Agenda item

·         Priority one – Mark Carriline to report

·         Priority two, three and four - Julie Gonda to report

·         Priority five – Neil Long, Lorraine Chamberlain and Sharon Hanbury to report

Reports attached

The Health and Wellbeing Priority Update report was submitted. Updates were received on each of the Priorities.

Priority 1 – Ensuring a positive start to life for children, young people and families. Mark Carriline (Executive Director Children’s Services) gave the update.

Councillor Simpson referred to the phonics screening and asked if this had improved learning achievements within schools.

It was reported that the phonic tests had been introduced for children aged 6years+.  In schools that had been identified as ‘struggling’ with their phonics performance, a programme of intensive support had been introduced; this had resulted in an improvement of 14% in the targeted schools. The target support had also resulted in improved spelling in 7 year old pupils.

Priority 2 – Living Well. Lesley Jones (Director of Public Health) gave the update.

With reference to Healthy Lifestyles; it was reported that details were provided on the Bury Directory of what help was available. There had been a significant increase in the use of the Directory facility.

Establishing a Healthy Schools and Work and Health Programme – a project worker is to be appointed to help with support to help individuals to remain in employment.

The Chair invited questions

Councillor Walker asked how figures relating to drugs and alcohol were checked for accuracy.

It was reported that when drug and alcohol figures were inputted a quality assurance check is undertaken as well as monitoring of the contract with the external service provider. Cross checking also took place with national records.

Stuart North commented that it was important to ensure that a matrix was contained within the contract for audits to take place.

Priority 3 - Living Well with a Long Term Condition or as a Carer and Priority 4 – Ageing Well. Julie Gonda gave an update.

Stuart North referred to the impact of cuts to health promotion and the social care fund and asked if comments could be fed into the Council budget consultation in order to maintain priority areas.

The Chair confirmed that comments could be forwarded in to the consultation.

Councillor Walker suggested that the issue of social isolation could be addressed through low cost means by bringing individuals together and asked how people are identified as being socially isolated.

It was reported that people who are known to live alone would be targeted however, social isolation occurs across all age groups. The Local Adult User Experience Survey would be undertaken by those people who received social care.

Priority 5 – Healthy Places

Neil Long, Lorraine Chamberlain and Sharon Hanbury provided updates on Priority 5. GM Climate Change and Low Emissions Strategy

The meeting was informed the Bury was the only local authority to undertake this as a priority.  Work so far had involved ensuring that Council buildings were part of the energy efficiency scheme. Work on future proofing energy sources to link key buildings such as the Town Hall, Knowsley Place and Castle Leisure Centre would form part of the action plan. Also working to link emergency service partners to plan for climate change environmental events such as local flooding was now more relevant.

Green Space – work is ongoing to maintain green spaces such as parks.

Housing – the importance of housing as part of the priorities was noted.

The Chair welcomed the £12million investment programme by the Council to refurbish Six Town Housing Stock and meet the Decent Homes Standard. Officers were asked what influence or powers could be used regarding the control of private landlords. It was reported that officers had powers of entry to properties and could take action under delegated powers against problem landlords. Powers under the Houses in Multiple Occupation were available which would be considered by the Licensing Hearings Panel. To ensure action was taken it was important for a tenant to make a complaint and make it known to the Council. In the majority of cases problems occurred where the property owners were not professional landlords.

Stuart North requested that information relating to pollution levels in areas of Bury be shared with the Clinical Commissioning Group to help cross reference data and better profile areas of the Borough.

The Chair thanked officers for their updates.

Delegated decision:

That the updates on Priorities be noted.