Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report on the proposed Sustainable Community Strategy 2010-2013 which was subject to consideration by Full Council on 18th November 2009.

Members commented that the target dates seemed a considerable time away and therefore questioned their relevancy.  A key area of concern was NI188 Climate Change as currently the Council was at Level 0 and was unlikely to reach Level 2 by the end of 2010/11.  The report appeared to be focused on performance and less on measures to improve that performance.  Members were advised that Climate Change was on the Work Programme of the Scrutiny Board and would be looked at early in 2010.  Whilst the Assistant Chief Executive acknowledged that Climate Change must be at the forefront, this would be difficult in the current economic downturn as many changes that need to happen involve a high initial capital outlay.   It will be important to align Climate Change improvements to changes in the business as they happen.

Members discussed NI39 – Alcohol harm related hospital admission rates and were advised that this was also on the current Scrutiny Board Work Programme.

With regard to the section Improving Health and Well Being, Members commented on the following items:

• Item 3 Reduce the impact of alcohol misuse in the workplace.  Members felt that this was an important area to look at and that brief intervention training for some members of staff would be appropriate.
• NI56 and NI55 Childhood Obesity.  Although the PCT were doing a range of things on this, Members felt that involvement should be at the very earliest stage, such as Health Visitors.  Members also queried the details of NI56 as they felt the information on the areas of the district where obesity was over 20%, are not in line with those provided previously in the Bromsgrove Profile.
• LI7 Adults in contact with secondary mental health services in employment.  Members felt that the key actions would not improve employment for these adults.
• NI117 – 16-18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).  Members were concerned that this matter was not being addressed and discussed what was available to these young people.  The TRUNK would do outreach work in both Charford and Sidemoor.

Members felt that a summary of the report should be provided in order to show the linkage with the Council’s priorities, key issues and measure of success. 

RESOLVED:

(a)               That the Assistant Chief Executive to ask the relevant Portfolio Holder to revisit NI155;

(b)               That the Assistant Chief Executive clarify information in NI56 with regard to specific district areas with obesity over 20%.

(c)               that in future an executive summary be prepared detailing key issues and the linkage to the Council’s priorities.

(d)               that Members felt there was a range of activities available, which perhaps needed to be communicated to the young people in a different way.