Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 8^th March, 2017 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th March 2017 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(i)            Update

(ii)           Health & Wellbeing

(iii)          Questions & Answers

Representatives from the CCG have been invited to attend the meeting.

All Members have been invited to attend for this item.

The Chairman welcomed Dr Andy Knox, Executive Lead for Health and Wellbeing, Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group, Hilary Fordham, Chief Operating Officer, Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group and John Taylor, Director of Strategy, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to the meeting.

Members were given a presentation to update them on the Better Care Together Strategy.

It was reported that there were 3 main pillars that were essential to support the Better Care Together Strategy:–

·         Integrating Services

·         Building a Common Platform

·         Delivery and Accountability

These were supported by:-

·         Organisations Development

·         Communication & Engagement

Lancashire North CCG had joined with Cumbria CCG to work with University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to deliver Better Care Together.

It was reported that new models of care for out of hospital were being introduced with local communities taking the lead for their health and wellbeing.

Members were advised that Better Care Together was working to make improvements in health care provision for older people. This focused on:-

·         Integrated Care Communities

·         Frail Elderly Pathway

·         Care Homes

Dr Andy Knox gave the Committee details of initiatives that were taking place to live healthier. It was noted that £1 in every £5 of NHS spending was related to the lifestyle of the patient, £1 of every £10 spent was to treat Type 2 Diabetes which was mostly due to lifestyle.

With NHS funding shrinking, there was a challenge to make Morecambe Bay healthier with parts of the area having some of the worst life expectancies such as people dying of heart disease at 60 in the West End of Morecambe as opposted to 85 in Silverdale.

It was reported that in Carnforth community-led initiatives included a community choir, a leg ulcer café and some local schools ran a mile every day which had led to weight loss in children and also teachers.

Members asked a number of questions of the invited guests, relating to issues such as rehabilitation after falls and strokes, monitoring of success and analysis of data, funding cuts, bed losses and how elected Members could assist.

With regard to the data that was going to be evaluated and analysed by the Universities of Lancaster and Cumbria, it was agreed the interim report, once it had been produced, would be circulated to the Committee.

Resolved :-

(1)       That Dr Andy Knox, Hilary Fordham and John Taylor be thanked for their presentations and attendance at the meeting.

(2)       That the interim report on the evaluation that was being undertaken by the Universities of Lancaster and Cumbria, be circulated to the Committee.

(3)       That the representatives be invited back with an update in 6 months time and a further update in 12 months time.

Councillor Margaret Pattison, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Older People and Age UK have been invited to attend the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Margaret Pattison, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Older People and Anne Oliver, Age UK to the meeting.

Members were advised that social isolation was an objective state defined in terms of quantity of social relationships and contacts whereas loneliness was a subjective experience, a negative emotion associated with a perceived gap between quality and quantity of relationships that we have and those we want.

It was noted that 10% of people over 65 experienced chronic loneliness at any one time, 1 million older people said they always or often feel lonely, 4 million older people said that TV or pets were their main form of company and nearly half of over 65s lived alone.

It was reported that Age UK had produced an Index of Wellbeing in Later Life which set out a list of 40 indicators derived from 2 surveys that had been undertaken in the UK.

The top 5 positive indicators that contribute to wellbeing were:

·         Creative and cultural participation

·         Physical activities

·         Thinking skills

·         Mental wellbeing

·         Level of education

The bottom 5 indicators were:

·         Having children

·         Having multiple long term health conditions

·         Being widowed/divorced,

·         Not having anyone to care for

·         Financial instability  being negative indicators of wellbeing

The Committee was advised of the ‘Start a Conversation’ project, which had been initiated by Jo Cox MP. It was a cross party initiative designed to increase the public’s awareness of loneliness and encourage everyone to act to tackle it. It was reported that there were a number of ways this could be undertaken with one suggestion being holding a Loneliness Summit.

Councillor Margaret Pattison gave an overview of the part of her portfolio which included older people’s issues. It was reported that she was working with the Older People’s Champion’s from Lancashire on a project to encourage tradesmen to pass on their skills to younger people before they retired.

Resolved Unanimously:-

(1)       That Councillor Margaret Pattison and Anne Oliver be thanked for their presentations and attendance.

(2)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee host a Loneliness Summit to start a meaningful conversation about loneliness in the Lancaster District.

(3)       That the relevant partners be invited to attend the Loneliness Summit as well as all City and County Councillors.

(4)       That Lancashire Constabulary be invited to attend the Summit to provide details of the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership.

(5)       That CVS also be invited to attend the Summit to provide details of volunteering opportunities within the Lancaster district.

The meeting adjourned at 7.40pm.

The meeting was reconvened at 7.50pm.

A presentation will be provided for the Committee.

The Chairman welcomed Paul Cartmell, Senior Environmental Health Officer - Pollution Control, to the meeting.

Members were given an in depth presentation on Air Quality in the district.

It was reported that the concerning pollutants were:

·         Particulate – PM2.5

·         Nitrogen dioxide – NO2

·         Ozone – O3

The main sources of pollution were construction sites, industrial processes, aircraft, road transport, farming, home and commercial heating, shipping and fires.  This led to 40,000 premature deaths in the UK annually with around 50-60 premature deaths in Lancaster annually. It was reported that the main pollutants recognised to be of local concern were particulate (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The evidence indicated that pollution impacted on the respiratory system, cardio vascular system, with growing concern that it caused cancer and dementia.

The Committee was advised that, in many areas of the district, air quality was quite good or had improved but in the three areas designated as Air Quality Measurement Areas - Lancaster, Carnforth and Galgate, air quality had showed little improvement.

The County Council was measuring the impact of the Bay Gateway but traffic patterns needed to settle and be monitored for a year before an assessment could be produced on the impact of the link road. The County Council’s Public Health was also producing a draft engagement proposal on air pollution.

It was reported that other initiatives in the district were:

·         Lancaster leading in the production of regional Planning Guidance.

·         Successful bid for cleaner bus grant  (£288K) – 17 buses to be retrofitted to reduce emissions

·         Preparation/Consultation on bid to support Electric Taxis

·         County Highways obtained grant funding to install 150 charging points across the region 

·         Green walls – Lancaster University project

Members were given information on the particulate emissions from burning different fuels. It was reported that the emissions from burning wood were surprisingly high and it was a concern that many people were installing wood burners in their homes, believing them to be environmentally friendly.

A number of questions were asked by Members.

It was agreed that Air Quality would be remain on the Work Programme for the Committee to receive an update in 2018 to take into account the impact of the link road on air pollution in the district.

Resolved:-

(1)       That Paul Cartmell be thanked for his presentation and attendance at the meeting.

(2)  That Air Quality remain on the Committee’s Work Programme for a further update report in 2018 to take into account the impact of the Bay Gateway link road on air pollution in the district.

It was noted that there had not been any requests for items to be considered in accordance with the Councillor Call for Action process.

It was noted that there had not been any requests for items to be considered in accordance with the Petition process.

It was noted that an update had been requested from Lancashire County Council on locality working. 

Resolved:-

That the update be noted. 

Report of the Chief Executive. 

The Committee considered the updated Work Programme.

It was agreed that the outstanding briefing notes as set out in the Work Programme, be requested.

Resolved:-

(1)  That the updated Work Programme be noted.

(2)  That the outstanding briefing notes as set out in the Work Programme, be requested.