Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 31 July 2024

RESOLVED that the minutes be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members considered a report and video that provided an overview of the Community Spaces scheme.

Discussion and key points, included:-

-        There were almost 70 venues registered, as Community Spaces, across the Borough.

-        Social isolation and the cost of living were the two reasons people attended a Community Space.

-        Residents had accessed a range of advice and support services, such as debt management and employment and training, via the scheme.

-        The Winter Warm Boxes project (the distribution of boxes containing essentials to keep residents warm in their own homes) was highly regarded and all venues hoped that this would be repeated for Winter 2024/25.

-        A major development within the Community Spaces scheme was the Warm Welcome. The success of the Thornaby Warm Welcome had resulted in the creation of a Warm Welcome in Billingham.

-        Each venue had to commit to a charter which included criteria such as keeping the premise accessible.

-        The ICB’s engagement team would look to use the scheme to target within neighbourhoods.

-        The Board heard from some members of their very positive experiences when they had visited community spaces.

-        There may be opportunities to take health related issues out to the community, via the scheme e.g. vaccinations.

-        Members recognised the benefits of the scheme in dealing with social isolation.

-        It was suggested that the scheme venues be included in a Monday to Friday directory.

-        The Chair referred to the Tees Valley Multibank, which would be launched soon.  Multibanks offered surplus essential goods to people in need, via professionals e,g. social workers 

RESOLVED that the report be noted and the recommendations detailed in it endorsed.   

Members were provided with a proposed Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025 – 2030.

It was explained that the Strategy aimed to bring together ambitions and commitments across the Council, local organizations, partners, and the community, to improve health and wellbeing while reducing inequalities.

A ‘user-friendly’ executive summary would be co-produced with the Making it Real Board following approval of the Strategy.

The Strategy would be presented and discussed with the ICB place sub-committee, to ensure alignment with the place sub-committee’s plan.

A joint delivery plan and an outcomes framework would be developed, and a final draft brought to the Board, in December, for review and approval. The Strategy, delivery plan and outcomes framework would then shape the forward plan for the Board.

RESOLVED that:

1.            the next steps, detailed in the report, toward completing the final Strategy document, including design, layout, executive summary, and foreword, as well as the development of the delivery plan and outcomes framework, be approved.

2.            a final version of the Strategy be presented to the Board’s December meeting, for approval.

There were no updates.

Members noted the forward plan

It was recognised that items would need to be reschedule, from the October and November meetings, to allow more time on the planned development sessions

RESOLVED that the forward plan be noted.