Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on the 6^th March 2025

b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 6^th March 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Further to Minute 73/24, from the meeting held on 30^th January 2025, the Committee were advised that the additional information requested in respect of the Cultural Strategy had now been circulated.

Briefing Note of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing.

Note: The Members of the Health And Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) have been invited to attend for this item.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a briefing note and presentation which provided an update on the work of Coventry City Council Public Health to reduce health inequalities and assist other teams within the Council with evidence and data to underpin efficient delivery of services.

The briefing note indicated that health inequalities refers to unfair and avoidable differences in people’s lives.  This might refer to the number of years a person can expect to live or the number of years they might live in good health.  Coventry is working together as a city to tackle and improve outcomes for residents.  Whilst it would be easy to believe that this comes down to genetics or how someone behaves, the reality is that how much money families have, access to education and living conditions have an integral part to play in our health. Health inequalities are constant, no matter which population is considered, but the aim is to reduce the inequalities as far as possible. 

With regard to the local picture, the briefing note provided information on the following areas:

·  Life expectancy at birth in England (2021-2023)

·  Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at birth

·  Population health data

·  Why Coventry became a Marmot City – the Marmot Principles

·  Impact of Public Health and being a Marmot City

·  Public Health role in leading health improvement

·  Changes to indices of multiple deprivation

·  Work and health

·  Reducing inequalities in Early Years

·  Coventry Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)

·  Key aims of the Coventry HDRC

·  Initial HDRC Priority Areas aligned with One Coventry and Marmot Principles

·  Impact of the HDRC on health inequalities

·  Where do we go from here in reducing health inequalities?

The presentation covered various elements of health inequality, including:

·  What is happening nationally

·  Local context

o  the good (public health outcomes framework)

o  the not so good (public health outcomes framework)

·  Marmot Cities – Coventry was the first, many followed.

·  Positive Impacts on Residents Health

·  Marmot – It’s a partnership

·  Where do we go from here? – Marmot 2.0

·  Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) – role in contributing to the reduction of health inequalities.

·  HDRC action in priority areas and intended impact.

The Committee asked questions, received responses from officers and requested additional information in respect of the following:

a)  More recent data in relation to public sector expenditure on services by function as a % of GDPR and life expectancy at birth for males and females in England.

b)  Further evidence of the impact of Marmot locally and details of ongoing / future projects, with a particular view to support future funding requests should they be required.

c)  Details of measurable objectives and key performance indicators.

RESOLVED that, the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee:

1.  Notes Public Health progress to date on health inequalities, progress as a Marmot City and as host of the Coventry Health Determinants Research Collaboration.

2.  Supports the renewed direction of public health work in further addressing health inequalities with the Marmot 2.0 approach.

3.  Requests that additional information be circulated in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

Briefing Note of the West Midlands Combined Authority

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a presentation from representatives of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) detailing an overview of the activity of the WMCA in Coventry for 2024/25, with a focus on Jobs for Everyone; Homes for Everyone; Growth for Everyone and Journeys for Everyone.

In respect of Jobs for Everyone, the WMCA Employment and Skills Strategy 2024-27 seeks to build upon successes to date, by setting out a vision for an integrated employment and skills system for the Region, through which the WMCA can stimulate economic growth, deliver better outcomes for residents and businesses, and create healthier, thriving communities.  The presentation further highlighted funding allocations and activities that had taken place under the following topics:

·  Building strong and inclusive communities

·  Providing a good education to Level 2 for those who need it

·  Moving residents into employment and careers progression

·  Meeting future skills needs through upskilling and reskilling

With regard to Growth for Everyone, Business Advisers leverage their extensive knowledge, networks and expertise to offer businesses valuable insights, introductions and advice to grow their Business. They understand the Region’s support landscape and can signpost Businesses to third party programmes, as well as our own opportunities.  The West Midlands SME Grants Programme seeks to increase productivity by improving business confidence, stimulating business activity, attracting investment, safeguarding existing and creating new jobs within local communities.  The presentation further highlighted funding allocations and activities that had taken place under the following topics:

·  Investment Zones

·  Environment

·  Energy – Net Zero Neighbourhood

·  Devolution

Through Homes for Everyone, monthly Local Authority Engagement meetings with the city Council Property Team take place to discuss property and grant projects, including ongoing schemes and potential future initiatives.  Regular discussions are held to identify top priority projects, both public and private, which could be services through WMCA grant and investment assistance.  There were a number of projects within the city which had been completed or approved.  Projects at Wood End, Henley Manor (Spirit Quarters) had been completed and projects were approved for Abbotts Lane, Bishops Gate, City Centre South and Paradise Street.

