Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Claire Chamberlain – Interim Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services, and Sandra Husbands – Director of Public Health.  Both Members joined the meeting remotely.

There were no declarations

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 15^th July 2022.

NB. The Board scheduled for 16.9.2022 was inquorate and did not take place.

The Board scheduled for 25^th November was inquorate but went ahead and a set of inquorate minutes are attached here and at agenda item 15 in the non-public section of the agenda.

RESOLVED, that - the minutes of the public-meeting and non-public summary of the meeting held on 15^th July 2022 be approved.

To receive the public minutes and non-public summary of the inquorate meeting held on 25^th November 2022.

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the inquorate meeting on 25^th November 2022 be approved.  

Members noted that the meeting on 16th September 2022, following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, did not take place.

Matters arising

Member noted a report later on this agenda in terms of the Hidden Workforce, which presents an opportunity for the Board to consider how this might align with City Corporation policies in respect of  the public health duty and the health and wellbeing of staff.

There would be a further session by the Integrated Health and Care Board in respect of resources and decision making.

Report of the Town Clerk.

NB. This report was deferred from the inquorate meeting held on 25^th November 2022.

Members noted a report of the Town Clerk in respect of the Annual Review of the Board’s Terms of Reference.  The Deputy Director of Public Health recommended some significant changes, to bring them up to date with new Health and Social Care Act (2022) statutory guidance, non-statutory guidance and additional legislation, all of which will confer duties on the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB).   Members noted that it had not been possible to do this at the last meeting of the Board, as it had been inquorate.  However, the need for these changes had only recently materialised due to late receipt of the guidance. The proposed changes were emailed to Members for their consideration.

The Town Clerk advised that, given that any recommendations in respect of the City Corporation’s Committees and Boards’ Terms of Reference will need to be approved by the Annual Meeting of the Court of Common Council on 27th April 2023,  they would need to be taken to the Policy and Resources Committee under Urgency.  Therefore, Members agreed to delegate approval of the final wording to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, noting that the City Solicitor would also be consulted on the report.  

The Board agreed with the Deputy Director of Public eHhH Health’s suggested additional membership of the East London Foundation Trust, St Barts, Homerton and Shoreditch and City Primary Care network, with a suggested preference for at least one clinical representative from those organisations.

Whilst Members accepted that it would not be possible to include all partners, it was noted that there is currently no clinical representation.   Members welcomed strengthening the arrangements in relation to the Integrated Care Board, as the City and Hackney are major contributors and this might not have been

Report of the Director of Public Health, City and Hackney.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health in respect of the health and wellbeing needs of the so called “hidden workforce”; ie -   essential support staff such as cleaners, maintenance workers, construction workers and security staff who often work during anti-social hours and without whom businesses could not function. Published reports have highlighted that shift workers often have significantly worse health and wellbeing with increased health inequalities.

The report asked the Board to give consideration as to how the recommendations could be implemented within the City of London Corporation, in order to improve health and wellbeing of the hidden and essential workforce,  whilst reducing health inequalities.   Members commended a helpful and insightful report and, during the discussion the following points were noted:

The report has been shared with the Living Wage Foundation and the Chair would be meeting with them shortly.

The report had been to the Community and Children’s Services Department’s  Senior Leadership Team but not to any Member Committees, as officer were keen for a steer from HWB.

Some of the recommendations in respect of  Terms and Conditions might apply to ourtsourced services and might be for other partners to consider.

It was suggested that this be raised with the City Corporation’s new EDI Head.

In response to a question in respect of how departments are addressing policies in terms of public health duty and health and wellbeing, the Deputy Town Clerk agreed to take this as an action point, as part of other related, strategic works.  Members noted that the City Corporation’s Executive Leadership Board works across all departments and institutions and, in the first instance, it would be helpful to present the report to this group, alongside London Living Wage consideration.

It would be helpful for the Corporate Services  and Policy and

Report of the Director of Public Health, City and Hackney.

The Board received a report of the Director of Public Health in respect of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) 2022/23 work programme.

Members welcomed the helpful format of the report and noted that some aspects of the evidence base for strategy and service planning had been carried forward.  Any suggestions form the Board in respect of further topics should be forwarded to diana.divajeva@hackney.gov.uk

During the discussion, the following points were noted:

The City’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Team could add value, noting that ‘Doctors of the World’ are often the street population’s first point of contact.

Given there are a number of cases of long covid and some more recent winter viruses that have led to post viral fatigue and longer term debilitating conditions, should this be added as a specific health need?

