was likely related to a degree of immunity within the community due to the vaccine or from previously contracting Covid and infection prevention and control was continuing through vaccinations and day-to-day infection prevalence prevention practices.

·         It was noted that the community response to the pandemic was commendable.

·         It was noted that Covid had exacerbated the issue of inequality and a number of pieces of work were underway to make a concerted effort to reduce the inequality gap across the borough.

·         Thanked officers for a comprehensive report which captured the essence of the actions and achievements throughout the pandemic response across the system and spirit of the Stockport family, and welcomed the inclusion of testimonials and case studies.

·         It was commented that Covid was linked to the change in culture from face-to-face only GP appointments to a mix of face-to-face and virtual appointments which had a number of benefits.

·         It was requested that officers write to the previous Director of Public Health to express thanks on behalf of the Board for her work throughout the pandemic.

·         In relation to the assurance that the recommendations of the report would be implemented, it was commented that the Director of Public Health would take these forward to ensure emergency preparedness for future pandemics or future emergencies and continued recovery which included a focus on health inequalities.

RESOLVED – That the report and recommendations be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive, Healthwatch Stockport.

The Annual Report is intended to provide Board Members with an annual update on Healthwatch Stockport Activity. An Healthwatch Annual Report is a statutory requirement to be submitted to the Department of Health and Healthwatch England by 30th June each year.

The report outlines how we have kept Healthwatch Stockport members, and members of the public informed, involved and where their voice has had influence to help shape local services.

The Board is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Maria Kildunne on 0161 974 0753 or email: maria@healthwatchstockport.co.uk

The Chief Executive, Healthwatch Stockport, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an annual update on Healthwatch Stockport activity. The report outlined how Healthwatch had kept Healthwatch Stockport members and members of the public informed and involved in helping to shape local services.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the Healthwatch Annual Report was a statutory requirement and was to be submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care and Healthwatch England by 30 June each year.

·         Members commented on the importance of Healthwatch and elevating the voice of people with lived experience.

·         Thanked Healthwatch for their support during the pandemic and in establishing the Carers Partnership, Mental Health Partnership and Making it Real Board which provided constructive challenge and ensured continuous improvement.

·         It was noted that the Chief Executive and Leader of Stockport Council had been invited to a number of conference workshops that Healthwatch had held which evidence of the commitment that the organisations had in partnership working.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive, Healthwatch Stockport.

The report documents the progress and challenges of the People and Communities Voice Engagement Action Plan and provides Board Members with an update on public engagement taking place across the One Stockport Health and Care Partnership.

The Board is recommended to comment on and note the progress on actions outlined in the Engagement and Communications

Framework.

Officer contact: Maria Kildunne on 0161 974 0753 or email: maria@healthwatchstockport.co.uk

The Chief Executive, Healthwatch Stockport, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which documented the progress and challenges of the People and Communities Voice Engagement Action Plan and provided an update on public engagement taking place across the One Stockport Health and Care Partnership.

The Board welcomed the report, thanked officers for the level of detail and commented that the report provided a structure for the engagement that takes place across the whole health and social care system with people across the community.

RESOLVED – That the progress on the actions outlined in the Engagement and Communications Framework be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive, Sector 3.

The strategy sets out a collective commitment to our vibrant, local Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector organisations, over the next 5 years. It is owned by the sector but with explicit commitment from key organisations and partners across health, social care, community safety, housing and the private sector.

The Board is recommended to acknowledge the strategy and consider the 3 priorities outlined in the strategy.

Officer contact: Jo McGrath on 07912758486 or email: jo.mcgrath@sector3sk.org

The Chief Executive, Sector 3, submitted the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector Strategy (copies of which had been circulated) which set out a collective commitment to vibrant, local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector organisations over the next 5 years.

The Board expressed their thanks for a comprehensive report and work to date, and noted that the strategy was owned by the sector but with explicit commitment from key organisations and partners across health, social care, community safety, housing, and the private sector. It was commented that if Board Members had any specific questions in relation to the report, they should be submitted to the clerk for a co-ordinated response which would be circulated by email to the Board.

RESOLVED – That the strategy and three priorities outlined be noted.

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

The report gives an overview of partnership activity in the Children and Adult Safeguarding Partnerships. The focus of the report is on the business plan priorities and progress made in 2022-2023.

The Health & Wellbeing Board is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Katie Bates on 0161 474 6828 or email: katie.bates@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of partnership activity in the Children and Adult Safeguarding Partnerships.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the business plan priorities and progress made in 2022-2023 were the focus of the report.

·         It was commented that the theme throughout the items considered by the Board at the meeting discussed the strength and importance of maintaining partnership working within Stockport.

·         Thanked the Chair of the Children and Adult Safeguarding Partnerships for her work and challenge that the Partnerships provide to drive improvements to deliver better services for local people.

·         It was noted that Stockport was one of a third of councils that had achieved protected characteristics for care leavers in the borough.

·         It was queried why there was no reference to young carers within the annual report.

·         In response, it was commented that young carers were an important element in in the whole picture of safeguarding, however the annual report focussed on a select number of key core priorities to ensure they were achievable. It was stated that the Partnership would seek an update in relation to young carers.

·         It was commented that a number of support offers were available for young carers including SignPost Stockport for Carers, however the challenge was around hidden carers and in ensuring they were known to the authority.

·         It was queried how, as a system, the robustness of staff could be maintained against the challenge around finances and resources and in light of increased demand.

·         In response it was commented that one of the partnership offers was sessions to outline expectations of individuals involved in working groups or sub-groups to support them to engage successfully.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director - Legal and Democratic Governance.

The report provides the Forward Plan of agenda items for future meetings of the Health & Wellbeing Board. 

The Board is asked to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Health & Wellbeing Board.

Officer contact: Georgia Latham on 0161 474 3229 or email: georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director - Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Forward Plan of agenda items for future meetings of the Health & Wellbeing Board.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.