Agenda item

(10 minutes)

To consider options for increasing public participation at Health and Wellbeing Board meetings.

Paul Harris

Paul Harris introduced the report which had been drafted following discussions with Kate Morton and Laura Ambler.  He drew attention to the following points: 

1.  The report suggested different ways of working and the use of different venues to encourage public participation.

2.  There were 6 recommendations relating to purpose; communication; meetings; impact; committee and joining up.

3.  Some of the recommendations would require additional resource.  It was noted that Sarah Heathcote had been appointed to a new Inequalities Manager role starting in April and may be able to assist in this work.

4.  B&NES Council provided free meeting venues in the Guildhall/Keynsham Community Space for Health and Wellbeing Board meetings and so there would be a resource issue of using alternative venues unless any other partners were able to offer venues free of charge.

Board members raised the following comments:

1.  Kate Morton raised the value of the input of 3SG, the third sector group, as a conduit to community organisations and asked for a commitment from the board to recognise the role of 3SG in engagement work.

2.  Sue Poole advised that Healthwatch worked with 3SG and also publicised the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board through its newsletter.

3.  Laura Ambler commented that there were a lot of good mechanisms already in place but there was a need to join this work up while formalising the role of 3SG and recognising their function.  She hoped the new Inequalities Manager role could help with this.

4.  Cllr Alison Born supported the suggestion of using alternative venues but cautioned that this needed to be done in a planned way.  Nicola Hazle concurred with this view and suggested that there should be an appropriate lead in time to allow for planning and publicity.  Val Scrase suggested that a meeting could be held in a school or Bath College to engage younger people.

5.  In terms of improving communication, Laura Ambler suggested that partners take away key messages from HWB meetings and that a few targeted and focused points be identified at the end of each meeting.  Other suggestions included using the 3SG and HWB website and 3SG and Healthwatch newsletters.

6.  Cllr Eleanor Jackson suggested that to engage the public it was necessary to explain what the Health and Wellbeing Board was and what it was trying to achieve.  She suggested that varying the time of meetings may help with engagement for those unable to attend meetings during the working day.

7.  In relation to timings of meetings, Julia Griffith suggested that this should be dependent on the audience, for example, a meeting in a school would need to take place during the school day.  It was agreed that if there was sufficient notice most members could make an evening meeting, but it would be better to schedule evening meetings during the summer.

8.  The option of hybrid meetings/recorded meetings was also discussed.  Some board members thought this may increase participation while others expressed concern that engagement could be lost if meetings were hybrid or recorded.

9.  It was noted that the public were likely to be more interested in a specific focus item rather than the business-as-usual agenda items.

10.In relation to impact, Mary Kearney Knowles suggested that delivering the outcomes of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy would be a good indicator.

The Board RESOLVED to;

1.  Agree key messages from each meeting for Board Members to promote within their organisations/networks.

2.  Commit to recognising the role of key partner, 3SG.

3.  Plan to hold a focussed meeting to increase public engagement

4.  Make progress on the communication, purpose and joining up elements before starting to hold meetings in other locations (6-9 months time).