Issue - meetings

Further to the general update provided at the last Panel meeting regarding the transfer of Public Health functions from the Primary Care Trust to the Council, to receive a report concerning the related public health role, responsibilities and contributions of the Environment, Culture and Communities Department.

The Panel received a report regarding the transfer of Public Health functions from the Primary Care Trust to the Council and the related public health role, responsibilities and contributions of the Environment, Culture and Communities Department.

The Public Health function was fundamentally about creating and maintaining the conditions that promoted good health and ensured that the population as a whole had the capability to protect their own health or was supported in doing so. This function was delivered by all departments within the Council and the services provided by the Environment, Culture and Communities already contributed to this agenda and had the potential to make an even bigger impact on the heath of the population once responsibility for public health was vested in the Council from April 2013.

Prior to considering specifics, it was important for the Panel to note the four domains within which local authorities were expected to work:

• Domain 1: Improving the wider determinants of health
• Domain 2: Health improvement
• Domain 3: Health Protection
• Domain 4: Healthcare, public health and preventing premature mortality

In response to Members’ questions, the following points were made:

• The breakfast club was thought to be useful as children would learn well if they were fed in the mornings.
• Those in receipt of benefits may be entitled to discounted leisure activities with their e+ card.
• Panel Members interested in forming a working group jointly with the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel regarding public health were Councillors Mrs Angell, Finch and Gbadebo.
• Balance was needed in relation to reducing service costs and increasing participation in activities to create income for the Council. The aim was for people to be encouraged to participate in activities and for activities to be accessible. If and when the pensionable age changed, then concessions may change as well for people over the age of 60 years.

The Panel noted:

1. the contribution that was currently being made would continue to be made by the Department in improving public health within the borough; and

2. the opportunity to influence the future provision of public health services by ensuring the council embraced the full range of public heath services that could be provided.