Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Burgess, Gilgunn and Gallagher.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Croft, due to other council business.

There were no substitute members.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 17 December 2024 and 4 February 2025 be agreed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

The order of the discussion items would be as set out in the agenda pack.

There were no public questions.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee to note the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee to note this item had been postponed and a separate session would be arranged to hear evidence from Clarion Housing Group.

Jonathan O’ Sullivan, Director of Public Health and Councillor Flora Williamson, Executive Member for Health & Social Care introduced the report and summarised key points.

The following main points were noted in the discussion:

• In relation to Key Performance Indicators relating to Public Health, it was noted that the vaccination uptake was on target and this continued to be an area of focus for the service.
• There had been an improvement in the percentage of smokers using stop smoking services who stopped smoking. The success rate was above target across the service in Q2, slightly higher than the same quarter last year.
• There was an increase in the number of eligible population completing NHS Health Checks, indicating a strong performance.
• Regarding substance misuse, it was noted that the service had incorporated outreach and co-location with various services within the Borough to enhance visibility, streamline service pathways, and remove barriers to support. The Committee noted that the number of people successfully completing treatment was similar to the same quarter last year but had declined compared with the previous quarter. Since there were appreciably more people in treatment, the completion rate had dropped and was not on target. This had been promptly recognised by officers and core service provider. In collaboration with the provider, the service implemented a quality improvement plan to better understand and address the current lower level of completions.
• In response to a question regarding investments into the drug and/or alcohol treatment services, it was noted that the services continued to expand the number of people accessing support and the initial focus of the increased investment in services had been directed into outreach in the community and the prison and criminal justice system.
• Officers advised that the community service, Breathe were expanding their work with voluntary and community sector partnerships, drug and alcohol services, services working with people experiencing homelessness, community mental health services, family hubs, Access Islington, and others from local Voluntary Community Sector venues, to improve their reach into communities and increase demand for the service.
• In terms of the Healthy Start Scheme, the Committee was advised that the government had banned advertisement that promoted harmful food products, particularly to children and young people, on mainstream media and online. In addition, Islington had a progressive policy on how the borough utilised advertising spaces. It was also advised that Islington had early years children’s centre which promoted health and wellbeing, early development and good nutrition. The Healthy Start Scheme was considered as a practical way to reach families in poverty experiencing hardship.
• In response to a question on mental health and wellbeing for new parents, it was advised that health visitors played a vital function in introducing all families to the support and activities available to support families and their baby at this time of transition. This was important in supporting maternal and paternal mental health, as well as any early signs of need for additional targeted support for the baby or parents.
• In response to a question on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee to note the report.