To receive apologies for absence.

All committee members were present.

To receive details of any councillors nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

There were no named substitutes.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 20 November 2023.

The minutes of the previous meeting were received.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and be signed by the Chairperson.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

No questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

No questions had been received from councillors.

To provide the opportunity for the scrutiny committee to contribute to the strategic review of Talk Community which is underway.

The Chairperson made opening comments about the value of the activities supported by volunteers in the county, the need to use limited resources effectively, and the formation of Talk Community to promote and foster partnerships to reach out to individuals and communities.  The Cabinet Member Adults, Health and Wellbeing invited the committee to input into the strategic review of Talk Community.

The committee received the presentation ‘Strategic Review of Talk Community’ (link to the presentation).

The Service Director Communities presented the slides:- Strategic review of Talk Community; Aim and methodology; Strategic context; Need; Vision, aims and outcomes; and Delivery model. 

The Talk Community Development Lead presented the slides:- We asked our community groups what Talk Community was to them; Talk Community hubs; Hub case study; Community debt centres; Debt centre case study; Community action network meetings; Funding delivery; Talk Community delivery; Additional projects; Talk Community brokers; Case study – youth; Case study – market town; Case study – funding; and Talk Community has supported.  The Service Director Communities presented the final slide, Issues.

The principal points of the discussion included:

1.           The Chairperson suggested that the presentation should be shared with local partner organisations such as Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board, and West Mercia Police.

2.           A committee member noted that the scrutiny activity that could be undertaken was limited as the strategic review was at an early stage.

3.           A committee member expressed concerns about the implications of changes to the national funding structure.  The Service Director Communities said that this was being worked through currently.  The Corporate Director Community Wellbeing noted the cessation of some one-off sources of funding but emphasised that there was core funding to support the consistency and continuity of the Talk Community service.  The Chairperson noted some of the challenges associated with short-term funding streams.

4.           In response to observations made by the Vice-Chairperson, the Talk Community Development Lead advised that: data obtained from Community Debt Centres was clear, as reporting mechanisms had been established from the outset; data from Talk Community Hubs was difficult to pin down, due to differences in scale and ways in which they operated; the identified ‘25,000 visits per annum to a Talk Community Hub and being connected to support’ related only to those hubs that had responded; the lack of granularity was recognised; and a further breakdown of the figures received could be shared.

5.           The Service Director Communities reported that all 75 hubs across Herefordshire would be audited to understand the offer being provided, the spaces being used, and the level of engagement with Talk Community.  It was noted that there had been a seed funding grant scheme to support the establishment of each community group/hub (e.g. for computer equipment) but there was no contractual relationship with the council.  The committee was advised that the potential for a more systematic approach would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To consider the work programme for the Health, Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2023/24.

The committee noted the work programme for the remainder of the municipal year 2023/24.  The Statutory Scrutiny Officer commented on arrangements being made to schedule meeting dates and to undertake work programming activity for 2024/25.

Resolved:      That the work programme 2023/24 be noted.

The next scheduled meeting is Monday 25 March 2024 2.00 pm.

The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Monday 25 March 2024, 2.00 pm.