Agenda item

DEPRIVATION AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES

To receive a presentation from Andrew Colver, Head of Democracy, and Community setting out the current position on the development of the Deprivation/Supporting Communities Strategy and Action Plan. The presentation will cover the background and context, data and evidence, impacts from COVID-19 and the emerging priorities and proposals.

 

Following the presentation there will be a question and answer session. At the conclusion of the meeting there will be a workshop session for Members of the Board.

Minutes:

Andrew Colver, Head of Democracy and Community, and Emma Lamb, Community and Partnerships Manager, attended the meeting to give a presentation on the current position on the development of the Deprivation/Supporting Communities Strategy and Action Plan. The presentation covered the background and context, data and evidence, impacts from COVID-19 and the emerging priorities and proposals.

 

Mr. Colver talked through the data and evidence available to the Council, which would help inform any future work. It was noted that the Council were working with partners, such as the Clinical Commissioning Group, and gathering information from various sources including, Frimley Integrated Care Services and Public Health England to build a robust evidence base.

 

The Board was advised of an initial project that would be targeted in the Aldershot Park ward. The area had been considered one of the most deprived areas in the Borough and a range of issues were present, including income deprivation, poor education and skills and health inequalities. A number of proposals had been outlined for the project, these included:

 

·         Developing local health and physical activity opportunities and increased social interaction

·         Activities to reduce social isolation and improve mental health

·         Utilisation of local sporting facilities and green spaces for local residents

·         Promotion of healthy lifestyles – by improving awareness of the benefits of an active lifestyle, and improving access to activities in the area

·         Identifying and enabling longer term community projects – such as community gardens

 

It was advised that other projects would be run in other areas across the Borough where similar issues were present.

 

In response to a query, it was noted that data from the healthy weights audit had been used and this had been supplemented by data from the CCG for the whole Borough. Other areas had also been identified which could be picked up as Borough wide issues, including mental health, smoking and cardio vascular disease. Information was also requested on comparators between hospital admissions relating to injury from violence and crime data, this would be looked into and reported back separately.

 

The Board discussed the local response figures to COVID-19 and it was advised that demand was currently very low. The situation would continue to be monitored closely as the situation would evolve with the ending of the furlough scheme and a potential rise in cases.

 

A discussion was held regarding foodbanks and it was noted that a number of different models were being looked at for food provision, including the Trussell Trust. It was important to find the right model for Rushmoor and a report would be prepared for the Board once the review had been completed.

 

The Board ENDORSED the work and NOTED that the Strategy and Action Plan would be drafted by November 2020.

 

It was advised that the meeting would be followed by a workshop for Members of the Board to discuss in further detail the main themes to be covered in the work, wards or parts of wards where the work could be undertaken and actions to be taken that would make an immediate difference to people’s lives.