Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Lesley Bowles, Councillor John Cunningham, Jane Heely, Steve Inett, Dr Tony Jones, Councillor Brian Lukker, Chief Inspector Dave Pate, Dr Sanjay Singh and Dr Meriel Winter.

There were none.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held 21 January 2014 be approved as a correct record subject to the amendment of the first sentence of Minute 12 (CCG Commissioning Plans) to read:

It was noted that there is a scheme in Liverpool where people admitted with alcohol problems are taken better care of.

Minute 4 – General Overview of Substance Misuse in West Kent CCG District

In response to a question by the Chairman, Malti Varshney undertook to ensure that the liver disease mortality rates for each district in the West Kent CCG area are circulated to the Board.

a)  Overview by Val Miller

b)  Sports and Physical Activity by Kevin Day

c)  District Discussion on:

·  Weight management programmes

·  Healthy Eating Award

·  Community initiatives that link with weight management

Presentation by District colleagues

The Chairman agreed to take this item first due to one of the presenters having to leave at 6.00 p.m. to attend another meeting.

Val Miller, Public Health Specialist, presented an overview of adult excess weight rates (overweight and obese combined) calculated by Public Health England as part of the Public Health Outcomes Framework.  It was noted that:

·  The England rate is 63.8% and the West Kent Districts are statistically similar which means that only one third of the population in West Kent is a healthy weight.  Being obese substantially increases the chances of a person developing a wide range of medical problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many common cancers.  Overweight and obese adults are also likely to have children who are overweight.  If levels of obesity continue to rise at their present rate, there will be unmanageable pressures on the NHS and adult social care and implications for the whole economy.

·  Excess weight is a complex issue, influenced by a range of factors including social and economic deprivation and age.  With the new health and wellbeing agenda in local government, there are new opportunities for working with colleagues in disciplines such as sports and play, environmental health, trading standards, licensing and planning to tackle the problem.

Sarah Robson, Community Partnerships Manager, Maidstone Borough Council, presented a snapshot of obesity in Maidstone, which showed that 10.7% of 4-5 year olds and 20% of 10-11 year olds are obese.  Children who live in more deprived areas are more likely to be overweight and obese than those from the most affluent areas.  Access to healthy food and adopting healthier life styles is more difficult in deprived areas.

A map of the Borough was displayed which showed the location of hot food takeaways in clusters near schools and in deprived areas.

Rob Jarman, Head of Planning and Development, Maidstone Borough Council, gave a presentation on the contribution that Local Planning Authorities can make to improving public health and wellbeing, including shaping an urban environment that encourages people to adopt healthier lifestyles.  He explained that:

·  It is common place in developments above a certain size for the Local Planning Authority to seek contributions for healthcare.

·  There is potential to work with the Board and other partners on a Supplementary Planning Document, the purpose of which would be to explain the Council’s approach as Local Planning Authority towards encouraging better access to healthy food.  There are two main elements to this: Restricting the development of new hot food takeaways particularly in deprived areas and areas of poor health and promoting the creation of more allotments and encouraging community growing opportunities.

·  There is guidance relevant to this in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the draft Local Plan, which is being put out to consultation, sets out ways in which public health principles and planning can be integrated to reduce health inequalities.

·  Existing Local Plan policies aim to protect retail streets from being diluted by non A1 uses where this would harm  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Item deferred from January meeting.

Chief Inspector Simon Wilson introduced a briefing paper outlining the activities of the four Community Safety Partnerships in the West Kent CCG area in relation to substance and alcohol misuse which is associated with a wide range of criminal and anti-social behaviour.  He said that, as an example, up to 20,000 people come into Maidstone on a Saturday night and they are vulnerable to harm or causing harm due to drug or alcohol misuse.  It is necessary to educate people to make informed choices.

Members of the Board commented that:

·  There is a need to include clinicians on Community Safety Partnership Boards.

·  There is a need for a proactive and co-ordinated approach to prevention and education to avoid duplication of effort and resources.  This should include intelligence sharing and targeted work.

·  Could consideration be given to linking co-ordinated outreach work to late night levies?

In response to a question by the Chairman, William Benson agreed to follow up the possibility of alcohol related hospital admissions being coded as a trial exercise.  It was noted that at present, unless a patient stays for more than four hours they are not recorded.  The data could be used to quantify costs and inform decision making on preventative measures.

RESOLVED:  That the position be noted.

Gail Arnold, Chief Operating Officer, presented the WKCCG Strategic Commissioning Plan 2014-19 making specific reference to the following:

·  The NHS outcome framework domains, outcome measures, key improvement measures and West Kent specific targets and initiatives.

·  The need for alignment with the Better Care Fund.

·  The widening gap between need and what can currently be afforded within the funding available.

·  Stakeholder engagement including Mapping the Future.

·  Current health challenges in West Kent.

·  Ambitions to be achieved by 2018/19 having regard to the data available in relation to the electoral wards in West Kent CCG in the highest mortality quantiles for those aged under 75 and the causes of death.

Members of the Board made reference to the following:

·  The need to discuss responsibilities in relation to the “Collective Challenge” to ensure effective service delivery and investment.

·  The need to make decisions now regarding the funding of the health and care services to be provided in future.

·  The need for a co-ordinated partnership approach to achieve positive outcomes.

·  The need to consider how to engage schools in a pro-active way in the education/preventative agendas as there is potential to achieve positive results in ten years’ time.

·  The need to use the available data to direct resources where required.

·  The need for an indepth discussion on the role, responsibilities and ambitions of the Board and how member organisations can work together to achieve best development having regard to the defined Plan outcomes and available resources.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the points raised in the discussion, the presentation be noted with interest.

The West Kent Better Care Fund Plan was circulated for consideration prior to discussion at the Kent Board the following week.  It was noted that the Plan would be amended to include reference to district involvement in prevention.

RESOLVED:  That comments or proposals for inclusion in the Plan going forward should be sent to the Chairman and/or Gail Arnold at the WKCCG in time for consideration by the Kent Board on 26 March 2014.

Alison Broom drew the Board’s attention to a letter she had received that day setting out details of the decision which has been taken to establish Children’s Operational Groups (COGs) on local Health and Wellbeing Board boundaries.  It was noted that the COG is now a sub-group of the local Health and Wellbeing Board and accountable to it for the effective delivery of its programme.  The Board felt that it should have been consulted on the new arrangements and that clarification is required.

RESOLVED:  That clarification be sought regarding the role of the Children’s Operational Groups and their governance arrangements.

The Board considered the arrangements for future meetings.

RESOLVED:

1.  That arrangements be made for the Board to meet on a monthly basis (at 4.00 p.m. on the third Tuesday where possible) at venues within the West Kent area.

2.  That the next meeting of the Board be arranged to take place at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 15 April 2014 at the offices of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council at Kings Hill.

3.  That arrangements be made for the Board to have a discussion (in May) on its role, responsibilities and ambitions and how member organisations can work together to achieve best development having regard to the Strategic Commissioning Plan outcomes and available resources; the discussion to include the implications of the arrangements in relation to the Children’s Operational Groups and the partnership working environment in Kent generally.

5.40 p.m. to 7.50 p.m.