Agenda item
Cabinet Member Update
The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.
Minutes:
Councillor Rob Appleyard, Cabinet Member for Adult Services addressed the Panel. A copy of the update can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.
He wished to give his thanks to Dr Orpen for the work and support he has given the area over many years.
Autism Partnership
The Terms of Reference have been agreed and a number of workstreams are ongoing.
Outbreak of novel Coronavirus – Covid 19
Public Information is being routinely provided by Public Health England. Councillors are also receiving regular updates from our Public Health team.
He thanked everyone involved so far for their hard work.
Suicide Prevention Strategy launch
The proposed Suicide Prevention Strategy for Bath and North East Somerset 2020-2023 was launched with partners including Bath Mind at a suicide prevention stakeholder event on 6 February.
The strategy commits partners across Bath & North East Somerset to:
- Reducing suicide and self-harm
- Ensuring that no resident will think that suicide is their only option
- Tackling the stigma associated with suicide and developing community conversations about suicide
- Building community resilience
- Supporting those who are affected by suicide
Preventative Initiative
A new film that aims to help more women with learning disabilities to access breast screening has been made featuring women who live locally to Bath and North East Somerset. The film is based on real experiences of women with learning disabilities told from their own point of view and hopes to give more information to people with learning disabilities and their families and carers about this important NHS breast screening programme.
The film has been produced by Biggerhouse Film in a partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council, NHS England & NHS Improvement, the Avon Breast Screening Programme and North Bristol Trust. The women were supported throughout the making of the film by Virgin Care Services, Learning Disability Primary Care Liaison Nurses. It is aimed at women with learning disabilities who are eligible for the NHS breast screening programme aged from 50 to their 71st birthday.
The Chairman said that he was passing on information that he receives about Covid-19 to the local Parish Councils.
The Corporate Director replied that it would be preferable to signpost people to the Public Health England website as that would always have the most up to date advice. ( https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england )
Councillor Michelle O’Doherty asked if organisations such as Julian House were receiving relevant advice in their role for assisting homeless people.
The Corporate Director replied that they were in receipt of the same information as the Council.
Dr Ian Orpen added that medical support provision is already in place for homeless people.
Councillor O’Doherty asked how a rough sleeper diagnosed with Covid-19 self-isolate.
The Corporate Director replied that further discussion would be required with Julian House as to how they could accommodate people in this scenario.
Councillor Ruth Malloy asked how we can check if public buildings and schools are displaying posters that contain information about the virus.
The Corporate Director replied that the Council has no capacity to check on that scale.
Councillor Jess David asked with regard to Residential Social Care whether the appropriate action will be to contain the individual if they are diagnosed with having the virus.
The Director of Adult Social Care, Complex and Specialist Commissioning replied that discussions were due to take place on Thursday afternoon for a system wide approach to be sought.
Kevin Burnett asked if schools have been made aware of the Suicide Prevention Strategy.
The Director of Adult Social Care, Complex and Specialist Commissioning replied that the strategy has been discussed with schools and that information is available on the Council’s website.
Councillor Paul May welcomed the preventative work that had been highlighted and asked how this information will be used.
Councillor Appleyard replied that even though the film has been made for a specific group it was hoped that the message will be spread as wide as possible.
Councillor Liz Hardman commented that it was welcoming to see that nine out of ten families in Bath and North East Somerset have been offered a place at their first choice of secondary school. She asked how many of the 28 pupils whose allocated school was their third preference and the 37 pupils that have not been offered a place at any of their preferences and have instead been offered a place at their next nearest school with a place available live in Twerton.
The Corporate Director replied that these numbers are spread across the city with possibly a higher proportion in Twerton. He added that overall the figures are an improvement on last year and that it was still important for parents to use all five preferences when applying as a significant number were still using just one preference. He stated that all schools within B&NES were full apart from St. Mark’s.
Councillor Andy Wait asked if allocating places was more of a problem due to schools now being independent of the Council.
The Corporate Director replied that the Council has less levers now that schools have become academies as each one can set their own admissions criteria and can breach that if they wish. He added that the Council does have a positive relationship with the local academies and that transport would be supplied if required for pupils living far enough away from their allocated school.
Councillor Paul May commented that it should be acknowledged that St. Mark’s is rated as Good by Ofsted.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Appleyard for his update on behalf of the Panel.