Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which provided information on the progress in achieving targets contained within the 2011 - 2016 Sustainable Community Strategy for Halton, and highlight the annual “light touch” review of targets and measures.

The Board was advised that a new SCS (2011 – 26) had been approved by the Council on 20 April 2011.  The new Sustainable Community Strategy and its associated “living” 5 year delivery plan (2011-16), identified five community priorities that would form the basis of collective partnership intervention and action over the coming five years. The strategy was informed by and brought together national and local priorities and was aligned to other local delivery plans such as that of the Halton Children’s Trust. By being a “living” document it would provide sufficient flexibility to evolve as continuing changes within the public sector continued to emerge.

The Board was further advised that in response to legislative changes, Placeholder measures had also been included where new services were to be developed or new performance information was to be captured. Baselines for this would also be established in 2011/12 or 2012/13, against which future services would be monitored. The availability of information was currently being reviewed with partners.

It was reported that progress for the six month period April - September 2012, which included a summary of all indicators for the Safer Priority within the SCS was set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Furthermore, an annual ‘light touch review‘ of targets contained within the SCS, had also been conducted to ensure that targets remained realistic over the 5 year plan to ‘close the gaps’ in performance against  regional and statistical neighbours. This review had been conducted through the Safer Halton Partnership with all Lead Officers being requested to review targets for 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16. Targets, were appropriate had been updated. All SCS measures had been included in the medium term draft Communities Directorate Business Plan 2013-16.

The Board were also asked to consider the inclusion of any additional measures to the above set to “narrow gaps” in performance where appropriate or respond to legislative/ policy changes; thereby ensuring that all measures remain “fit for purpose”.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·       Page 43 - percentage of prevalence of breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks, Clarity was sought on whether the staff were retained from Kings Cross when the service transferred to Bridgwater.  In response, it was reported that some issues would need to be resolved as a result of the transfer to Bridgewater;

·       Page 63 – HH11 – To increase the percentage of successful completions (drugs) as a proportion of all in treatment (18+), clarity was sought on how many completers had successfully stopped taking drugs.  In response, it was reported that the target only monitored the six months after completion of the course and if they went back onto drugs after this time period they would not be counted;

·       Concern was raised regarding the increase in alcohol repeaters and it was suggested that alternative ways to address this problem be sought.  It was also highlighted that prevention was better than a cure.  In response, it was reported that the current provider was looking at behavioural change and why individuals were taking drugs and looking at ways of solving the problem; and

·       The significant costs incurred from drugs and alcohol abuse was noted.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.