Agenda item

Report of the Chair of the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5)

Councillor Gannon, Chair of Scrutiny Board 5, has been invited to attend the meeting for the consideration of this matter.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), which set out the recommendations from the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) Task and Finish Group on improving the quality of housing and the health and wellbeing of Coventry residents.

The Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) established a Task and Finish Group to look at improving the quality of housing and the health and wellbeing of Coventry residents, in recognition that housing is a significant factor in impacting health outcomes.

The Task and Finish Group wanted to investigate and draw attention to the link between health and housing, look at the existing work being undertaken by organisations across the City to support people in developing and maintaining healthy homes and to consider how the Council could improve the quality of private rented sector housing.

Members were joined on the Task and Finish Group by representatives from Coventry Citizen’s Advice, who were able to provide an insight into the housing challenges faced by Coventry residents.  Evidence was provided by the West Midlands Fire Service, Whitefriars Housing, the Council’s Housing Enforcement team and Public Health.  In addition, a call for evidence was also published electronically to enable private Landlords to give their views.

The Task and Finish Group identified recommendations, which were endorsed by the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) at their meeting on the 31^st January 2018 (their minute 40/17 referred), for the Cabinet’s consideration.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:-

1.  Authorise that discussions are progressed with the Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group to look at hosting advice outreach in GP surgeries, with the discussions and any outcomes to be overseen by the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport.

2.  Endorse the work of Citizens’ Advice Frontline Network and other advice agencies to look at the co-ordination of grant and charity resources to assist tenants to create easier access to funds for tenants in need of support, overseen by the Cabinet Member for Community Development.

3.  Note the continued work of the West Midlands Fire Service on the Health Agenda, including working with partners to evaluate the impact and then, if appropriate, explore funding options for the Back Home Safe and Well initiative, overseen by the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport and the Cabinet Member for Adult Services.

4.  Endorse work with city partners to consider opportunities for information sharing, which could lead to the identification of vulnerable people who may benefit from services or support through community resources, such as from Citizen’s Advice, Coventry Independent Advice Services and the Fire Service Safe and Well check, overseen by the Cabinet Member for Adult Services and the Cabinet Member for Community Development.

5.  Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (People) in consultation with the Director of Public Health to undertake the necessary work required to define and promote Healthy Homes, overseen by the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport.

6.  Note the proposal to continue to develop Selective Licensing in the City, overseen by the Cabinet Member for Community Development.