Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd April, 2015 were signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Scrutiny Board received a presentation and considered a report of the Director of Public Services which provided an overview of how the Public Health Department was working in partnership with colleagues across the City Council to reduce health inequalities in Coventry. Councillor Gingell, Chair of the Health and Well-being Board and Councillor Clifford, Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services attended the meeting for the consideration of this item. Officers from the Council Directorates also attended to report on individual projects.

The report provided information about the impact of health inequalities; the way Public Health had worked to reduce health inequalities; the projects and initiatives that aimed to make a difference and the outcomes of those initiatives to date; and the proposed next steps for reducing health inequalities over the next three years. 

The presentation referred to the different life expectancies in different areas of the city using the number 10 bus route. Reference was made to Coventry’s role as a Marmot City and to the successful Marmot City Conference held in Coventry on 26^th March, 2015. Professor Sir Michael Marmot was now holding up the city as an example of best practice for adopting Marmot principles when speaking at international events. Coventry had been chosen to continue on the Marmot programme for a further three years.

The Board were informed about a number of projects whereby Public Health worked with other Council Directorates to reduce health inequalities across the city. These included The Acting Early programme which involved integrated teams operating in six priority areas to give disadvantaged and vulnerable children the best start in life and a readiness for school; The Pod, a social brokerage for people with longstanding mental health issues to support them to take control of their own lives and to identify what would help them to live healthy and fulfilled lives; and placing a mental health worker in the Council’s Job Shop for a six month period to help existing staff extend their knowledge and develop skills to help those with mental health difficulties to find suitable work. Other projects included Cycle Coventry which aimed to reduce health inequalities by improving facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and over 1,100 children had accessed cycle training and bike maintenance sessions and the implementation of the Social Value Policy which enabled the Council to ensure that services across the city were improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of the city.

The proposed next steps for reducing health inequalities over the next three years included the partnership work with the Marmot Team; the development of a Marmot Strategy alongside the development of the Health and Well-being Strategy; a focus on ‘good growth’ and the continued partnership working across the Council and other agencies.

The Board questioned the officers on a number of issues and responses were provided. Matters raised included:

·  Further details about the life expectancy figures for the city including healthy life expectancy and ill-health and a request for detailed information relating  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Outstanding issues have been picked up in the Work Programme

The Scrutiny Board noted that all outstanding issues had been included in the Work Programme for 2015-16.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board considered their Work Programme for the new municipal year.

RESOLVED that an item on dentistry and out of hours care be included in the Work Programme.

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

There were no additional items of public business.