Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The meeting was inquorate and therefore the recommendations contained within the minutes would be submitted to the WMCA Board on 13 January 2023 for formal approval.

The meeting was inquorate and therefore the recommendations contained within the minutes would be submitted to the WMCA Board on 13 January 2023 for formal approval.

Apologies for absence were received from Mark Axcell (Black Country Integrated Care Board), Dr Sue Ibbotson (Office for Health Improvement & Disparities) and Sarah Marwick (NHS England, General Practitioner Representative).

Apologies for absence were received from Mark Axcell (Black Country Integrated Care Board), Dr Sue Ibbotson (Office for Health Improvement & Disparities) and Sarah Marwick (NHS England, General Practitioner Representative).

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

The nomination of Councillor Jasbir Jaspal (Wolverhampton) and Councillor Karen McCarthy (Birmingham) to fulfil the roles of Vice-Chairs of the Wellbeing Board was agreed.     

The Chair noted that at the previous Wellbeing Board a proposal was put forward for any board members that may be interested in fulfilling the role of Vice-Chair which was previously held by Councillor Paulette Hamilton.  The Chair was delighted to announce that two board members had shown keen interest who were Councillor Karen McCarty (Birmingham) and Councillor Jasbir Jaspal (Wolverhampton).  

Justin Varney put forward a formal proposal to board members to consider acceptance of both candidates as Vice-Chairs to strengthen the resonance of the board by representation from the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull areas.   

Resolved:

(1)  That the nominations of Councillor Jasbir Jaspal (Wolverhampton) and Councillor Karen McCarthy (Birmingham) to fulfil the roles of Vice-Chairs of the Wellbeing Board be agreed.     

The presentation was noted.

The board considered a presentation from the Head of Health & Communities to update on the health proposal of the Trailblazing Devolution Deal which would continue from the work of the Health of the Region report and the recognition of how hard systems were already working in the WMCA seeking to play a role within, to be able to aid the system and to move on and shift some long-standing inequalities.  The health and wellbeing proposals would focus on four specific areas of the Devolution Deal in working with government to add value to current systems and local initiatives which were:

i)               Health Improvement Duty

ii)              Health Partnership

iii)            Health and work

iv)            Digital innovation and prevention

The Head of Health & Communities noted that the presentation was the first version which had already been seen by local authorities in the region and that the WMCA was working with government and ministers on what they would agree to and that following feedback a second version would be drafted and shared with local authorities and health partners including Integrated Care Board’s for comment and agreement.    

Resolved:

(1)  That the presentation be noted.

(1)      The progress that had been made with the work of the Mental Health Commission thus far was noted;

(2)      Feedback on the initial findings and emerging recommendations comprised in the respective ‘topic reports’, particularly indicating priority areas for action and highlighting other useful and local sources of evidence, were noted;

(3)      The identification of any key stakeholders from whom feedback on the initial findings and emerging recommendations should be sought were noted;

(4)      It was noted that there would be a final Mental Health Commission session at the end of January 2023 to start developing the final report, which would be brought back to the Wellbeing Board for consideration.

The board considered an interim report from the Head of Mental Health Partnerships to update on the work of the WMCA-convened Mental Health (MH) Commission, with a particular focus on the membership, purpose and scope on the work of the Commission thus far and forthcoming work. 

The WMCA had convened a Mental Health Commission that commenced in May 2022 due to the strong consensus that the pandemic had undermined mental health and wellbeing in the region, as deemed from the evidence gathered in the Health of the Region report. 

The Head of Mental Health Partnerships noted the six topic areas, as agreed through discussion with Commission members and highlighted the emerging recommendations from the first three topics.

The Head of Health & Communities re-iterated to the board that the interim report noted the emerging findings that were yet to be finalised and that it was hoped with the final recommendations following discussion with all of the relevant partners to ensure actionable items and identification in each of the partners to take forward.  

Action:

(1)  The Chair agreed to an action raised by Justin Varney for board members to receive the emerging recommendations and to share within their respective organisations and feedback to the Head of Mental Health Partnerships as to whether the recommendations were pragmatic and achievable.  

Resolved:

(1)  That the progress that had been made with the work of the Mental Health Commission thus far be noted;

(2)  That the feedback on the initial findings and emerging recommendations comprised in the respective ‘topic reports’, particularly indicating priority areas for action and highlighting other useful and local sources of evidence, be noted;

(3)  That the identification of any key stakeholders from whom feedback on the initial findings and emerging recommendations should be sought be noted;

(4)  That it be noted that there would be a final Mental Health Commission session at the end of January 2023 to start developing the final report, which would be brought back to the Wellbeing Board for consideration.

(1)      The background and current activity in this area was noted;

(2)      The additional activity, including specific interventions, areas of best practice and key stakeholders to engage, to amplify ‘health in all policies’ in employment and skills were noted.

(3)      If there was sufficient interest and availability, it was agreed that a board lead be appointed for more regular consultation to advise further development in this area of work.

