Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Loftus.

To receive declarations of interest.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2020.

RESOLVED               That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2020 are approved as a correct record.

There were none.

The Member reports from Councillor Lydon had been circulated prior to Committee. Councillor Lydon provided a summary of the three main topics discussed by the Gloucestershire Health Overview Scrutiny Committee (HOSC).

1.    He reported that, despite trying to continue with appointments during the first national lockdown, there was now a significant backlog of treatment in acute services at the Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals, and it would take a significant amount of time to catch up with pre COVID-19 levels.

2.    Despite concerns being raised about the appropriateness of the timing of implementing the Fit for the Future plan, a special meeting of HOSC had been held on 22 March 2021 to discuss the recommendations. After much discussion the Committee supported the implementation of the major reconfiguration of service delivery at Gloucester Royal Hospitals Trust and further consultation would take place.

3.    It had been agreed that an investigation into Cheltenham Festival 2020 had been allowed to go ahead last year and the possible effects but no response had been received. The Committee agreed to write to Public Health England and the minister once more requesting an enquiry.

Councillor Lydon provided some key points from discussion at the Covid-19 Local Outbreak Engagement Board. Gloucestershire’s performance in vaccinating key priority groups had been extremely good, largely as a result of the decision for organised delivery through local testing centres rather than one mass vaccination centre. Work was continuing to try to resolve the confusion caused by individuals receiving invitations for vaccination appointments organised at both a national and local level. The Board noted the need to emphasise that the pandemic is not over and that guidance still needs to be respected. The Local Operational Management Plan for Gloucestershire covering all aspects of the pandemic had been revised and resubmitted.

The Committee thanked Councillor Lydon for his hard work and the updates he continued to provide to the committee.

A number of members raised concerns about the number of visitors regularly seen in small villages and beauty spots in the district. The Head of Community Services reported that work was ongoing as lockdown was eased to alleviate congestion in ‘hot spots’ by working with County CPOs and Neighbourhood Wardens, and providing additional signage.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report and outlined the key items and changes to the Policy. In July 2020 the Department for Transport issued ‘Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards’ which outlined how licencing authorities should carry out their taxi licensing function with a focus on safeguarding issues. Representatives from the Gloucestershire Licensing Officers Group (GLOG) have worked together to align all local taxi and private hire policies in relation to the statutory standards with the aim of joint standards and enforcement across Gloucestershire. Appropriate consultation will take place in all licensing authorities between April and July 2021. The Principal Licensing Officer reported that each licensing authority would consider all central and local comments, and that a final ‘Common Standards for Licensing Taxi and Private Hire in Gloucestershire’ document would be brought to the Committee in September 2021.

Members welcomed the inclusion of an exemption to the current vehicle age policy for electric vehicles in the current review to help to encourage their use as part of the Council’s aim to be carbon neutral.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously. 

RESOLVED               a) To approve the draft ‘Common Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle      
            Standards for Gloucestershire’ Appendix A;

   b) To undertake formal local consultation as detailed in this
                      report.

This Plan outlines the authorities key work to improve communtiy health and Wellbeing in 2021-2022 with a  key focus on recovering both physically and mentally from the COVID-19 pandemic

The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager presented the report and outlined the five main priorities within it to improve Community Health and Wellbeing 2021-22, with a key focus on physical and mental health recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. A one-year plan had been produced due to the rapidly changing health landscape post pandemic, and so the Stroud District Council (SDC) Leisure and Wellbeing Review, to be completed in July 2021, can inform the next iteration of the Health and Wellbeing Plan. The adoption of a coordinated Health and Wellbeing Plan demonstrates SDC’s clear intention to improve the wellbeing of residents. The publication of the Plan, together with the four Council Recovery work streams, allows the work to be promoted through a wide range of networks and stakeholders, so increasing the reach and recognition through a wide range of networks and stakeholders, so increasing the reach and recognition of the Council’s wellbeing work.        

The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager provided more detail of how the Community Hubs are being established and developed and the support that is being provided for this. The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager continued and explained that one the Hub’s key roles would be to help to promote better mental health, including for those individuals suffering loneliness and social isolation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing easier access to more local support networks.

