PRESENT:-
Councillor Barker in the chair.
Councillors
Appleyard, Smith, Eckhardt, England, Ishaq and Simpson.
The
panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.
45
DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL
AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS –
There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.
No
whip was declared.
46
PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK –
Ambulance Cover in Brigg (Mike Campion, Brigg Town Council) - The Chair
advised members that a request had been received asking to address the panel
over the proposed changes to ambulance cover in Brigg. Mike Campion
was introduced to the panel and invited to explain the concerns voiced at the
recent meeting of Brigg Town Council.
Mike
Campion explained that the subject had been brought to the attention of Brigg
Town Clerk after an item had been published in the Scunthorpe Telegraph.
He explained that the ambulance stationed in Brigg was to return to Scunthorpe
station and be replaced by either one or two fast response vehicles. Concerns
had been expressed over the lack of public consultation, and whilst the ambulance
service did not see the changes as significant, the lack of information available
to the public was causing concern and uncertainty.
An
open consultation prior to implementation of the changes was preferred and that
the Ambulance Service be called to answer questions from concerned residents
of Brigg.
Resolved
– (a) That the Ambulance Service be invited to attend a future meeting of the
panel, and (b) that the offer be extended to Brigg Town Council and any other
town/parish councils that may be affected by the proposed changes.
47
(2) OBESITY STRATEGY – Discussions on the family and education settings
– The chair advised members that four witnesses had been invited to attend the
meeting. They had been asked to provide an insight into the work that
had been undertaken so far to assist with implementing the obesity strategy
within North Lincolnshire, in the family and education setting.
Karen
Fanthorpe, Head of Community Services Primary Care Trust (PCT), welcomed the
recent appointment of Andrew Furber, Director of Public Health for
North Lincolnshire and explained that the Obesity Strategy, under his drive,
had been brought to the forefront of the health services’ priorities.
She explained
that recent studies confirmed that obesity levels in reception age children
within North Lincolnshire were higher than the national average, however this
dropped lower than the national average by Year 6.
The
panel was advised that there were two key workers within North Lincolnshire
attempting to address the above issue, but they were struggling to deal with
the numbers involved. It was hoped that joint objectives could be reached
between children, leisure and health services to provide a more collective delivery
of service.
Tina-May
Richardson-Ward, Community Nutrition and Diatetics, Primary Care Trust advised
the panel of initiatives that had been introduced to assist. These included
Healthy Lifestyles, which was a joint venture between North Lincolnshire PCT
and North Lincolnshire Council targeting ten schools over two years.
Other
schemes included a community allotment and healthy schools, which provided training
and support to schools kitchen staff and lunchtime supervisors. Assistance
was also available from Freshstart, who had one dedicated worker to advise on
healthy cooking for one or two people within a household.
Tina
May concluded that in order to address the problem of obesity there was a need
to get the correct combination of food intake and physical activity.
Lynne
Devine, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator addressed the panel and explained that
since 2000, all North Lincolnshire local education authority schools had engaged
in the Healthy Schools national programme. She confirmed that North Lincolnshire
had achieved levels above the national average for delivery of this programme.
Training
was ongoing, with new initiatives such as a cooking bus, training around breakfast
clubs and ‘let’s get cooking’.
Maureen
Moore, Sport, Play and Community Development Manager explained that there was
a commitment to raise participation in physical activities by one per cent per
year, and to encourage parents/adults to also engage in this programme.
She
explained that Streetsports had successfully engaged with young people in many
areas, and had introduced a range of activities that appealed to young people
and provided an alternative to just hanging around the streets. Funding
was an ongoing concern as the service needed to expand to meet the needs of
all areas.
The
panel was advised that it was a priority to deliver the message for more physical
activity through childrens centres.
Members
engaged in further discussion with all witnesses.
Resolved
– That Karen Fanthorpe, Tina-May
Richardson-Ward, Lynne Devine and Maureen Moore be thanked for their attendance
at the meeting.
48
(3) ANNUAL HEALTHCARE
COMMISSION DECLARATIONS (2007-08)
- The Service Director
Legal and Democratic invited members to comment on a number of questions within
the declaration. It was explained that the questions had also been discussed
with the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel and a response would be submitted
on behalf of both panels.
Resolved
– (a) That the comments of the panel be noted, and (b) that a response incorporating
these comments be endorsed by the chair and vice- chair prior to its submission.
49
(4) NHS DIRECT FOUNDATION TRUST STATUS CONSULTATION – The Service Director
Legal and Democratic referred members to the consultation document, and asked
for comments or observations from the panel.
Resolved
– That the document be noted.
50
LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORKS (LINks) – Members received an oral update
on progress of implementing LINks from the Service Director Legal and Democratic.
Resolved – That the position be noted.
51 LEADER OF THE COUNCIL’S FORWARD PLAN – The Service Director
Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council's Forward
Plan for March to June 2008.
The
plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of
key decisions for a period
of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis. Members discussed
various items on the Forward Plan.
The
Service Director Legal and Democratic referred the panel to minute 44 of the
Healthier Communities and Older People Scrutiny Panel. He confirmed that
a representative from Warmfront would attend a future meeting, as previously
requested.
Resolved
– That the position be noted.