Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The meeting was inquorate and therefore the decisions taken at the meeting would be ratified at the WMCA Board in June 2024.   

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Margaret Bell (Warwickshire County Council), Councillor Julian Gutteridge (Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council), Mark Axcell (Black Country Integrated Care Board), Philip Johns (Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board), Lisa Stalley-Green (Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board) and Pete Wilson (West Midlands Fire Service).

The Governance Services Officer noted that the meeting was inquorate and the recommendations contained within the reports would be ratified at 14 June WMCA Board.  

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Margaret Bell (Warwickshire County Council), Councillor Julian Gutteridge (Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council), Mark Axcell (Black Country Integrated Care Board), Philip Johns (Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board), Lisa Stalley-Green (Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board) and Pete Wilson (West Midlands Fire Service).

The board received a verbal update from the Head of Health and Communities and Professor Mike Wade on the first meeting of the Health Equity Advisory Council which was chaired by the Mayor of the West Midlands on 30 January.  The meeting was well attended by all chief executives of the Integrated Care Boards, chairs of the Integrated Care Partnership’s, as well as the West Midlands Association of Directors of Public Health and the regional director of public health.

The focus of discussion during the meeting enabled members of the advisory council to reflect on the draft 2023 Health of the Region report following the previous iteration in 2020 where members were saddened by the lack of traction and progress made in the health inequality space since the previous report, however there was a strong commitment across public health organisations to better understand health equity with the support of the mayor and the West Midlands Combined Authority in understanding the advantages, additionality and what that meant in terms of helping to provide a more strategic alignment and direction to support the Wellbeing Board and the authority. 

Professor Wade noted that during the Health Equity Advisory Council meeting, that there were positive recommendations and actions that were agreed in the idea of a Marmot region being explored for consideration and a workshop for Integrated Care Boards to work collaboratively with colleagues from the West Midlands Combined Authority to think and explore their fourth purpose in supporting local economies in supporting local communities.        

The Chair invited the Head of Health and Communities to update the board on the first meeting of the Health Equity Advisory Council (HEAC).  The meeting was held on 30 January 2024 and was chaired by the Mayor of the West Midlands.  The meeting was well attended by members from the West Midlands Integrated Care Boards (ICB’s), Integrated Care Partnerships (ICP’s) and West Midlands Association of Directors of Public Health (WMADPH).

Professor Mike Wade, Regional Director of Public Health, introduced himself to the board to advise that he was a member of HEAC.  He summarised the key discussion points and recommendations from the meeting and noted that members reflected on the draft 2023 Health of the Region report following the previous iteration in 2020.  Members were saddened by the lack of traction and progression for health inequality in the region, however, there was a strong commitment across public health organisations to comprehend health equity with the support of the Mayor and the WMCA to work collaboratively to strengthen the additionality and identify advantages.

The commitment and collaborative work of HEAC would enable submission of recommendations to the Wellbeing Board.  The recommendations would provide assurance to the Wellbeing Board when presented for scrutiny, oversight and assignment, that initiatives that had a direct impact, or overlap with healthcare services and public health, had received the support of the senior health leadership. 

The minutes of the meeting were approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

Resolved:

(1)  The overview, updates and insights regarding the Improving Health and Reducing Inequalities Combined Authorities Programme as set out in the paper was noted.

(2)  The approach being taken by the Combined Authorities Programme central team to sustain capacity within the West Midlands Combined Authority and other participating combined authorities to prioritise work and make tangible progress on improving health and reducing inequalities was reviewed.

The board considered a report and were shown a presentation from the Delivery Manager for the Combined Authorities Programme, to present an overview and emerging insights of the programme that commenced delivery in October 2023.  Further updates and findings from the programme would be reported to future board meetings and the development of a webpage on the WMCA’s website for information on aims, delivery and further findings from the programme.

Members of the board welcomed the report and were very supportive of the framework and collaborative work with other combined authorities in England, to strengthen the overall aims and delivery of the programme.   

The Chair recommended that the board receive an update to the programme in three to four months’ time.

