Agenda item

Councillor Chandler introduced the Whole Authority Approach to Wellbeing and Prevention strategy, emphasising its long-term vision to improve resident well-being and reduce reliance on statutory services. He noted the strategy is intended to be adopted by cabinet and will coordinate efforts across all council directorates and with external partners, marking a shift from previous approaches.

Jane Rodgers expanded on the ambition for a cross-directorate, coordinated plan focused on better outcomes for residents, using data insights, a clear practice model, and partnership working. She stressed the strategy’s aim to address vulnerabilities, support independence, and tackle health inequalities, positioning it as a platform for both internal and external collaboration.

Key Issues raised by Members

·         Councillor Jones commented on the importance of including town and community councils in the wellbeing strategy, highlighting their role in supporting and funding local projects that address social isolation and digital skills. She requested that representatives from community councils be involved in the working groups for the strategy.

In response, Jane Rodgers acknowledged that while explicit reference to community councils may not be in the strategy document, they were considered in discussions. She affirmed that town and community councils are part of their thinking and that the community development team engages directly with them, emphasising their value in understanding and supporting local needs.

·         Councillor Jones further pointed out the significance of small grants from community councils in enabling local groups to operate, reinforcing her earlier point about their practical contribution.

·         Councillor Powell shared a personal story about a relative who lost well-being after being moved from their home to a care facility, emphasising the importance of supporting people to remain in their own homes where they feel comfortable and familiar.

Jane Rodgers responded by recognising the progress made in supporting people to stay at home, mentioning the use of assistive technology and the focus on enabling individuals to maintain independence and connections with loved ones, which aligns with the aims of the strategy.

·         Councillor Bond suggested the governance structure should include education experts or a cabinet member, arguing that preventative work should start earlier and include education to address socio-economic and health habits from a young age. Councillor Bond highlighted the representation of certain groups in the integrated impact assessment and stakeholder plan, noting some groups may not be adequately included.

Jane explained the strategy’s current focus is on adults with vulnerabilities for a 2–5-year period, but acknowledged the importance of early intervention and education, noting that broader inclusion may come in future iterations. She clarified that prevention work for children is ongoing in other areas and that alignment will develop over time.

Councillor Chandler added that the broader public health approach and Marmot region ambitions are underway, and the strategy is intended to create momentum before expanding scope.

·         Councillor Bond also questioned the process mapping approach, recommending it start from the user's perspective rather than just identifying gaps in current services, and emphasised comprehensive stakeholder engagement to avoid missing groups not currently reached.

Jane and Nikki Needle addressed process mapping, stating that both user-cantered and service-based approaches are needed, and described practical steps like community conversations and small-scale mapping to iteratively improve the strategy.

·         Councillor Butler questioned the implementation phase, specifically the work stream on community assets and facilities, highlighting the importance of community and town councils in enabling well-being activities and noted the large number of community venues beyond those owned by the council. She asked for clarification on the status of the assessment surveys for community hubs and venues, expressing concern that, as secretary of a local community centre, they were unaware of any survey taking place and wanted clarification on progress and timelines.

Jane responded that the timelines in the plan need updating, acknowledged the commitment of the officer leading the work, and explained that choices must be made about the scope of mapping due to resource constraints. She described the approach of starting small, learning from mapping a local area, and building understanding iteratively, while emphasising the need for realistic expectations about timeframes and the importance of purposeful action.

Jane confirmed that no survey had been missed and it is still on the to-do list.

·         Councillor Butler acknowledged the challenges of reaching ground-level understanding and the importance of local groups and volunteers.

·         Councillor Groucutt commented on the importance of education in community well-being, referencing his experience as a former Cabinet member for education and newly elected Chair of Governors at a local school. He highlighted the challenge of declining school attendance since the pandemic, noting that regular attendance is crucial for learning and future life chances. He also acknowledged that while home education is a parental right, he felt that most children benefit from being in school with peers.

Councillor Chandler responded that he agreed with Councillor Groucutt and emphasised that improving attendance and reducing absenteeism is a top priority for the education team. He clarified that although these issues are not included in the current strategy, they are being addressed elsewhere in the council, and the strategy aims to focus on new directions and changes rather than duplicating existing work.

·         Councillor Howarth referenced previous council meetings where he had raised concerns about unknown numbers of non-attending children.  He suggested that the committee should further explore the extent of this issue and requested feedback from senior officers on the findings of such an exploratory exercise, emphasising the importance of understanding how many children are affected.

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the People Scrutiny Committee would discuss Children Missing in Education Policy and Elective Home Education Monitoring reports.

Chair’s Summary:

The Chair concluded that the Committee had held a productive discussion on the strategy, with several comments offered for officers to consider in refining the document.  She noted the recognition of the significant role of local communities, town, and community councils in supporting well-being initiatives.

The Chair concluded that the Committee expressed general support for the direction of the strategy, understanding the focus on supporting people as they age and helping them remain independent at home.  She thanked the officers and the Cabinet Member Councillor Chandler for the report.