The demographic of the City can be different from the the wider City and Hackney as a place.  The resident population is very small and they may seek healthcare elsewhere.  

Officers are seeking to resolve the gaps in health data by having conversations at regional level about better data access and sharing.    The Population Health Hub has been very helpful in identifying gaps.

There will be a stand-alone piece of work by the Suicide Prevention Steering Group in respect of mental health assessments.  Due to the small numbers in the data, it cannot be made public as part of the Mental Health Needs Assessment. 

Healthwatch have been working on a mental health needs assessment, looking at young people and adults who might fall through the net.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services.

The Board received a report of the Interim Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services, which updated Members  on work underway in dealing  with damp and mould in the City of London Corporation’s Social Housing Stock and, our response to recent national concerns raised by government.  Members noted that the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee had scrutinised this report in some detail and the Town Clerk agreed to circulated the minutes from this meeting.

Members commended an excellent report which had received thorough scrutiny at the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee.  The Town Clerk agreed to circulate the draft minutes from this meeting to Members of HWB, together with a leaflet which had been sent to all residents and Members of the City of London Corporation.

During the discussion the following points were noted:

Findings from site visits across the City found that causes of damp varied from leakages and lack of ventilation, which is more common in newer buildings.   A lot of residents affected by structural issues will not be helped by opening windows.   

A City-wide approach is required to address both social and private rented housing across the City, noting that private rented properties tend to be in a worse condition than City Corporation ones.

Damp and Mould as a danger to health has technical categorisations of  1 & 2.  Officers visited the Golden Lane Estate and did not find any category 1 or 2 cases.

Members have been encouraged to report any cases to Environmental Health and the Assistant Director, Housing and Property Services, as set out in the leaflet referred to above, on the web site and in the various communications on this matter.

Housing Act enforcement matters fall within the remit of the Environmental Health Team and all housing complaints in respect of damp and

Report of the Chair, Healthwatch City of London

The Board received a report of the Chair of the City of London Healthwatch, which provided an update on progress against contractual targets and the work of Healthwatch City of London (HWCoL) with reference to Quarter 3 and 4. 2022/23.

Members commended an excellent report and during the discussion on this item, the following points were noted:

Constructive criticism about services in terms of user experiences are welcome.

There will be a new appointment made under the Resident re-set function and it will be helpful for this person to work with Healthwatch.

There have been considerable improvements at the Neaman front office and some improvements on the app.  They are also looking at access to the Patient Participation Group, which is not automatic for patrients who registered with the practice before a certain date.  The recent improvements to the foot clinic were particularly welcomed, noting this is key to mobility and independence.

The work on the patient’s journey through the system will be very insightful to the HWB.

RESOLVED, that – the Report be noted.

Strategy and Projects Officer to be Heard.

Members received a verbal update and noted that this was out for consultation until 12 May 2023 and there would be a further push on communications and consultation to shape the action plan.   The Officer agreed to resend the links to the survey and web page.  The next meeting of the Board would receive the final document for sign off.

During the discussion, the following points were noted:

The volunteer peer researchers are mainly from the east of the city and will be able to advise on the number of responses.  Anyone who completes a survey will be asked to participate in focus groups. 

Officers are working with commissioned providers, city advice, connections and libraries and the consultation strategy will be kept under review, to ensure we capture  specific resident groups.  A member suggested contacting the chairs of the various resident associations across the City’s Estates.

As had been the case with the Children and Young People’s Plan, the consultation used out-line action plans, because the feedback from consultation would populate them.  There was a suggestion in that it might have been too succinct and that the on-line surveys could be more user-friendly.

There is a challenge across Government department in terms of pitching consultation correctly.   Members noted a new Resident Engagement Manager is in post and projects underway to increase links with workers and residents. 

Some of the pathways into improving the health and equity of city residents might be via their employers or health agencies outside of the City.  

At 12.55 agreed to extend to 1.10 to conclude business on agenda.

A Member asked the following question, which had been put by a resident:   ‘How integrated and proactive is the support from health and social care for city residents with severe mental health conditions’

Members noted that this would be the subject of a future report covering integrated care and mental health services. The Deputy Chair, also Chair of the HRS Sub Committee asked if the HWB could also receive a presentation on the Street Triage Nursing service at its next meeting.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15^th July 2022.

RESOLVED, that - the non-public minutes of the meeting held on xx July 2022 be approved.

To receive the inquorate non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25^th November 2022.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting  held on 25 November 202 be received.

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Board received a report of the Deputy Town Clerk.