Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED that: The minutes of the meeting held on the 12th November 2024 were approved as an accurate record.

The Committee considered a presentation by the Director of Public Health, regarding the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for North Northamptonshire. The strategy aimed to be proactive and change-driven, focusing on five priority areas:

1. Smoking and Vaping - Reducing smoking prevalence and tackling youth vaping.

2. Keeping Active - Promoting physical activity and access to exercise.

3. Financial Resilience - Recognising financial security as a key health determinant.

4. Mental Health and Wellbeing - Addressing post-COVID mental health challenges.

5. Children and Young People - Targeting issues such as childhood obesity.

The strategy was underpinned by strong governance structures, with executive sponsors for each area, public health leads and a quarterly oversight process to monitor progress.

During discussion, the principal points were noted:

·         Members asked about the timeline for full implementation, noting that while some action plans were in place, others were still under development. Members expressed concerns about potential delays and their impact on service delivery.

·         Members queried how funding would be allocated across the five priority areas, particularly given the scale of the smoking and vaping challenge. There was concern over whether the £750,000 from public health reserves would be sufficient.

·         Members questioned whether the multiple layers of governance could lead to delays in decision-making, particularly in urgent cases.

·         Members asked what specific performance indicators would be used to track progress and how frequently data would be reviewed.

·         Members inquired whether progress data would be made publicly available and how residents could access information on the strategy’s impact.

In response, Officers clarified that:

·         Some initiatives, such as the smoking cessation programme, were already underway, while others (e.g., childhood obesity interventions) required further development. The strategy was designed to be iterative, allowing workstreams to evolve over time.

·         Funding would not be equally distributed but rather allocated based on need and impact. Smoking cessation had received additional national funding, while other areas, such as financial resilience, required local investment.

·         The Strategic Oversight Group functioned as a problem-solving body rather than an additional bureaucratic hurdle. Escalations to the Health and Wellbeing Board would only occur in cases of significant barriers to progress.

·         Each workstream would establish clear performance indicators, including national health metrics and locally tailored targets. These indicators were still being developed for some areas.

·         Tracking data would be published online via the Health and Wellbeing Board’s website, ensuring transparency and accessibility for residents.

RESOLVED that: The report be noted.

The Committee considered an update by the Public Health Principal for Commissioning, regarding the Public Health Recommissioning Process, which covered key areas such as smoking cessation, mental health services and children’s weight management programmes.

During discussion, the principal points were noted:

·         Members raised concerns regarding the rise in youth vaping and asked what enforcement measures were in place to tackle the sale of illegal and underage vape products.

·         Members inquired about the potential introduction of licensing for vape shops and whether this could be used as a tool for enforcement.

·         Members questioned how financial resilience efforts would link to smoking cessation, particularly for lower-income smokers. They asked whether advice on debt management and household finances was being integrated with stop-smoking support.

·         Members asked whether voluntary and community sector organisations would receive specific funding to support the delivery of commissioned services.

In response, Officer’s clarified that:

·         Joint operations with Trading Standards were ongoing, targeting underage sales and counterfeit vapes. Test purchasing and compliance checks had led to the seizure of illegal products in several local shops.

·         Licensing of vape shops was being considered at a national level under the Smoke-Free Generation Bill. Locally, additional enforcement work was being carried out to prevent the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products.

·         Financial resilience services were being integrated with stop-smoking programmes to ensure that individuals received support to manage finances while attempting to quit smoking.

·         Voluntary sector organisations would be eligible for specific funding opportunities, particularly in areas such as financial resilience and mental health services.

RESOLVED that: The report be noted.

RESOLVED that: The Committee notes the Scrutiny Work Plan as it relates to Health Scrutiny.

There being no further business, the Chair thanked the Committee for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9:05pm.