Agenda and minutes

Items
No. Item

160.

Introduction

Minutes:

The PA to the Council Leader/Cabinet welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that Councillor Alastair Gould had replaced Councillor Tim Valentine and Councillor Lee McCall had replaced Councillor Benjamin Martin on the Committee.

161.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

Members agreed to nominate Councillor Ken Rowles to be elected as Chairman for the Municipal Year 2021/22, to be confirmed at the next in person meeting.

 

162.

Election of Vice-Chairman

Minutes:

Members agreed to nominate Councillor Carole Jackson to be elected as Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2021/22, to be confirmed at the next in-person meeting.

 

163.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or

other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or

person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner. They

must declare and resolve any interests and relationships. The Chairman

will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items

on this agenda, under the following headings:

 

(a) Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.

The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be

declared. After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and

not take part in the discussion or vote. This applies even if there is

provision for public speaking.

 

(b) Disclosable Non Pecuniary Interests (DNPI) under the Code of

Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012. The nature as well as the

existence of any such interest must be declared. After declaring a DNPI

interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

 

(c) Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having

considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that

the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should

declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the meeting while

that item is considered.

 

Advice to Members: If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence

or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this

agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Head

of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible,

and in advance of the meeting.

Minutes:

Councillor David Simmons declared a non-pecuniary interest in the League of Friends, Faversham Cottage Hospital and Community Health Centres of which he was Chairman of the Trustees.

164.

Purpose and role of the Committee pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Minutes:

The Head of Policy, Communications & Customer Services gave a brief overview of the role and purpose of the Cabinet Advisory Committees (CACs).  He referred to the Member briefing session on the committee system delivered in June 2021 and said that the advisory committees could be seen as a precursor to the committee system, but could also be seen as more specialised versions of the old Policy, Development and Review Committee (PDRC). 

 

The Chief Executive said Members would be aware that the Portfolios had changed, and as such the information on the agenda was out of date.

 

The Head of Environment and Leisure acknowledged that there was not and Environment update on the agenda but said there were a number of projects coming up which potentially would come to this Committee.  These included the Burial Regulations Review; the renewal of the Waste Contract; the Climate & Ecological Emergency Action Plan; and the new Grounds Maintenance Contract.

165.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy update pdf icon PDF 65 KB

To follow report added 15.7.21

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing introduced the Plan and said that it was about the wider health and wellbeing of residents rather than the health service.  She went through the update in detail and in particular mentioned that tackling obesity was a priority, mental health and wellbeing had come to the fore since the start of the pandemic and she stressed the importance of recognising that not all disabilities were visible.

 

The newly appointed Health and Wellbeing Officer said that the paper reflected what had happened since he had started work at the Council.  He reported that dementia friendly training was now available for all frontline staff.  He referred the Committee to the questions posed at the end of the paper and hoped they would help tackle issues in a short time frame.

 

Members raised comments which are summarised below:

 

·       It was important for the Committee to understand the structure of the health service;

·       there was a historic issue of the divide between Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey and Faversham East and Faversham could feel neglected;

·       as many services as possible should be brought into the three community hospitals in the Borough;

·       a meeting should be held with the Oasis Academy to talk about the excellent work they did at the Dementia Café;

·       active travel should be embedded at an early stage;

·       the University of the Third Age and the Eat Smart, Move More were useful programmes to promote;

·       suggested promoting the healthy eating community chef at Sheppey Matters; and

·       should look at how to tackle smoking outside schools and hospitals along with anti-idling and engaging with young children could influence the behaviour of parents.