Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Tariq welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised Board Members that as Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, he has co-opted Community Collaborators to the Board with speaking rights to engage with Health and Wellbeing Board Meetings. Board members agreed with this arrangement.

Apologies for absence are noted above.

Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the Agenda, and if so, to formally declare that interest.

Councillor Tariq declared an interest in the Health and Wellbeing Board and Healthwatch, as he sits on the Health and Wellbeing Board in Oldham and is employed by Healthwatch, Oldham.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 8^th December 2022 are attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2022 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

There were no matters arising.

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on any matters for which the Board is responsible.

Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time, if required.

There were no public questions.

Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health to provide a verbal update.

Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health provided an update around the anti-poverty strategy.

The update included data around disposable incomes, Bury’s Citizen Advice key issues and statistics from the Bury helpline numbers. Information was provided from a GM residents survey and highlighted that around 70,000 more households were reporting low or very low food security than in the spring, when a previous survey had been completed. Jon Hobday provided an update of the progress made since the last meeting and the plans for the next 3 months which includes distributing community fund money and promoting grass roots activities, targeted work with wards with the lowest levels of disposable income, CAB sessions targeting support towards specific communities and information sharing, training and awareness raising of illegal money lending.

In a response to a member’s question around how food vouchers are distributed, Jon Hobday advised that people are referred by a network of trusted supporters. People are allowed up to 3 fuel voucher payments, there is discretion against who can claim the payment as it has been set up for people who need the support.

A member raised concerns around food and fuel vouchers being given out and questioned why cash is not given to people. In response, Jon Hobday reported that he had worked with Bury Community Support Network with the majority of who are frontline workers, the consensus was that food and fuel vouchers were more cost effective. Frontline workers have listened to people in the community and the feedback is that the vouchers work well, and people are clear which shops take the vouchers. Jon Hobday advised that the fuel and food voucher scheme can be reviewed.

A member raised a concern around the lack of baby banks and questioned the support that food banks are given when SEND children, who may not eat certain foods need to access them. Jon Hobday advised that further work can be completed to look at the offer around the food panty and informed members that there are networks of informal baby banks.

A member questioned whether universal services such as midwives and health visitors can have conversations with people whilst working in the community around the cost of living and sign post them to baby banks and to inform new parents of what items the baby needs and the costs involved.

In a response to a member’s question around the food pantry model, Jon Hobday explained that the food pantry model is more sustainable than a food bank due to income being received, and if donations are made it will make the model even more sustainable.

A member suggested that food banks and the food pantry model is not the right answer to tackle the cost of living crisis and advised that solutions have to focus on people working together to improve things such as high rent costs and people turning to loan sharks. In response, J Eastham, Community Collaborator reported that she had directed people to the food pantry, but they  ...  view the full minutes text for item HWB.53

Will Blandamer, Executive Director of Strategic Commissioning to present the attached report.

The evidence update of the GM prosperity review was included within the agenda pack for information. Will Blandamer advised members that it was important for the Board to receive and note the evidence which focuses on health inequalities. The report highlights themes around skills, trade and transport and the importance of access to work.

It was agreed:

1.          To note the report.

Sam McVaigh, Director of People and Inclusion to present the attached report.  

Sam McVaigh, Director of People and Inclusion provided an update around the Real Living Wage.

The report within the agenda pack is an update following on from the Council’s commitment to pay the Real Living Wage in September 2021. It provides an update on the implementation of the Real Living Wage and highlights broader evidence in relation to the link between good work and good health.

Sam McVaigh reported that it has cost the Local Authority nearly £9m to secure the Real Living Wage over a 5-year period due to the unprecedented growth in the Real Living Wage this year. At the time of accreditation, the Real Living Wage increased income for approximately 4000 people working in Bury; as of December 2022, it has now impacted approximately 5000 people working in Bury and evidence shows that the increase in employee income will directly contribute to the health and wellbeing of the Bury workforce. Sam McVaigh reported that the Council is a member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.

In response to a member’s question around the evidence of the Real Living Wage, Sam McVaigh reported that it was too early to say what the economic impact will be and is too early to demonstrate correlation and advised of the current unique economic times.

A member reported that between the Council and the Social Care sector in Bury, there have been 7000 individuals who have benefited from being paid the Real Living Wage and stated that paying the Real Living Wage was a positive move.

