Agenda and minutes

This was received from Martyn Rogers.

The Assistant Director Environment reported that the term Active Exeter would be used rather than EXPAG in future.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2014 were agreed as a correct record.

Patsy Temple presented the report proposing that the Exeter Health and Wellbeing Board provide the governance structure for the “Making Every Adult Matter” pilot. MEAM was a national partnership between four national charities; Homeless Link, Drugscope, Clinks and Mind and aimed to influence policy and services for adults facing multiple needs and exclusions. As the MEAM pilot met one of the Exeter Health and Wellbeing Board’s priorities - ‘health of the most disadvantaged.’ it was felt that this Board was best placed to provide overview and scrutiny required and quarterly reports would be submitted to the Board. The most recent meeting of the strategic group working on preparations for the pilot had been held on 24 September.

The Governance group would be this Board, an Executive Steering Group would be the members of the current Strategic Group with additional stakeholders and an operational group would comprise managers and frontline workers from agencies. Public participation would be via Devon Healthwatch with Caroline Lee to be a member of the Steering Group.

It was envisioned that the Exeter Health and Wellbeing Board would oversee the MEAM pilot and serve as a continuous ‘evaluation tool’ and a ‘critical friend’ for the project. Continuity would be provided by having member(s) of the Exeter Health and Wellbeing Board sitting on the Executive Steering Group and vice versa.

RESOLVED that the Board become the Governance body for MEAM.

Matt Evans updated the Board on the development of a framework for physical activity in the City. The following initiatives were being progressed:-

·         the programme of community cycling groups and corporate cycle challenge was being coordinated by David Walters of SW Cycle Academy and University of Exeter;

·         some 31,000 had participated in Ping! which had now moved indoors for the winter, although there was excess demand of venues wanting to host tables. It had proved socially inclusive and concerns over theft of equipment had been largely unfounded, table users having left the equipment for others to use;

·         Park Run had operated for eight weeks, based at Haven Banks/Riverside Valley Park, with average of 150 participants and 15 volunteers per week. This voluntary/community led programme was part of a national brand; and

·         a sub group was working up a  bid, led by the City Council, to the Sport England Community Sports Activity Fund. It would incorporate the work of the behaviour change initiative aimed at increasing physical activity in the wider population. If successful, the funding obtained would be match funded by Public Health money.

Councillor Owen, the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, reported that feedback had been very positive with close liaison with the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team to deliver Park Run and Ping! Responding to the Chair, he agreed that renewed work on initiatives to encourage walking, especially by the elderly, was required. Matt Evans advised on Active Devon’s recent appointment by Public Health Devon as consortium lead for the Walking For Health programme and the potential opportunity that provided to better co-ordinate and complement such initiatives. Julian Tagg referred to the popular table tennis club at the Football Club and called for continued promotion and marketing to build on the early success achieved by the initiatives.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)  the report be noted; and

(2)  an article on the Active Devon programme be included in the next edition of the Exeter Citizen

Alex Bullied presented the report seeking approval for funding to undertake a study into the exposure of Exeter residents to ultra-fine particles (PM_2.5); and asking the Board to make a written submission to the Air Quality Enquiry, currently being conducted by the Government’s Environmental Audit Committee.

Exeter City Council had published an Air Quality Action Plan but the Council and partners could only tackle local factors controlling air pollution. Some co-ordination by central government could also make local action more effective, for example by creating a national framework for low emission zones. In order to gain local data on exposure to air pollution, a study was proposed to measure the exposure of five individuals as they go about their normal daily routine. It should then be possible to identify some simple behavioural changes that individuals can make to reduce their exposure.

The proposed study methodology and budget would be presented to the next meeting of the Board.

The UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee was currently making an enquiry into air quality and was accepting written submissions from interested parties. A draft submission had been prepared on behalf of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Exeter Health and Wellbeing Board, and the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment, Health and Wellbeing summarising the current levels of air pollution in Exeter, and the actions of the City Council and partners to reduce vehicle emissions. It made recommendations for Government action which would improve understanding of the impacts of local air quality, and support Local Authorities in their efforts to reduce pollution.

Members referred to pollution hotspots in the City such as Alphington Street, East Wonford Hill and Pinhoe Road, the former emphasising the urgent need for a Park and Ride at the Ide interchange and Alex Bullied confirmed the input from County Council officers on the City Council’s Air Quality Action Plan. The Portfolio Holder also advised that HATOC and the County’s congestion working group were working towards pollution and congestion reduction particularly with regard to the future residential expansion in and around Exeter. The importance of improved transport modes serving the City was also central to this work. In bringing forward Active Devon walking and cycling initiatives, regard would be had to the more heavily trafficked areas of the City.

RESOLVED that the Board:-

(1)  endorse the submission to the Environmental Audit Committee, as set out in the report, as many Board members as possible to be signatories to the submission; and

(2)  approve £2,000 to carry out a personal exposure study, subject to a project brief and study methodology being agreed at the next Board meeting.

Gill Unstead and Nicky May spoke on the emerging problems and issues relating to New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) (presentation attached to minutes). The presentation covered both “old” drugs and new highs, the distinction between the two having become increasingly blurred, the different cohorts of users such as “clubbers”, recreational users and “experimenters” and the health impacts. A Devon Youth Service Survey in 2013 had also revealed significant use of energy drinks by 13-19 year olds which had repercussions in the school environment. Alcohol, too, remained a serious problem in terms of impact on communities, anti-social behaviour and Police resources.

Nicky May spoke to the issues from a Trading Standards perspective. The Head Shops and the internet were the main outlets, the latter being difficult to monitor or control. Health and Safety and food legislation could be used as sanctions but were difficult to justify and there were few examples of where the outlets were not compliant with other areas of law. Otherwise, there was little or no trading standards legislation applicable and no licensing restrictions at present. The LGA was lobbying for Head Shops to be treated as adult shops as in New Zealand, measures introduced in that country, resulting in the number of outlets reducing to 180. The Assistant Director Environment stated that the Anti Social Behaviour and Crime and Policing Act 2014 contained potential measures to control and, in some cases, close down the outlets.

The problem was exacerbated by the unintended consequences resulting from greater control and enforcement. Total closure would result in an underground market and increased criminality and, with reference to existing illegal drugs, a clampdown on cannabis use in Dorset had resulted in a surge in heroin use. North Devon, where there were a number of such shops, had seen a further increase following a visit by the Police and Crime Commissioner as a result of misdirected publicity for the visit. There were also a number of unknown outlets in Devon.

Gillian Champion called for greater work through Primary Care sources and in schools to improve education on the dangers and effects of the substances.

RESOLVED that Catherine White defer her presentation on arrangements for the Rugby World Cup (RWC), its background and legacy until the next Board meeting on 11 November 2014.

Gillian Champion reported that the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group had published a consultation paper on proposed commissioning intentions for the Eastern locality. The deadline for comments was 12 December on commissioning proposals for delivering care in the future. A briefing for Councillors and stakeholders would be held at the St Sidwells Centre.  A key proposal was the transfer of the St Sidwells Walk in Centre to the RD&E which would become an Urgent Care Centre.

A Members stated that the County Council Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee would examine the proposals on 17 November 2014.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Tuesday 7July 2015

Wednesday 2 September 2015

RESOLVED that the following dates for future meetings be noted:-

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Tuesday 7July 2015

Wednesday 2 September 2015