Journeys for Everyone sought to connect communities and make travel easier safer and more affordable for everyone.  This was achieved through various projects including the following:

·  Workwise

o  156 Coventry residents supported in accessing employment through workwise tickets.

·  Ring and Ride and Demand Responsive Transport

o  35,625 journeys completed in 2024 using the West Midlands Ring and Ride service, which continues to increase.  The service has seen a recent introduction of newer vehicles into the fleet.

o  Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) are undertaking a procurement exercise for the provision of Ring and Ride services in the Region.

·  Buses

o  £2.073m annualised cost of subsidised routes within Coventry and across boundaries.

·  Bus Services – Passenger Incentive Programme

o  42,212 codes issued for free bus travel, with 833,021 individual bus journeys made to date.

o  64 organisations across Coventry have received support over the calendar year. With campaigns still active, this figure is likely to increase.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

Report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing, which set out the outcome of consultation in respect of proposals within One Coventry Services.

The Committee noted that the report is also due to be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting scheduled for 15^th April 2025.

One Coventry Services is an operational change programme within the Transformation Plan 2024/25.

The aim of the programme is to deliver services differently by bringing them together in communities and builds on current approaches within family hubs, libraries and adult social care settings. Proposals aim to enable increased integration of a wider range of services and deliver financial efficiencies through reducing the number of service delivery locations and thereby the costs of operating these services in terms of both property and staffing.  This is a programme of work that would develop over time. 

A consultation on proposals within One Coventry Services was held from 9^th September 2024 to 4^th November 2024.  The consultation was considered as a first phase and proposals were focussed on initial opportunities to bring services and service locations together. In doing so this would improve efficiency by removing duplication in running costs and delivery functions. It would also enable residents to access services in single locations.

The design principles for One Coventry Services in this first phase of activity are:

·  Retain/prevent closure of services through integration/ co-location of services in a reduced number of buildings.

·  Ensure continued accessibility in community locations.

·  Maximise use of Council buildings.

·  Focus on best value for money.

·  Consider community reach and current footfall.

The public consultation focused on proposals in respect of:

·  Five libraries (Holbrooks, Canley, Bell Green, Coundon and Jubilee Crescent).

·  Three Family Hubs (Radford, Wood End, Bell Green)

·  The Dementia Partnership Hub in Holbrooks

·  The location of the Promoting Independent Living Service within Adult Social Care in Coundon.

Proposals were consulted on at an early stage of development to enable them to be informed by consultation feedback and to confirm the viability of delivery. As a result, not all the proposals are recommended in their original form. Three proposals have been revised, and one is not being recommended at this time to take account of feedback and emerging information through proposal development.

The Appendices to the report submitted included a consultation summary; individual proposal consultation feedback; and details of petitions considered by the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills on 11^th February 2025.

Following consideration of the consultation responses, revised proposals were detailed within the report and appendices as summarised below:

·  Relocation of Canley Library to Xcel Leisure Centre and include an outreach family hub offer from one community location within the Xcel Centre – seek expressions of interest for a community led library provision, subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment, as required.

·  Relocate the Moat Family Hub Service and the Supporting Families Team from the moat Family Hub to Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre – proceed with revised proposals to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee received a report of the Scrutiny Coordinator that detailed the Work Programme and Outstanding Issues for meetings of the Committee for 2024/25.

As it was the last meeting of the municipal year, the Committee noted that there were a number of items that would be picked up for the new municipal year as part of the planning process.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee notes the Committee’s Work Programme and Outstanding Issues for 2024/25.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.