A member reported that this was a great piece of work which will attract employees and new talent and encourage employees to stay. Sam McVaigh reported that several staff have informed him that being paid the Real Living Wage has personally helped them.

It was agreed:

1.          To thank Sam McVaigh for the report and the update.

2.          To note the report and the ongoing work to champion payment of the Living Wage across the wider Bury economy. 

Simone Star, Employment and Health Officer to present the attached presentation.

Due to time constraints, it was agreed that S Star, Employment and Health Officer would produce a written report to be circulated to members.

It was agreed:

1.          S Star, Employment and Health Officer to provide a written report which will be circulated to members.

Liz Cook, Director of Housing to present the attached reports.

Liz Cook, Director of Housing provided an update around housing and health. The update included information on the Housing Strategy which has had a number of outcomes including focusing on delivering more good quality homes and a significant investment in existing homes. The Housing Strategy sets out how the Council aims to address health issues that are caused or exacerbated by poor quality, unsuitable housing. 

Liz Cook reported that there is a national housing crisis and that there is a focus on neighbourhood plans, the quality of existing homes and new housing in Bury. There are approximately 800 homes being developed in Bury, with approximately 400 of these being affordable, care specialised and focused homes.

Liz Cook advised of the Social Housing Regulations Bill, which sets clear standards of how housing will be regulated going forward, all registered providers will have to adhere to the regulatory standards. The Bill seeks to improve the quality of social housing by introducing a range of measure to protect and empower tenants and reduce health inequalities. In Bury, the vast majority of housing is private and therefore a focus around the private rented sector is important.  

A new homelessness strategy has been developed and housing for rough sleepers has been enhanced with a focus on prevention. It was reported that currently, there are approximately 300 new cases of homelessness per month and the number of rough sleepers has increased. The reasons for the increase is due to the cost of living crisis, migration pressures and private rented evictions.  

Included in the agenda pack was partnership information around tackling damp and mould, the document sets out how Bury Council and partners are taking steps to respond and react to mitigate against risks and the challenges and support required from partners to ensure early intervention and prevention. Liz Cook provided an update which included information on the damp and mould action plan, reporting provision and housing regulators.

In response to a member’s question around the housing on Willow Street and working in collaboration, Liz Cook explained that the service is trying to work with partners who are invested in Bury.

In response to a member question around green spaces or gardens in new homes for children to play, Liz Cook agreed that green spaces are important and explained that green spaces are dependant on the land volume and that green spaces can be taken into consideration. 

J Eastham highlighted the cost of private rented accommodation and the volume of empty properties and questioned if Bury is looking into community living programmes, in response Liz Cook explained that there is an empty homes strategy and that they have some resources to deliver different schemes but there is more work to be done around this and advised of a workshop taking place next month. Liz Cook reported that Bury is one of the most expensive places in Greater Manchester for housing along with a weak private rented sector and advised of new schemes working with private landlords.

A  ...  view the full minutes text for item HWB.57

Will Blandamer, Executive Director of Strategic Commissioning to present the attached report.

Adrian Crook, Director of Adult Social Care presented the paper to Board members highlighting the additional discharge funding spend.

Councillor Tariq reported that it was positive to see that there are additional resources in hospitals to support the flow and discharge, making the system more efficient.

It was agreed:

1.          That the Health and Wellbeing Board note the contents of the report.

2.          The Health and Wellbeing Board gives retrospective approval to the Additional Discharge Funding plan submitted 16th December 2022.

3.          The Health and Wellbeing Board notes the information contained in the first activity report submitted on 6th January 2023.

Briefing note attached.

Councillor Tariq presented the briefing note around virtual meetings and asked members how they would like to continue to meet for Board meetings in the future.

It was agreed:

1.          The Board meets annually in person and agrees to delegate signing off reports, following consideration by the Board, to the Chair and the vice Chair in consultation with the Council’s Monitoring Officer. Decisions taken will be published on the Council’s website.

Any other business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

Councillor Tariq thanked Sharon McCambridge, Six Town Housing and Geoff Little, Chief Executive on behalf of the Board, for their hard work and the contributions that they have made whilst being a member of the Health and Wellbeing Board and wished them both well with their retirements.