Recommended to the WMCA Board:

(1)  The overview, updates and insights regarding the Improving Health and Reducing Inequalities Combined Authorities Programme as set out in the paper be noted.

(2)  The approach being taken by the Combined Authorities Programme central team to sustain capacity within the WMCA and other participating combined authorities to prioritise work and make tangible progress on improving health and reducing inequalities be reviewed.

Resolved:

(1)  The approach taken in implementing a Health in All Policies approach, in line with previous board reports was reviewed.

(2)  The example of working with Housing, Property and Regeneration was noted.

(3)  Advised on potential collaboration, joint working and propagation of work from across West Midlands Combined Authority region partners.

The board considered a report and were shown a presentation from the Head of Health and Communities to provide an update on the implementation of a Health in All Policies approach within the WMCA.

The Head of Health and Communities introduced the Strategic Lead for Wellbeing and Prevention to update the board on the defined approach being taken to Health in All Policies, with a clearer focus on joint working, shared outcomes and joint accountability that was showcased through the presentation regarding the implementation of this approach with the WMCA’s Housing, Property and Regeneration Directorate.

Members of the board welcomed the approach and collaboration between directorates to take forward the agreed wellbeing priorities across WMCA areas of responsibilities to act on health inequalities across the wider determinants of health, using a Health in All Policies approach.     

In regard to the health and housing theme, the following was noted from members of the board:

·       To support residents from anti-social behaviour issues who may feel imprisoned in their own homes;

·       Consideration of place-based community land trusts to allow local residents to partake in a democratic way to contribute towards positive wellbeing.

The Strategic Lead for Wellbeing and Prevention welcomed and agreed with the comments received regarding the example given of the Health in All Policies approach to housing.  He noted that the Health and Communities team was keen to explore these elements further around safety and community well-being. 

Recommended to the WMCA Board:

(1)  The approach taken in implementing a Health in All Policies approach, in line with previous board reports be reviewed.

(2)  The example of working with Housing, Property and Regeneration be noted.

(3)  To advise on potential collaboration, joint working and propagation of work from across West Midlands Combined Authority region partners.

Resolved:

(1)  The recent and forthcoming changes to the Thrive into Work and Thrive at Work programmes was noted.

(2)  Provided recommendations and strategic steer for future developments on either or both Thrive programmes.

The board considered a report from the Strategic Lead for Health, Employment and Economy, to provide a detailed account of recent and forthcoming changes on each of the Thrive programmes.

Members of the board reflected on the positive engagement and impact the programmes had delivered pre-covid, notwithstanding the challenges met during covid. 

Additionally, members of the board were pleased to note from the report that highlighted new projects for programme delivery that were due for implementation and that forthcoming structural changes to programme operations, in particular,  the Thrive at Work framework, that responded to the post-covid world of work and current economic climate changes to support clients.

Recommended to the WMCA Board:

(1)  The recent and forthcoming changes to the Thrive into Work and Thrive at Work programmes be noted.

(2)  To provide recommendations and strategic steer for future developments on either or both Thrive programmes.

Resolved:

(1)  The progress against high level deliverables for 2023/24 was noted.

(2)  The brief updates against key delivery programmes aligned to the high level deliverables was noted and discussed.

(3)  To provide leadership and direction for proposed high level deliverables for 2024/25 was agreed.

The board considered a report from the Head of Health and Communities to provide an update on the progress made against high level deliverables for 2023/24.

The Head of Health and Communities introduced the Senior Delivery Manager for  Healthy Communities and Mental Wellbeing, to provide the board with brief updates on key initiatives since the publication of the 2023 West Midlands Mental Health Commission that had been mobilised by the WMCA as outlined within the report.

The Head of Health and Communities then introduced the Inclusive Communities Strategic Lead who shared a presentation to provide an update and statistics to community groups awarded the grant and geography of applications received in the West Midlands.  

Recommended to the WMCA Board:

(1)  The progress against high level deliverables for 2023/24 be noted.

(2)  The brief updates against key delivery programmes aligned to the high level deliverables be noted and discussed.

(3)  To provide leadership and direction for proposed high level deliverables for 2024/25 be agreed.