Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

Councillors D Bagshaw, S Easom and I L Tyler declared a non – pecuniary interest as they were Directors of Liberty Leisure.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2020.

The minutes of the meeting on 16 September 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

A presentation will be given by Sally Bestwick, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Broxtowe.

The Committee received a presentation from the Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Broxtowe about the work of the Eastwood Mental Health Hub.  The Hub offers an intensive programme of work to keep people out of a mental health crisis.

Discussion focused on the impact of the COVID – 19 pandemic on mental health, increasing unemployment, referrals from health agencies and delivering services remotely. 

The Committee requested that more data be provided on the gender and age of the people assisted by the Hub.

To update Committee on the current actions being undertaken by the authority to support the mental health of residents and staff, and to identify various charities working in this field in and around the borough. 

The Committee received an update on the work of the Council undertaken to support the mental health of residents and staff.  The report also identified charities working in the Borough to the same end.

There was a debate about the work of Covid Marshalls in parks and whether they should be approaching people to ensure they were obeying the rules.  It was noted that in the current lockdown people were permitted to meet one person from outside their household in a park. 

The importance of exercise to good mental health was discussed and it was confirmed that, should the Council propose to charge organisations who use the parks for commercial purposes, it would be a political decision made by Committee.

RESOLVED that the current Mental Health Action Plan be approved and that the organisations providing mental health services be noted.

The Committee noted reports on Suicide Prevention, Performance Management – Review of Business Plan Progress – Health and Performance Management – Review of Business Plan Progress – Leisure.

There followed a debate about the service provided by Liberty Leisure during the first lockdown in spring 2020.  The Committee was informed that the decision to furlough Liberty Leisure staff had been made to protect the organisations’ finances.  This had meant those staff were not available during the lockdown to provide services, instead a live streaming service had been provided to gym members by Les Mills free of charge.  It was noted that when lockdown ended, Liberty Leisure had re-opened fully and safely for the benefit of members. 

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Committee considered the Work Programme.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme be approved.