Agenda and minutes

As an apology for absence had been received from Councillor Vivien Dance, Councillor Elaine Robertson agreed to take the Chair.

It was agreed to vary the order of business on the agenda to allow Members and Officers to attend other meetings.

Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group 7 November 2011

The Minutes of the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group meeting held on 7 November 2011 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services, Argyll and Bute Council (Thematic Lead)

“See Me” is Scotland’s national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health across all parts of society.  To date, 20 Councils in Scotland have signed the “See Me” public health campaign pledge and have agreed an action plan to join the community and public services to address the stigma of mental ill-health.  Consideration was given to a report which would be before the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership at its meeting on 15 February 2012.

Decision

1.        Noted the contents of the report;

2.        Noted that the CPP and Council will be asked to endorse the “See Me” campaign pledge and sign up to a local action plan which would include the commitment to raise the profile of the work to tackle the stigma of mental illness by the “See Me” campaign;

3.        Noted that the Council will be asked to instruct the Executive Director of Community Services to contact the campaign team and complete the action plan to ensure Argyll and Bute Council become members of the current public health campaign;

4.        Noted that the action plan will involve the Council’s continued best practice in mental health work within teams to tackle the stigma of mental illness in our communities; and

5.        Agreed that Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Strathclyde Police should be invited to give consideration to signing up to this process.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)

Report by Katrina McEntegert

Consideration was given to a note on Happy to Translate (HTT), a non profit initiative, self financed through its growing membership which bridges communication gaps between organisations and service users who struggle to communicate in English.  By becoming a member of HTT ensures an organisation’s compliance with all of the Acts relating to race relations and equality and diversity.

Decision

Agreed that once the costs involved are known these should be circulated to Partners and that they be asked if they would be interested in participating in this Scheme.

(Reference: Note on Happy to Translate, submitted)

Consideration was given to an Integrated Business and Inspection Improvement Plan for 2011 – 2013 which has been prepared by the Argyll and Bute Child Improvement Group following the 2011 inspection of Child Protection services in Argyll and Bute. The Plan seeks to address one area of weakness highlighted during the Inspection in respect of Inter Agency response to vulnerable children.

Decision

Noted the contents of the Plan, that it will be presented to the Council Executive and CPP Management Committee and that progress with this will be reported to a future meeting of the Group.

(Reference: Integrated Business and Inspection Improvement Plan 2011 – 13, submitted)

Presentation by Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services, Argyll and Bute Council (Thematic Lead)

Consideration was given to a presentation which had previously been delivered at a COSLA meeting by Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, and which highlighted poor life expectancy trends for Scotland against other European Countries; trends in male life expectancy in Scotland; life expectancy trends for post industrial regions of Europe; Scotland’s population attributable risk percentage to diseases such as breast cancer, lung cancer and mental illness; income deprivation distribution in Glasgow; standardised mortality rates by cause, all ages:
Glasgow relative to Liverpool & Manchester; and Adverse Childhood Events which could lead to higher risk of alcoholism, higher risk of perpetrating violence, higher risk of teenage pregnancy, and higher risk of heart disease and early adversity.  The presentation also highlighted that the health service was efficient at dealing with people needing treatment and that there was a need to look at prevention measures and early intervention measures.

Decision

1.        Noted the contents of the presentation and agreed that prevention and early intervention was important to address these issues; and

2.        Noted that an early intervention strategy Group has been established to look at bringing proposals for the Council and CPP to consider, ready for implementation once the details of the Scottish Government’s Early Intervention Change Fund are known.

Councillor Mary-Jean Devon joined the meeting at 10.10 am and Chief Inspector Marlene Baille, Strathclyde Police, joined the meeting at 10.30 am.

Councillors Roderick McCuish, Anne Horn and Mary-Jean Devon left the meeting at 10.35 am to attend another meeting.

Report by Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services, Argyll and Bute Council (Thematic Lead)

Consideration was given to a report advising on progress with the Additional Support Needs (ASN) review.  The aim of the ASN review is to ensure that a service is in place which effectively and efficiently meets the needs of all learners within the Getting it Right for Every Children (GIRFEC) agenda.  At the centre of the review is a focus on sustainability and capacity building to ensure that the needs of children and young people are met consistently over time.  The Council has a responsibility to discharge its obligations in relation to education legislation and seeks to do this to a high standard.  A draft budget for session 2012/2013 has been prepared and submitted to Finance.

Decision

Noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)

Presentation by Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services, Argyll and Bute Council (Thematic Lead)

Good Places Better Health is the Scottish Government’s Strategy on health and the environment.  This new approach recognises that environment has a significant impact on the health of Scotland’s people and that action is required to create safe, health nurturing environments for everyone.  Consideration was given to a presentation which highlighted recommendations made in the Good Places Better Health for Scotland’s Children document prepared by the Evaluation Group of Good Places Better Health.

Decision

1.        Noted the contents of the presentation and the Good Places Better Health for Scotland’s Children report;

2.        Noted the evaluation of recommendations in terms of physical planning and that a similar approach would be undertaken in respect of Education, Housing and Leisure Management and that this would be reported to a future meeting of this Group; and

3.        Agreed that Partners be asked to consider looking at the recommendations contained within the report and to identify what they currently contribute to and report back to a future meeting of this Group.

