Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited the Councillors and Officers present to introduce themselves.

The Chairman also invited the parish representatives who were in attendance to introduce themselves.

Apologies for absence had been received from the following:

• Councillor Peggy Dow
• Councillor Keith Humphries, Cabinet Member for Public Health, who had been due to attend for item 7.  It was noted that Amy Bird, Public Health Consultant, was present in place of Cllr Keith Humphries.
• James Cawley, Service Director for the Marlborough Area Board
• Sheila Glass – Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council
• Alan Phizacklea – Aldbourne Parish Council
• Martin Cook – Marlborough Area Development Trust
• Claire Perry – MP for Devizes

The minutes of the meeting on 25 September 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman noted that the following written information items were set out in the agenda pack:

a.    Informal Adult Education – update (pages 9-10)

b.    Understanding Autism (pages 11-14)

c.    Impact of Welfare Reform (pages 15-16)

To note the attached Partner updates and receive any further information partners wish to share:

1. Wiltshire Police
2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. NHS Wiltshire
4. Parish Forum
5. Town / Parish Councils
6. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust)
7. CAYPIG (Community Area Young People’s Issues Group  / YAG (Youth Advisory Group)
8. Wiltshire Involvement Network

Councillor Keith Humphries, Cabinet Representative for Public Health and Protection Services, will give a brief overview of that area of responsibility including information on the transition of Public Health to Wiltshire Council.

(Note: Written questions may be submitted in advance – please email to james.hazlewood@wiltshire.gov.uk by 5pm on Thursday 22 November)

The Chairman welcomed Amy Bird, public health consultant, who was present in place of Councillor Keith Humphries, to speak about the transition of Public Health services from the Primary Care Trust to Wiltshire Council under the reorganisation of the NHS.

The Public Health team worked to promote healthy lifestyles, to ensure healthy practices and to manage infectious diseases, through screening programmes, campaigns and responding to emergencies.

The overarching themes of the Public Health outcomes framework were reducing inequalities and extending life.

In response to questions, Amy explained that work was also done to address health inequalities between men and women.  Educational programmes were also run for young people to promote healthy lifestyles from a young age, and this could take referrals from GPs.

Amy explained that the gap in life expectancy based on social position was not particular to Wiltshire, but was a national trend.  There were a number of potential causes, including the difficulty in providing local healthcare in deprived areas, literacy rates, and people being paid by the hour which disinclined people to take time off to see their GP.

Amy confirmed that the Public Health team worked with a range of partners to address some of the root causes of health inequalities, such as fuel poverty.

The Chairman welcome Sarah MacLennan, Head of Communications and Public Engagement at NHS Wiltshire, who was present to give an update on the national reforms of the NHS.

The reforms which had been enacted by parliament in January 2012 represented the biggest change to the NHS since its inception.  The main changes saw Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts being discontinued as of April 2013, with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) taking over the commissioning of healthcare, and local Authorities taking over responsibility for Public Health.

Diagrams showing the outgoing and in the incoming systems are attached as Appendix 1.

Deborah Fielding, Accountable Officer (Designate) at Wiltshire CCG, then gave an overview of how the changes would impact on Wiltshire.  In general it was welcomed that GPs were taking over the commissioning of services through the CCG, as they were well placed to have the full local picture, and to oversee the services that individual localities required.  The Wiltshire CCG would be one of the largest and was coterminous with Wiltshire Council which would present opportunities for linking up services.

The CCG was currently going through an authorisation process to demonstrate that the governance systems were in place prior to being given their budget which would be around £500 million.  It was also noted that the CCG would be financially sustainable, thanks in large part to the work of the PCT to hand over a good financial position.

Prior to inviting questions, Deborah introduce Dr Richard Hook, a local GP and board member of the North and East Wiltshire CCG.

·         Responding to a question, Dr Hook stated that there were no plans to discontinue using Savernake Hospital.  The site was owned by Great Western Hospital, although the CCG could influence how it was used based on the Community Services Review.

·         It was hoped that there would be public input to the CCG through ongoing local presence at meetings such as the Area Board, and through Healthwatch and the board of the CCG.

·         It was noted that the CCG was not responsible for commissioning dentistry services.  However, comments on Marlborough residents having to register with dental surgeries in Hungerford would be passed on, as it was thought that at least one dental surgery in Marlborough had an open list.

To receive a presentation regarding the review of the current Housing Allocations System.

The Chairman welcomed Nicole Smith, Head of Strategic Housing at Wiltshire Council, and Dave Ball from Aster, who were present to speak about housing need in the Marlborough Community Area and the review of Wiltshire’s Housing Allocations system.

Nicole introduced the item, by outlining some statistical information on the population, basic stock profile and housing register in relation to the Marlborough Community Area.  This information is attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

In relation to lettings going to local people, Nicole noted that 90% of new letting had gone to people with a local connection (18 out of 20 in the community area).

Nicole also explained about the new arrangements on underoccupation.  Working age tenants who were underoccupying by one bedroom would have a 14% reduction in their housing benefit, with a 25% reduction for two or more bedrooms.  21 households in the Marlborough Community Area had been identified as forecast to lose £20+ per week, and work was being done to prepare these households in advance of the new arrangements taking effect in April.

Dave Ball set out the background to Aster Group, and explained that £1.5 million savings identified through the Customer Boards was being reinvested into communities, including projects such as the Acres in Marlborough, where £21K had been spent on environmental works.  Other projects included community activities, and the neighbourhood approach, whereby neighbourhood “zones” were given £16K to spend on local improvements and priorities.

Nicole then sought input from the meeting on the review of the Council’s Housing Allocations system. Those present were asked to give their views on a number of issues relating to how applicant qualified for social housing.  Those present were invited to give their views using the electronic voting handsets:

Nicole thanked everyone for taking part, and emphasised that anyone who wished to get more involved with the review could contact her on 01225 776655 / Nicole.smith@wiltshire.gov.uk

To receive and update on the work of the Community Area Transport Group (CATG).