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.