Councillor Oxley noted the Equality Impact Assessment for the Plan and questioned whether all Community Hubs would be led by individuals who were equality-minded and up-to-date with current practices. The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager explained that all Hubs would be provided with training and support in equality and diversity and the relevant associated behaviour expectations. She noted that, whilst the training could not be mandatory for volunteers, clear expectations would be set out for those receiving support for development.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED               To adopt this Stroud District Council Health & Wellbeing
            Plan for 2021-22

The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager reported that 68 bids had been considered by the Community Wellbeing Panel in February in line with the more equitable and transparent Community Wellbeing Grant Scheme previously agreed. The new Scheme aimed to align the funding to meet the current needs of the community and the voluntary sector. The Community Wellbeing Grants budget was £155K which was topped up by £17,200 from the SDC COVID-19 Response funding for those who met the criteria. The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager emphasised that there would be follow-up contact with all organisations who had applied for a grant, and advice provided for exploring alternative sources of funding.

The Committee noted that Allsorts should be added to the list of successful applicants and Lilian Faithful Care should be added to the list of unsuccessful applicants.

It was agreed that the criteria used for the decision-making process, plus the value of each grant awarded, would be circulated to the Committee in due course.

The Community Health and wellbeing manager clarified that those allocated grants would be required to submit monitoring reports which demonstrated a clear measurement of the impact of the award, and would be proportionate to the monetary value of the award.

The Committee received a verbal report from the Operations Manager at the Pulse Leisure Centre, Dursley on the virtual programme of activities that the Centre has provided since it has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These included virtual fitness classed, lunchtime workouts, and waterless swimming lessons. These had drawn many thousands of attendees and feedback had been very positive. The Operations Manager had also outlined the extension of activities as lockdown eases including outdoor classes, the gym and swimming pool re-opening followed by indoor exercise which would operate within COVID compliant restrictions.           

.          

To receive a verbal update on progress made on the Leisure and Wellbeing Review from the Strategic Director of Communities.

The Project Manager for Leisure. Health and Wellbeing provided a verbal report on progress that had been made in developing the Leisure and Wellbeing Review. The review will comprise of four sections and currently sections 1 and 2 are nearing completion. Section 1 ‘Outcomes’ had focused on existing strategies and plans, and feedback from stakeholder consultation which would form the vision for the strategy’s future direction. The review would also link with other Council strategies by adopting the four recovery work streams, and is supported by Five Ways to Wellbeing seen in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Project Manager for Leisure. Health and Wellbeing also outlined some of the key messages which have come out of the stakeholder consultation so far.

Section 2 – ‘Insight’ has looked outwards to residents through the use of an online survey. A good response rate to the survey was achieved although the lowest representation was from respondents in the 15-24 age group. Some focus groups had also been held with key community groups and the committee noted the key headlines from that work. A mapping exercise had been undertaken of all users of The Pulse and Stratford Park Leisure Centres against demographic profiles. This exercise identified two groups of users aged 75+ as most underrepresented so it was clear the review needed to address this.

The final two stages of the review will be 3 ‘Facility Mix and Service Intervention’ which will look at capital costs, business plans and options appraisals to determine how facilities should be run in the future. Stage 4 will aim to provide a draft Review report by the end of June and a final report by the end of July.

To consider the Arts and Culture Strategy.

It was agreed that the Leisure and Wellbeing Review should be completed first and the outcomes considered before work is undertaken to develop an Arts and Culture Strategy.

Councillor Prenter’s Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

Councillor Robinson confirmed that there had been two meetings of the Panel since the last report but there was nothing to update the Committee on prior to the local elections.

Councillor Tipper noted the Panel’s concern for the welfare of Police Officers involved in policing the recent riots in Bristol.

Councillor Craig’s Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

Councillor Robinson advised the Committee that, as a meeting had only taken place the previous day, a report would be provided at the next meeting.

Councillor Prenter and Reed’s report was circulated prior to Committee. Councillor Robinson expressed concern at the increase in Council Tax and Business Rate arrears in 2020 compared to the previous year, given this was only likely to get worse. It was agreed that more information would be provided outside the meeting.

It was confirmed that Stratford Park outdoor pool was expected to open after Easter operating under COVID conditions.

The Information Sheet was ciruclated prior to Committee. The Committee commended the valuable work the Neighbourhood Wardens had undertaken during the COVID pandemic, and were pleased to note that the existing compliment of Neighbourhood Wardens had been maintained.

The Information Sheet was ciruclated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

See Agenda Item 4 for deadlines for submission.

There were none.