Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made.

Resolved –  That the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th November 2016 be approved as a correct record.

The Board considered the Local Plan 2016-2036 ‘Issues and Options’ document that was undergoing a six week period of public consultation.  The engagement of stakeholders was an important part of the consultation and partners were invited to comment on the issues and spatial options set out.

The Council’s Planning Policy Lead Officer, Paul Stimpson, gave the Board an overview of the key aspects of the document, including major strategic issues for Slough such as meeting future identified housing need; how the creation of an additional 15,000 jobs could be supported; how Slough town centre could be revitalised; and how best to deal with the problems of traffic congestion.  It was recognised that the target of providing 927 new houses each year over the next twenty years was particularly challenging both in terms of volume and to ensure an appropriate mix of housing types and tenures was provided.

(Lise Llewellyn joined the meeting)

The Board discussed both the content of the Issues and Options document and the consultation process.  A wide range of mechanisms were being utilised to raise awareness of the consultation such as libraries, press and social media.  Partners were encouraged to raise awareness and Thames Valley Police, Healthwatch and Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service all expressed an interest in receiving and distributing Local Plan leaflets.  Partners who had specific issues they wished to raise could meet separately with the planning policy team to discuss in more detail.

Members discussed several housing related issues including affordability, mix and the provision of the transport infrastructure and health services required to support the growing population.  It was recognised that the One Public Estate approach provided an opportunity to more effectively engage and co-ordinate property and asset management across the public sector in the future.  Asked about the proposal to provide some of the required housing in South Buckinghamshire, Mr Stimpson explained the process undertaken as part of the duty to cooperate.  There was significant opposition to the proposal for a garden suburb and Slough would need to make a strong case when the plans were tested at a public inquiry.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Board noted the Issue and Options document and relevant partners agreed to receive and circulate some of the consultation documents.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Local Plan “Issues and Options” document be noted;

(b)  That partners be encouraged to participate and contribute to consultation process.

(c)  That copies of the Planning Slough’s Future – Issues and Options magazine and leaflet be made available to partners for circulation.

The Board received a comprehensive presentation from Susanna Yeoman of Berkshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust and Geoff Dennis, Head of Mental Health, on the theme of mental health and wellbeing that had been identified as one of the four key priorities of the Slough Joint Wellbeing Strategy.  The presentation included contributions from two mental health peer mentors who shared their experiences with the Board including their views on service provision.

The presentation covered the national policy context around mental health; stigma; duel diagnosis; links to isolation and loneliness; and the impact on other social and economic issues such as housing and employment.  The themed discussion provided an opportunity for the Board to consider what more could be done in partnership to improve and co-ordinate services; identify links between the mental health priority and other strategies such as the emerging housing strategy; and to promote the specific initiatives such as Slough Fest and mental health first aid training.

The Board welcomed the many positive examples of excellent work being undertaken locally, although it was recognised that further progress needed to be made.  The following areas were agreed as important priorities for further action:

·  Early intervention and prevention to help people before they needed more support could be improved by working with employers to promote campaigns such as Time to Change and in schools to raise awareness.

·  Ensuring the section on vulnerable people in the Council’s new housing strategy properly reflected the needs of people experiencing mental health issues.

·  Wellbeing should be a key consideration in the Local Plan as the design of place could encourage social connection and help tackle isolation.

·  Partners needed to work closely together on assets and facilities planning through One Public Estate to ensure that such resources were maximised.

·  The benefits of peer to peer support were recognised and there was support from Board members to consider how such activity could be extended.

(Lloyd Palmer and Roger Parkin left the meeting at this point)

The Board discussed a range of other issues including the prevalence of mental health in both young people and adults; changing attitudes to mental health and the parity of esteem with physical conditions; and the impacts of funding constraints.  Whilst members recognised that budgets were under pressure, the view was expressed that this underlined the importance of working together to maximise the resources available and improving the design of services could further improve outcomes.  It was agreed that some of good practice in Slough should be highlighted at the next partnership conference in September.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Board thanked the presenters and peer mentors for their contribution to the meeting.  A number of strategic issues and specific suggestions had been made which would be further considered and would provide a focus for the Board in delivering the mental health priority of the Joint Wellbeing Strategy.

Resolved –

(a)  That the presentation be noted.

(b)  That further consideration be given to the practical issues and actions raised during the course of the discussion with a report back to the Board at a future meeting.

(c)  That consideration be given to showcasing some of the excellent work being done locally to support people with mental health conditions at the next annual partnership conference.

The Slough Wellbeing Board Work Programme for the period between March 2017 and November 2017 was reviewed.  It was confirmed that the themed discussion at the next meeting on 29^th March would focus on the priority of protecting vulnerable children and would be led by the Interim Director of Children’s Services and the Chief Executive of Slough Children’s Services Trust.

A request had been made to include an item at the meeting in May on the annual report of the SPACE consortium and future plans.  This would be considered prior to finalising the agenda.

Resolved –  That the work programme be agreed.

The Director of Adult Social Care briefly updated the Board on the workshop held on 19^th January on the Frimley Sustainability and Transformation Plan.  It was agreed to circulate a further reminder to Board members seeking their views on the three questions posed at the end of the workshop.

Resolved –

(a)  That the update be noted; and

(b)  That the follow up questions asked of partners at the STP workshop held on 19th January 2017 be re-circulated to the Board.

An information report updating the Board on the development of the Council’s Housing Strategy was noted.  The public consultation period remained open until 17th February and partners were encouraged to contribute.

Resolved –  That the report be noted.

The Head of Policy, Partnerships and Programmes introduced an information report on the further work being undertaken by partners to develop the approach to community engagement.  The follow up session held on 11^th January to the Board’s themed discussion on this issue had been considered to be helpful in shaping the approach and a note summarising the discussion was received.  A more detailed discussion would be held at the next meeting of the Board in March.

Resolved –  That the report of the community engagement follow up session held on 11th January 2017 be noted and that a further report be considered at the next meeting.

An information report on the current draft of the Wellbeing Board’s Annual Report 2016/17 was received.  Members were invited to provide comments and input to the draft by the end of February prior to it coming back to the Board for agreement in May 2017.

Resolved –  That the first draft of the SWB Annual Report be noted and that Board members be asked to submit any further comments or ideas by the end of February 2017.

The Board noted an information report on the review of the Council’s Five Year Plan, particularly the refreshed priority outcomes and ongoing commitment to partnership working.

Resolved –  That the refreshed of the Council’s Five Year Plan 2017-2021 be noted.

Resolved –  That the report be noted.

The Board reviewed key outcomes from the meeting and learning points for future meetings.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 29^th March 2017.