Agenda item

Update on referral from the Cabinet meeting 21 July 2020

Minutes:

At the previous meeting the Committee had debated motions in support of the Local Authority Mental Health Challenge and the Healthy Weight Declaration.  Notes to summarise and supplement the debate, with recommendations for the Committee to approve, had been circulated.

 

Andrew Ennis, Service Lead Environmental Health and Car Parks, presented the notes on the Local Authority Mental Health Challenge and highlighted the range of commitments and expertise which would be required, some of which was beyond existing resources and budgets.

 

Members discussed the following points:

·         The prevalence of mental health problems was significant and likely to worsen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic

·         44 other District Councils had Mental Health Champions and had signed the Challenge

·         Cabinet was being asked at its next meeting to consider the re-introduction of a limited number of Member Champions, including a Mental Health Champion and this was supported by the Committee

·         There was support for the appointment of a dedicated Officer to engage with local communities

·         There was a need to ensure that poor mental health did not become mental illness

·         The Council needed a robust framework to safeguard the mental health of all Members and Officers

·         Members noted the recommendation to Cabinet of the Housing Review Board to approve the need for the recruitment of a specialist Mental Health Support Officer to work within the housing services team

 

Cllr Hall proposed the following recommendations to Cabinet which were seconded by Cllr de Saram and RESOLVED:

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

1.    That Cabinet notes that our Public Health Strategic Plan already recognises the importance of mental as well as physical health

2.    That during the Covid-recovery phase we continue to work with our partners within existing parameters

3.    That Cabinet notes that specialist skill sets are required for mental health interventions; this is the role of the Devon Partnership Trust and other agencies.  EDDC does not have dedicated or experienced officer resource for mental health

4.    As an interim measure to ensure that Members and Officers are signposted to appropriate support if necessary

5.    That surveys are sent to Members and Officers to capture information on the current state of mental health

6.    That Cabinet is requested to consider appointing a lead Officer for mental health in the organisation in conjunction with the request for a mental health Officer from the housing service and that Cabinet agrees the recommendation to appoint a Member Champion for mental health

7.    That bespoke training for Members and Officers be provided on mental health.

 

It was noted during the course of the meeting that the minutes would be added as a late item to the agenda for the Cabinet meeting of 30 September 2020.

 

Andrew Ennis presented the notes on the Healthy Weight Declaration and outlined the 14 commitments which would be required should the Council sign up to the Declaration.

 

It was noted that, to date, only County Councils had signed up to the Declaration.

 

Cllr de Saram proposed the following recommendations to Cabinet which were seconded by Cllr Gazzard and RESOLVED:

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

1.    That Cabinet notes the contribution that our activities identified in our Public Health Strategic Plan make towards encouraging healthy weight

2.    That during the Covid-recovery phase we continue to work with our partners within existing parameters

3.    That Cabinet recognises that our partners’ priorities are also changing in response to Covid-recovery

4.    That Cabinet notes that our current priorities do not offer us the scope to afford additional resourcing at this time, but that this is reviewed after six months

 

It was agreed that the Healthy Weight Declaration be added to the Forward Plan in order to keep the matter under review.

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: