Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Mike Bird (Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council), Councillor Ian Brookfield (City of Wolverhampton Council), Councillor George Duggins (Coventry City Council), Councillor Karen Grinsell (Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council), Councillor Sebastian Lowe (Rugby Borough Council), Councillor Izzi Seccombe (Warwickshire County Council), Henrietta Brearley (Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce), Paul Jennings (NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG), Catherine Mangan (Higher Education), Sarah Middleton (Black Country Consortium), Jatinder Sharma ( Further Education) and Alison Tonge (NHSE).

Paul Sherriff for Paul Jennings (Birmingham and Solihull CCG).

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

No declarations of interest were made relative to items under consideration at the meeting.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Public Service Reform that provided a programme update on Public Service Reform.

The Director of Public Service Reform, Henry Kippin outlined the report, provided an update on key activities across the PSR workstreams; wellbeing, Thrive, inclusive growth and environment and set out the next steps for each of the programmes.

In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Kettle regarding the work of the board and whether there was any duplication with the work being undertaken by local authorities, the Director of Public Service Reform explained that the WMCA occupies a different space to that occupied by local authorities. He advised that the WMCA acts as the ‘glue’ for the region and seeks to add value by leveraging in money for the West Midlands. 

In relation to a supplementary question from Councillor Kettle as to how much money the WMCA has been awarded for the PSR workstreams, the Director of Public Service Reform reported that he would have check on the figure and advise Councillor Kettle accordingly but added the amount was in the region of tens of millions.

In relation to an enquiry from Laura Caulfield as to whether the findings from the Wellbeing Premium Trial would be reported to this board, the Director of Public Service Reform confirmed that the outcome/learning from the pilot would be considered by the board at a future meeting.

Resolved: That the update of the PSR Team including key themes for each area moving forward be noted.

The board considered a report of the Director of Public Service Reform that sought to update and engage members in the progress made to date by the West Midlands Homelessness Taskforce on establishing a voluntary ‘Commitment to Collaborate’ across public services and to prevent and relieve homelessness in the region.

The report outlined the background to the West Midlands Homelessness Taskforce and sets out five key objectives aimed at designing out homelessness across the region, including the development of a voluntary commitment ‘Commitment to Collaborate’ building on the statutory ‘Duty to Refer’ and proposed next steps.

It was noted that the ‘Commitment to Collaborate’ was endorsed by the WMCA Board in June 2019.

The Independent Chair of the Homelessness Taskforce, Jean Templeton Chair of the Homeless Taskforce Members’ Advisory Group, Councillor Sharon Thompson and Programme Manager – Homelessness, Neelam Sunder were in attendance to present the report and to respond to any enquiries from members.

In relation to an enquiry from Laura Caulfield with regards to the involvement of  voluntary organisations in the Homelessness Task Force, Jean Templeton reported that the voluntary sector was represented and a lot of ‘asks’ were coming from  the voluntary sector.

In relation to a comment from David Stevens regarding how to help those individuals who have no recourse to public funding, Jean Templeton advised that charitable funding could be utilised for this purpose and reported of the need to use multiple resources creatively.

Paul Sherriff noted that many policies have unintended consequences and reported of the need to give consideration to any unintended consequences at the design and planning stages of policies before they are implemented.

Jean Templeton reported that she liked the idea of exploring unintended consequences further and considered this concept could be taken forward in the same way as an equalities impact assessment which would ensure policies are tested before decisions are taken.

Councillor Sharon Thompson outlined the work being undertaken in Birmingham with the Homelessness Task Force and Housing First and how the ‘Commitment to Collaborate’ was being developed in the city.

The Chair thanked colleagues for the impressive work being undertaken.

Resolved:

1.    That progress made by the West Midlands Homelessness Taskforce on establishing a voluntary commitment to collaborate across public services to prevent and relieve homelessness across the region be noted and endorsed;

2.    That the development of a practical toolkit for implementation by public sector partners be agreed;

3.    That the board actively champion the use of this toolkit and commit to collaborate with member local authorities, public sector agencies with a view to making a meaningful and public commitment as a region be agreed and

4.    That authority be delegated to the PSR Portfolio Holder, Members’ Advisory Group Chair and Homelessness Taskforce Chair to sign off the toolkit before the launch and wider circulation within the WMCA area be endorsed.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Public Service Reform that outlined the basis for a collaborative blueprint for place based violence, vulnerability and exploitation prevention and reduction in the West Midlands.

The report set out the background to establishing a Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), setting out the principles, context, opportunities and next steps.

The Head of Public Service Reform and Interim Implementation Lead for the Violence Reduction Unit, Claire Dhami was in attendance to outline the report and to respond to enquiries from members.

Tom McNeil commented that he was appreciative that the report acknowledged the work undertaken by the Police and Crime Commissioner on violence reduction and that the Violence Reduction Unit would bring together partner organisations to build on the work of the Violence Prevention Alliance and the Preventing Violence Against Vulnerable People Board.

The Chair noted that Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council had funded a perpetrators programme a few years ago and reported of the need to consider the cost of the perpetrator to society.

Sue Ibbotson reported that the public health approach would look at risk factors related to adversity alongside protective factors that make people feel resilient and considered a lot of work needs to be done in this area.

Claire Dhami reported that she would map out the activity of what currently happens across the region to include what works to support areas of best practice. 

Resolved:

1.    That progress to date on the establishment of a regional approach to violence, vulnerability and exploitation and the launch of a regional Violence Reduction Unit on 2 October 2019 at Grand Central Wolverhampton be noted ;

2.    That  the board commit to support the Violence Reduction Unit’s ‘public health and prevention programme-led approach within relevant local forums be endorsed and

3.    That regular updates from the Violence Reduction Unit, including specifically on areas where the Public Service Reform Board could better support and help embed its work within the constituent areas of the WMCA be agreed.

The Acting Head of Inclusive Growth, Claire Spencer reported that she had a set of tools that she would like to test with colleagues.

The tools comprised of the Inclusive Growth Unit, the Inclusive Growth Framework and the Decision Making Tool Kit which were designed to disrupt business as usual.

Councillor Jones considered that is was important that we change the way we look at things and matters should be referred back to Government setting out any barriers, such as unintended consequences.

Claire Spencer concurred with Councillor Jones and the need to articulate to Government what good looks like.

The Chair reported of the need to be able to influence what happens in our own areas.

Claire Spencer thanked colleagues for their comments.

The terms of reference for the board were submitted for information and discussion.

In relation to an enquiry from Vanessa Jardine regarding the role of this board with regards to the WMCA, the Director of Public Sector Reform advised that the board oversees the work of the WMCA with regards to public service reform and inclusive growth and seeks to collaborate with colleagues in these areas across the region.

In relation to the membership of the board, it was agreed that consideration would be given with regards to representatives from the public sector on the board.

Resolved:

1.    That the terms of reference for the board be noted and

2.    That consideration be given to the public sector representatives on the board.