Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To approve the Minutes  of the meeting held on 7 March 2023 (Minute Nos. 765 -  772) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meetings held on 7 March 2023 (Minute Nos.765 – 772) and 17 May 2023 (Minute. Nos. 23 - 24) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct records.

In introducing the Forward Decisions Plan (FDP), the Head of Housing and Communities said the Housing Assistance Policy had been discussed at the Member briefing prior to the meeting and scoping with Members on the Policy would start soon. 

Turning to the Nightly Let Procurement Award, she said there was no framework in place for Temporary Accommodation and the procurement process unsuccessful so the decision would be removed from the FDP but would be kept under review. 

The Head of Housing and Communities said that demand for Temporary Accommodation was high and there was significant budget overspend last financial year, and this was being looked at, and would be brought to the next Committee.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Forward Decisions Plan be noted.

The Chair introduced Nikki Teesdale, Director of Health and Care Integration and Improvement (Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership) who gave an overview of Health and Community Care support. She evidenced the achievements of the partnership as set out in the report and said the focus was on Health Equalities.  Referring to future plans, Nikki advised that two Community Diagnostic Centres were being set up – one in Medway and the other at the Isle of Sheppey Community Hospital, utilising existing NHS estate.  She said that the Sheppey site would offer services including CT, MRI, Ultrasound, X-ray and Lung Function testing, in addition to screening. Nikki said the Sheppey Diagnostic Centre would be one of the first in the UK to offer targeted lung health checks for early screening of lung cancer.  She said the Diagnostic Centre would be used in conjunction with the Minster Frailty Ward which opened at the beginning of 2023.

Nikki then spoke about the Community Health Catalyst Programme which, in conjunction with the voluntary sector, sought to engage with residents in the community who did not always come forward for support.  She said funding had been made available to the voluntary sector to support residents who identified the needs within the community.

The Chair advised Members that the Swale Borough Council (SBC) representative on the Health and Care Partnership Medway Swale was Emma Wiggins.

Members were invited to ask questions, which included:

·                Where would the Diagnostic Centre be located as there was a lack of public transport in the area?;

·                GP’s were often the weak link to be called to screening;

·                highlighted the life expectancy ages in different areas of Swale as set out on page 8 of the report;

·                services were not always integrated;

·                questioned whether the higher than national asthma statistic was as a result of Air Quality Management Areas?;

·                what was the capacity of the Diagnostic Centre and when would it be fully opened?; and

·                the report was informative and positive for the future.

In response, Nikki said the Diagnostic Centre would be based at Sheppey Hospital using a void space and the CT Scanner was a mobile unit in the car park.  She said transport was a concern and they were looking at taking the diagnostic equipment into the community and were liaising with Sheppey Community Bus.  Nikki said the screening process would be delivered by national teams, not by GP’s, and the targeted lung health checks would work differently.  She said the highest levels of asthma were in the deprived areas of Sheerness, often caused by damp housing, and the causes, impacts and preventions of ill health needed to be looked at as the NHS was not sustainable.  Nikki said the Diagnostic Centre would open in phases, the equipment was ready to be installed when the sites were ready and she expected the centre to be fully open by the end of the 2023 with all parts of the centre to be fully open within the next two years.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 174.

The Chair advised that five nominations had been received to sit on the Swale Rainbow Homes Shareholder Committee.  In response to a request for further nominations, two additional nominations were received and on being proposed, seconded and being put to the vote all seven nominations were agreed.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Housing and Health Committee were proposed and seconded to be Chair and Vice-Chair of the Swale Rainbow Homes Shareholder Committee and on being put to the vote, Members agreed.

The Head of Housing and Communities referred to the importance of the training in understanding roles and responsibilities.  There was a discussion on mandatory training and the Chair advised that the Shareholder Panel had responsibility for giving direction to the Swale Rainbow Homes Board and there would not be a meeting of the Shareholder Committee until the relevant Members were trained. On being proposed and seconded, Members agreed that the Shareholder Training be mandatory for all Members of the Shareholder Committee.

A Member suggested that all Members of the Council, not just those that sat on the Housing and Health Committee, could be invited to attend the training. On being proposed and seconded, Members agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That Councillors Ann Cavanagh, Kieran Golding, Alistair Gould, Angela Harrison, Peter Marchington, Hannah Perkin and Karen Watson sat on the Swale Rainbow Homes Shareholder Committee.

(2)  That Councillor Angela Harrison be Chair and Councillor Karen Watson be Vice-Chair of the Swale Rainbow Homes Shareholder Committee.

(3)  That Shareholder Training be mandatory for all Members of the Swale Rainbow Homes Shareholder Committee.

(4)  That Shareholder Training be available for all Members to attend.

The Head of Housing and Communities introduced the report and advised that the draft Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023 – 2027 had been discussed at a previous Housing and Health Committee and had been out for consultation but had received few responses.  She referred to the Renter’s Reform Bill which was recently introduced in Parliament and said that an additional action had been included in the strategy as a result of this.  The Head of Housing and Communities said that additional funding was usually granted to Councils to assist in meeting new legislation but the content was not yet clear.  Finally, she referred to the four key priorities as listed on page 23 of the report.

Members asked questions which included:

·      What provisions were in place for victims fleeing domestic abuse, to keep a family support network and school ties?;

·      was autism part of the priority criteria for homeless need?;

·      was there a Landlord Licencing scheme in Swale?;

·      was data available to show where housing conditions were the poorest?;

·      was information available for 2022/23?; and

·      gave an example of a local family being offered accommodation some distance away from the Borough.

In response, the Head of Housing and Communities said the individual seriousness of risk and balance of safety had to be considered against placing domestic abuse victims near their family support or school.  She said that different criteria was assessed for homeless need and suitable accommodation would be found to respond to an individual’s need.  The Head of Housing and Communities said that a Landlord Licensing Scheme had been considered but it needed to work for Swale and she drew attention to the Housing Conditions survey which gave data, but  highlighted that resource was limited and officers reacted to complaints rather than properties being targeted.  The Head of Housing and Communities said that data for 2022/23 was available now but the bench mark against other authorities was not yet available.  She said that temporary accommodation was difficult to source and approximately 50% of temporary accommodation was within the Borough, with a large percentage in Medway.  The Head of Housing and Communities advised that the Committee had previously agreed to purchase temporary accommodation in the Borough and that project was being worked on. She confirmed that the Equalities Act  was integrated into procedures carried out.

The Chair proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Mike Henderson and on being put to the vote, was agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023 – 2027 be approved.

Councillor Peter Marchington proposed and Councillor Ashely Wise seconded that Councillor Angela Harrison be appointed to the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Joint Committee.  On being put to the vote, Members agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That Councillor Angela Harrison be appointed to the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Joint Committee.