Agenda item

Councillor Krystle Fonyonga will present briefing papers relating to Community Safety and Public Health.

A date for the item on ‘Scrutiny Involvement in the Budget Consultation’ will be re-arranged following consultation with O&SC members

NOTED

1.    Introduction by the Chair.

a.  Cabinet Members were invited by Overview & Scrutiny Committee to present areas of their remit for information and to gather opinion, and this evening Councillor Fonyonga was attending as Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health.

b.  Two papers were received: on Community Safety (sent to follow) and on Public Health (tabled).

c.  It was noted that Councillor Fonyonga had previously chaired the Crime Scrutiny Standing Workstream, before becoming a Cabinet Member.

d.  The remit of the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health overlapped three Council directorates.

2.    Councillor Fonyonga’s introduction, including:

a.  The role had given her a new appreciation of the hard work of officers.

b.  One immediate action had been the recent promotion of organ donation. Other ideas included healthier choices in the staff canteen.

c.  She acknowledged recent changes within Public Health personnel, but all staff were genuinely motivated to improve the health of the public.

d.  In Sport and Leisure, there was a focus on people who were inactive and getting people moving more.

3.    Councillor Fonyonga responded to general questions, including:

a.  Confirmation that this Cabinet portfolio had been realigned. It also involved engagement with external agencies, particularly the NHS and the Police Service.

b.  In response to questions about the Fire Service, she confirmed she had met the new Fire Brigade Borough Commander and aimed to build a good working relationship.

c.  In response to queries regarding knowledge gained via previous scrutiny workstream work, she confirmed that ability to scrutinise papers had been critical, and that she was able to challenge draft reports.

d.  In response to queries about Public Heath, she considered that having a new Director of Public Health at LB Enfield two days per week would give the Council valuable input and guidance into the North Central London Sustainability and Transformation Plan. Ray James also clarified the emerging plan and advised that a range of options would be explored going forward, including potential for shared services and consolidation.

4.    Community Safety

a.  The report submitted to the committee provided an overview of performance and highlighted the three key areas for further note: (1) Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls; (2) Tackling gangs and serious youth violence; and (3) Extra policing resources.

b.  Performance was shown against the MOPAC seven crime categories. Burglary, robbery, theft from motor vehicle and theft of motor vehicle had all fallen by more than 20% in Enfield. A big challenge for reduction was violence with injury. Higher reporting figures for domestic violence largely reflected greater awareness. That gang and youth violence was increasing slower in Enfield than nationally was a reflection of work in the borough.

c.  Current and new targeted initiatives would be used to keep improving performance. Violence against women and girls would be a priority for reduction, with better intervention at an earlier stage.

d.  Andrea Clemons (Head of Community Safety) highlighted a recent campaign in relation to domestic abuse, with victims being encouraged to come forward, and funding for GP training.

e.  Councillor Laban confirmed that the data was also presented to the Crime Scrutiny Standing Workstream, who were also looking into domestic abuse this year.

f.  In response to Councillor Smith’s queries regarding female genital mutilation and its prosecution, Andrea Clemons would investigate the figures and report back.

ACTION:  Andrea Clemons

g.  In response to Councillor Laban’s queries, the contracts for additional police community support officers were clarified.

h.  In response to Councillor Keazor’s queries, details were provided about the Council’s support and protection for victims of domestic abuse and gangs.

5.    Public Health

a.  The report submitted to the committee provided an overview of current work and highlighted issues for further note. Ray James (Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care) would also provide an electronic version of the report to Members.

ACTION:  Ray James

b.  There were concerns regarding general health of the public in the borough. Enfield had the seventh highest rate of diabetes in London, high numbers with hypertension, and high obesity rates in adults and children. Latest measures relating to Year 6 children would be available in December.

c.  In recent years there had been focus on heart disease and improvements had been seen.

d.  Members raised the promotion of healthy eating in schools, and discussed the issues around overweight children and adults. Councillor Fonyonga also emphasised the importance of physical activity and the Move More Enfield campaign, and smoking cessation.

e.  Healthy lifestyle promotion was one facet of Public Health, but most money was spent on commissioned services, some of which were mandatory such as sexual health services and drug treatment services. The Council also commissioned health visitors and school nurses. Developments at Town Clinic and Enfield Highway Library were highlighted, which would improve the local sexual health service offer.

f.  In response to Members’ queries, it was advised that a lot of work, particularly around diabetes, was GP practice based and the better performers tended to be larger practices with support and challenge coming from groups of professionals working together.

g.  In response to Councillor Laban’s queries, Councillor Fonyonga would check recent statistics relating to swimming pool attendances by children.

h.  Councillor Fonyonga welcomed the appointment of the new Director of Public Health who would drive the department forward and make it more effective.

6.    The Chair asked for Members’ suggestions for additions to the work programme. Potential issues included: suicide audit; local mental health trust; detection and management of hypertension; examination of the North Central London Sustainability and Transformation Plan; and London Fire Brigade.

7.    The Chair thanked Councillor Fonyonga for attending and for being open and honest with the committee.