Agenda and decisions

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.  

Members are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests they have in an item being discussed during the course of the item being discussed during the course of the meeting. In addition, the receipt of any gift or hospitality should be declared where the value of it was thought to have exceeded £25 (gifts) or £40 (hospitality)

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 minutes of the meeting were approved 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.

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.

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.

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.