The Chair opened the meeting and reminded everyone that the meeting was being webcast and a copy is retained on the Council’s website for two years

Apologies had been received from Councillor Ivan Camphor.

Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests and any other relevant interest and to state the nature of the interest.

The following declarations were made:

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2023.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2023 be approved subject to Councillor Angela Davies declaration of a pecuniary interest being changed to a personal interest.

Debbie Williams of the Wirral Motor Neurone Disease Association asked the committee if Wirral council were fully committed to honouring their commitment to the MND charter signed in 2017. In particular the early referral to social care services and to timely access to equipment and home adaptations

The Chair responded, Wirral Council were fully committed to adhering to the principles of the MND Charter and summarised the services currently in place for those who are in need.

Tony Swarbrick of the Wirral Motor Neurone Disease Association asked a question; Would MND patients continue to be a high priority when referrals were made to Adult Social Services?

The Chair responded; Supporting people with MND and their carers would continue to be a high priority for the Council. Responses to those in need of care would be timely and person centred.

The Chair read a question on behalf of Julie Andrew; Why was the Care Act assessment and the Care Act review documentation so poor for Wirral residents and why do safeguarding investigations need to be forced on people when they did not want to be safeguarded against?

The Chair responded by summarising the requests of The Care Act 2014 legislation. A person’s Mental Capacity was an important consideration and where a person has the mental capacity to make a decision, and chooses not to proceed with safeguarding procedures, then this could often be respected.

The appendices to this report may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact helenstott@wirral.gov.uk if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Director of Public Health, and the Assistant Director of Public Health, introduced the report to the committee. The report updated members on the partnership work undertaken to develop a Wirral Health Protection Strategy. The report described how the Wirral Health Protection Board planned to face future challenges using the experience gained throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The report explained the importance of a collaborative approach toward health protection in order to improve health and wellbeing, as well as protecting the local economy and reduce health inequalities. Officers detailed how the strategy will contribute to the aims of the Forward Plan, particularly promoting Active and Healthy Lives.

Officers explained to members that the next step would be to develop a detailed implementation plan and that progress updates would return to committee. Members queried update of the MMR vaccine and were advised that this is a national issue where resposnsibilty for communication is between the NHS and Local Authorities.

Further questions were asked by Members regarding preparedness for future pandemics and were pleased to see a wide ranging focus within the strategy, such as that on Hepatitis B and C, and HIV. Members also queried the financial aspect of the strategy and whether the grant would be ring fenced. Officers were asked to provide baseline information prior to implementation to be able to compare the effects of the strategy.

Officers responded informing members that that requested information would be detailed within the progress report as well as being monitored by the Youth Protection Board, and that all partners were actively engaged with the strategy.

Members felt that 6-monthly monitoring was more appropriate than annually.

On a motion by Councillor Amanda Onwuemene, seconded by Councillor Jason Walsh, it was

Resolved – That the Wirral Health Protection Strategy 2023-2027 and Delivery Plan be approved and the Director of Public Health be requested to report back after six months of implementation and six months prior to completion as well as annually to monitor progress.

The Director of Care and Health introduced the report which summarised the outcomes of the recent budget workshops between Members and senior officers. The report also provided an update on the 2023/2024 budget setting process, including details of recently developed budget options.

Members requested an update on the Public Health grant as soon as it was readily available.

Resolved – That

(1)  The Budget Workshop feedback and outcomes, as detailed in Appendices 2 & 3, be agreed and reported to Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.

(2)  The latest budget information provided to Policy and Resources Committee in January be noted.

The appendices to this report may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact alisonmarchini@wirral.gov.uk if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Director of Adults, Health and Strategy Communications, introduced the report. The report updated the committee on the work of the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (WSAPB) and advise on the reporting schedules of the boards annual reports.

Members commented on the attendance of care home staff at a previous meeting of the WSAPB and expressed how helpful their insight was.

Members queried if there would be a cost to third sector parties to take up the multiagency training offered by the board, to which officers responded that there would be no charge for training.

Resolved – That the update report in relation to the work of the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board and the reporting schedule for future Annual reports be noted.

Head of Legal Services, introduced the report of the Director of Law and Governance which provided the Committee with an opportunity to plan and review its work across the municipal year.

Resolved – that the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee work programme for the remainder of the 2022/23 municipal year be noted.

The following items contain exempt information.

RECOMMENDATION:  That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

Resolved – That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion

Resolved – That the exempt appendix be noted.