The board considered a report from the Head of Health & Communities to follow the continued evolution of the WMCA’s role in the health and wellbeing space, and agreement around the key contribution it can uniquely make on the wider determinants of heath through its devolved levers and begin to realise the proposition of a ‘health in all policies’ (HIAP) approach, starting with skills and employment.

The Head of Health & Communities gave a brief overview of the WMCA skills portfolio, followed by insight into the impact of skills (and employment and income) on health and current and emerging activity for further development.  

The Director of Employment & Skills provided a brief overview of the Skills Team and noted annual funding received which was used to commission a wide range of skills programmes and that it would be an exciting opportunity to work with the Health Team within the same directorate to join workstreams together to benefit employment and skills on health.

Resolved:

(1)      That the background and current activity in this area be noted;

(2)      That the additional activity, including specific interventions, areas of best practice and key stakeholders to engage, to amplify ‘health in all policies’ in employment and skills be noted.

(3)      If there was sufficient interest and availability, it be agreed that a board lead be appointed for more regular consultation to advise further development in this area of work.

(1)      The overview of the Commonwealth Games Sport and Physical Activity legacy delivery was noted;

(2)      A regular briefing be received on the impact and learning on Commonwealth Games physical activity delivery.  Although the WMCA was not accountable, there was considerable value in highlighting the progress, impact and learning;

(3)      It was agreed to receive a report for approval at the next meeting on the WMCA and Sport England partnership, setting out intentions on contributing to the proposed health duty and also enabling the delivery of a long-lasting Games physical activity legacy, co-designed with Wellbeing Board stakeholders.

The board considered a report where a presentation was also shared from the Strategic Lead for Wellbeing & Prevention to provide a summary of the Commonwealth Games Physical Activity and Wellbeing legacy and how the WMCA, Sport England and partners were working together to ensure that the Games was a catalyst for long term change to improve health and reduce inequalities by getting more people active, and in by doing so, setting out the intentions to develop a long-term Sport England and WMCA partnership.

The agenda item included a joint presentation by the Strategic Lead for Wellbeing & Prevention and Adam Rigarlsford from Sport England which highlighted the achievements and opportunities the Games had presented to the West Midlands region, legacy ambitions and commitments for physical activity and wellbeing and to build on the Mental Health Commission sport and physical activity recommendations within the partnership plan. 

Justin Varney noted the importance as a board to maintain a laser focus on physical inactivity and ambition to increase people achieving less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week as although the Games had reinvigorated people’s passion and minds, the inactivity challenge remained a long-term concern and challenge.  Justin further noted it would be helpful for the board to support this partnership approach in asking Integrated Care Systems in what they were doing in relation to secondary prevention in physical activity for creating change and embedment.

The Chair suggested whether more should be undertaken to support walking groups which not only brought people together to walk but also addressed other issues such as loneliness.  

The Strategic Lead for Wellbeing & Prevention agreed with the comments received for a laser focus from locality up to region in targeting people doing less than 30 minutes per week physical activity and noted that walking and cycling during the Games was the biggest opportunity and highest evidence based  to work better as a system with Transport for West Midlands colleagues and the Walking & Cycling Commissioner to begin to identify how to instigate that larger behaviour change to positively complement environmental change, air quality and community wellbeing with a partnership paper to be brought to a future board meeting.

The Chair summarised from the discussions that there were a lot of areas the report noted a focus on for the Games legacy, however out of the discussions there were a few areas that were not so obvious and were areas the board would like to address inactivity and in the identification of a board member to champion this piece of work through expressions of interest and to receive a further update report at a future board meeting.            

Resolved:

(1)           That the overview of the Commonwealth Games Sport and Physical Activity legacy delivery be noted;

(2)           A regular briefing be received on the impact and learning on Commonwealth Games physical activity delivery.  Although the WMCA was not accountable, there was considerable value in highlighting the progress, impact and learning;

 (3)     It be agreed to receive a report for approval at the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

(1)      The progress to date on the 2022/23 High Level Deliverables was noted;

(2)      It was agreed that the board continued to receive an update on the High Level Deliverables at each future meeting.

The board considered a report from the Head of Health & Communities to outline the progress made against high level deliverables agreed by the Wellbeing Board in July 2022.

In response to a question from Councillor Karen McCarthy who queried the disparity in the Thrive into Work Key Performance Indicator figures lower for Birmingham and Solihull areas as compared to other areas of the region, the Head of Health & Communities noted further data had been received since the data was published within the report, however was already aware of the disparity and would seek further analysis from the performance team and would respond directly with an update to Councillor McCarthy and Councillor Tony Dicicco. 

Action:

(1)  The Chair agreed to a suggestion from the Thrive into Work – Strategy & Delivery Consultant to provide a report at a future Wellbeing Board  meeting on the Thrive into Work funding allocation and activities of the programme.  

Resolved:

(1)      That the progress to date on the 2022/23 High Level Deliverables be
           noted;

(2)      That it be agreed that the board continued to receive an update on the High Level Deliverables at each future meeting.