Agenda item

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

The chair provided an update on dog fouling stats in the borough as requested at a previous meeting when scrutinising Councillor David Ellis’ Public Protection portfolio. It was confirmed that:

·       Last year was the best year for catching dog fouling and issuing fixed penalty notices (FPN)

·       There were ten FPN in total between April 2021 and March 2022

·       The fines were all £100 and all of them have been paid

·       There were three FPN issued in the previous year, April 2020 to March 2021

·       The increased number of fines was due to a higher number of CCTV reports

·       DNA was not taken from any case

Members welcomed Councillor Henry Wheeler to the meeting to examine the Housing, Health & Wellbeing portfolio. Councillor Wheeler gave a presentation to members about his portfolio, giving them the opportunity to ask any questions.

Members asked whether Councillor Wheeler could use his position as a member of the Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board to find out details of the present state of GP surgeries in Gedling. He explained that:

·        The Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board is a statutory public health function that aims to find out what Nottinghamshire needs to improve in health and wellbeing and to develop a strategy and delivery plan to achieve this

·        The board is currently reviewing its strategy for 2022 onwards. GPs fall under primary care provision, which is not a public health function

·        The governance for GP provision falls under the umbrella of the emerging Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS). GP surgeries are part of the local Primary Care Network structure of the ICS.

·        There are four Primary care Networks (PCNs) that cut across the boundaries of Gedling Borough, which are

-        Byron PCN serves: Bestwood Village, Papplewick, Linby;

-        Arnold and Calverton PCN serves: Arnold and Calverton and surrounding villages;

-        Arrow Health PCN serves: Carlton, Daybrook, Mapperley, Burton Joyce; and

-        Synergy Health PCN serves: Carlton, Mapperley, Netherfield, Burton Joyce.

·        The latest figures provided by Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) show there are 107 GPs working locally within the structure.

The committee discussed how developer contributions from new housing developments would feed through into investment in GP provision. Councillor Wheeler confirmed that Gedling Borough Council consulted the Clinical Commissioning Group Integrated Care Partnership on all planning applications received, which applied to any major residential development of ten or more new dwellings and any new residential institution (such as a care home). 

When consulted, the CCG assess the likely impact of the new resident population created by development in terms of number of additional GP consultations. The calculation is based on a methodology provided by the Department of Health and takes into account the infrastructure (accommodation) requirement for consulting and treatment rooms. It was also noted that consultations with the CCG provide details of emerging plans to address capacity issues and seek to justify that contributions sought are fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development.

A discussion on how the Covid-19 pandemic affected the mental health of residents was had and it was noted that:

·       Around a third of adults and young people said their mental health is worse since March 2020.

·       58% of the people receiving benefits has said their mental health is currently poor.

·       One in five adults did not seek support during the pandemic because they didn’t think their problem was serious enough.

·       Nine in ten young people (88%) have said that loneliness has made their mental health worse during the pandemic.

·       The number of young people with mental health problems has risen from one in nine to one in six. 1.6 million adults are on the waiting list for mental health treatment and a further 8 million can’t get onto the waiting list.

·       The latest data showing the prevalence of depression in the Borough, recorded by GP practices, is below the national average, but has seen some increases in parts of the Borough according 2020/21 figures.

·       During the 12 months to mid-March 2022 - the total number of referrals made to the Long COVID clinic in Nottinghamshire are 1169

·       Social prescribing can help improve patient mental health and wellbeing by connecting patients to activities in the community. Social prescribing teams were implemented across South Nottinghamshire in 2020. Age UK employs social prescribing link workers who work directly with patients to signpost them into community activity.

·       The Council is working in partnership with Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Services to implement additional resource that will further support community groups across South Notts to support residents with their health and wellbeing.

Finally, the measures the Council were taking to reduce its use of temporary accommodation was discussed. Councillor Henry Wheeler confirmed that:

·       Following Cabinet approval in January 2021 of the temporary accommodation options appraisal, the Council has now taken ownership of six properties located within the Borough and aims to have all of these available in the oncoming weeks to those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, following the completion of some essential works

·       Work continues to identify and secure the two remaining properties required but since Christmas the market has slowed considerably and the number of properties within the required price bracket have been limited

·       Viewings have been undertaken but only a few specific properties have been identified as suitable and following final offers the Council has been unsuccessful

·       Gedling Borough Council have managed to purchase a mixture of properties spread around the Borough. The project is also currently on budget despite an overall increase in prices since January 2021.

·       Gedling Borough Council is prioritising reducing expenditure on bed and breakfast accommodation by securing more temporary accommodation

·       Further progress is being made to secure several Nottinghamshire County Council caretaker bungalow properties on two year leases to further strengthen the council’s temporary accommodation portfolio

·       Gedling Borough Council continue to try to prevent households from being made homeless rather than deal with the case once this has occurred. To aid this, the council continue to improve and investigate new proactive prevention measures.

It was noted that some of the projects/initiatives used in Gedling to reduce homelessness and the need for temporary accommodation are as follows:

·     Call before you serve (CB4US) – A scheme funded to work with landlords to establish what can be achieved to avoid a notice being served and enforced.

·     Goodge ads – A means of targeting our customers. Therefore when anyone within the Borough uses a google search relating to evictions or a related them it signposts them to Gedling BC’s webpages for advice and contact numbers etc. Also signposts landlords to the CB4US service.

·     Advice and support in doctor’s surgeries. A pilot scheme ran during Covid to help people who approach their doctor for help and may need signposting to housing needs or other welfare support services.

·     Successful joint funding bids were made in 2021 (GBC, RBC and BBC) to secure a total 15 units across the 3 districts for those individuals with a history of or recently found rough sleeping. Each self-contained unit will also have wrap around support provided by Framework.

·     Following the Domestic Violence bill work has been undertaken and new funded roles will be created within JUNO Women’s Aid. Funding has been provided to aid the Councils sanctuary scheme aimed at helping victims remain in their property safely.

RESOLVED:

1)    To thank Councillor Wheeler for attending the meeting; and

2)    To note the information.