(Reference: Good Places Better Health for Scotland’s Children report dated 2011, and Evaluation of recommendations in terms of physical planning, submitted)

Report by Councillor Andrew Nisbet, Spokesperson for Social Affairs (to follow)

Cleland Sneddon provided an update on progress with the Review of Older People’s Services and Learning Disabilities.

Decision

The Group noted:-

1.        That the next meetings of the Council’s Project Board and Special Committee for Older People’s Services and Learning Disabilities would be held on 23 February 2012;

2.        That at these meetings consideration would be given to the Older People’s Day Care Services following the recent tendering exercise, and an update on the Care at Home tendering exercise;

3.        Noted that the Council had agreed not to proceed with tendering services for Learning Disability Day Care until further consultation had been undertaken with staff; and

4.        Noted that Councillor Andrew Nisbet and Jim Robb, Head of Adult Services had consulted with a number of staff across Argyll and Bute and that all these meetings had been positive.  This feedback would be provided to the Board meeting on 23 February 2012.

Plan without succcess measures – approved at CPP Management Committee on 1 February 2012

Consideration was given to the draft Argyll and Bute Community Plan and Single Outcome Agreement for 2012 – 2013 which had been approved by the CPP Management Committee and would be considered by the full CPP on 15 February 2012.  Consideration was also given to the Social Affairs success measures for inclusion in the Plan/SOA.

Decision

1.        Noted the contents of the draft Argyll and Bute Community Plan and Single Outcome Agreement for 2012 – 2013;

2.        Noted the Social Affairs success measures;

3.        Noted that at section 6 of the Plan “Health Services in Argyll and Bute” should be amended to read “Health and Social Care Services” in Argyll and Bute;

4.        Noted that the target for success measure CP14.04 should be “100%” and not “80%”.

(Reference: Draft Argyll and Bute Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 2012 – 2012, issued and Social Affairs Success Measures, tabled).

Consideration was given to the contents of the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group Scorecard for Financial Quarter 3 – 2011/12.

Decision

Noted the contents of the Scorecard.

(Reference: Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group Scorecard FQ3 2011/12, tabled)

Consideration was given to the highlight and exception report provided by the Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee.

Decision

1.        Noted the activity undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee during the period July – September 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future; and

2.        Noted that a report on the Adult Protection Multi Agency Self Evaluation event held on 9 November 2011 would be brought to a future meeting of this Group.

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee dated October 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to highlight and exception reports provided by the Argyll and Bute Health and Care Strategic Partnership.

Decision

Noted the activity undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Health and Care Strategic Partnership during the period July – December 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Reports by Argyll and Bute Health and Care Strategic Partnership dated 13 October 2011 and 1 February 2012, submitted)

Consideration was given to highlight and exception reports provided by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Community Safety Partnership.

Decision

Noted the activity undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Community Safety Partnership during the period July – December 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future

(Reference: Reports by Argyll and Bute Strategic Community Safety Partnership dated 20 October 2011 and 30 January 2012, submitted)

Consideration was given to highlight and exception reports provided by Argyll and Bute’s Children Partnership.

Decision

Noted the activity undertaken by Argyll and Bute’s Children Partnership during the period July – December 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Reports by Argyll and Bute’s Children Partnership dated 26 October 2011 and 30 January 2012, submitted)

Consideration was given to highlight and exception reports provided by the Argyll and Bute Child Protection Committee.

Decision

Noted the activity undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Child Protection Committee during the period July 2011 – January 2012 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Reports by Argyll and Bute Child Protection Committee dated 26 October 2011 and 30 January 2012, submitted)

Consideration was given to highlight and exception reports provided by the Early Years Partnership.

Decision

1.        Noted the activity undertaken by the Early Years Partnership during the period July – December 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future; and

2.        Noted that further detail was expected on the Scottish Government’s Early Years Change fund for vulnerable 2 year olds.

(Reference: Reports by the Early Years Partnership dated 17 October 2011 and 30 January 2012, submitted)

Consideration was given to highlight and exception reports provided by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum.

Decision

Noted the activity undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum during the period July – December 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Reports by Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum  dated 11 October 2011 and 23 January 2012, submitted)

Consideration was given to highlight and exception reports provided by the Third Sector Partnership.

Decision

1.        Noted the activity undertaken by the Third Sector Partnership during the period July – December 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future;

2.        Agreed that a lack of co-terminosity and local rural representation was not helpful to Argyll and Bute in respect of changes brought about by Voluntary Action Scotland at a national level; and

3.        Noted that the Violence Against Women Group should report to the Community Safety Partnership.  Any cross cutting issues may be referred by that Group to the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group.

(Reference: Reports by the Third Sector Partnership dated 25 October 2011 and 1 February 2012, submitted)

Consideration was given to the highlight and exception report provided by the Health Improvement Planning and Performance Action Group (HIPPAG).

Decision

Noted the activity undertaken by the HIPPAG during the period July – September 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Report by HIPPAG dated 7 November 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to the highlight and exception report provided by Youth Focus/Argyll and Bute Youth Forum and Dialogue Youth.

Decision

Noted the activity undertaken by Youth Focus/Argyll and Bute Youth Forum and Dialogue Youth during the period October – December 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Report by Youth Focus/Argyll and Bute Youth Forum and Dialogue Youth dated 24 January 2012, submitted)

Cleland Sneddon advised that a date for the next meeting would be set following the Scottish Council elections in May 2012.