Minutes:
The Committee considered the presentation delivered by Councillor Susan Crosby, the Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure.
Detailed within the presentation were a number of topics the Portfolio Holder expanded on, including: sporting infrastructure; Play Pitch & Outdoor Sport Strategy; Sport & Recreational Facilities Strategy; Active4Today Leisure Provision; Section 106 Funding Allocations; Tour of Britain; Run Archery; Paddle to the Castle; Park Run; Delivery of NSDC’s Health & Wellbeing Strategy; Urgent Care at Newark Hospital; Strategic Partnership with Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust; NCC’s Health & Wellbeing Board representation; focus on the preventative angle of the NSH 10-year plan; local public health campaigns; designing services and activities around community need; cost of living activities; and workplace health.
The Portfolio Holder also identified topics for the year ahead; 2025 paddleboard with some 400 competitors; Darwin Park new changing facilities; delivery of 3D pitches; investing in communities place work – expansion into Ollerton; carers support with a roadshow and engagement activities planned; events based on cookery/baking; development of each GP surgery Patient Participation Group to strengthen the patient voice.
A Member submitted a pre-question to the Portfolio Holder querying the latest position in relation to Southwell Leisure Centre, specifically regarding the Council’s move to mediation with the Trustees. The Portfolio Holder advised that a meeting had been held between the Council and the Trustees in August 2024. The Trustees had sourced quotations for repairs to the swimming pool and had requested that the Council review those and the Council found the quotations to not offer value for money. The current situation was that the Council had entered into mediation with the Trustees to try to find a resolution. The Member thanked the Portfolio Holder for the update.
In relation to health inequalities across the district and the legacy of the former mining colliery villages impacting on those residents’ life expectancies, a Member queried what specific measures were in place to encourage the use of existing facilities including healthy eating promotions. The Portfolio Holder advised that residents were participating in the cookery and baking events but would provide more additional detail on what specific measures were in place. It was noted that Active4Today were also promoting diabetes awareness.
A Member commented that in relation to fitness and health, the Council previously had a team of officers who liaised with grass root sports clubs and ran seated exercise classes, querying whether this was still active. The Portfolio Holder advised she would raise this query with Officers and provide a written response.
In relation to an Urgent Treatment Centre at Newark Hospital, a Member queried whether there was any available data to suggest that this was being used as an alternative when a GP appointment could not be made. The Member also referred to the call for a 24-hour provision, querying whether the Portfolio Holder thought that the funding required to provide that might be better spent at a local level in primary care in local communities and whether there was any available cost analysis for that. The Portfolio Holder advised that discussions had been held with the Integrated Care Team on what facilities were available for residents. She added that she was considering options to inform Members of the various facilities so that they could share the information with their residents. The Integrated Care Team had advised that there was insufficient people/infrastructure to justify an overnight provision. In response, the Member queried whether the Portfolio Holder was actively lobbying for the reinstatement of the shuttle bus service between Newark Hospital and Kings Mill Hospital and that members of staff also be permitted to utilise the service. The Portfolio Holder welcomed the question and suggestion.
In referring to the Yorke Drive redevelopment scheme and the disproportionate life expectancy in deprived areas, a Member queried whether the Portfolio Holder had been invited to be involved with the scheme. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that the planning application required approval prior to any involvement from her but thanked the Member for the suggestion.
In relation to life expectancy and the use of leisure centres, a Member stated that there was no evidence to support this. She added that someone’s life expectancy was determined by other aspects of lifestyle and type 2 diabetes. The Council could note the issue but were not in a position to solve the matter. She referred to the work of the Active Lifestyles Working Group noting that it was about getting people active and not just in a leisure centre and that public transport/access was a contributing factor.
A Member noted that a lack of physical activity was a factor in life expectancy. He queried whether low impact activities, such as Nordic walking, were promoted. This assisted with a person’s fitness levels but also contributed to improvement in mental health. In referring to the focus of a provision of an Urgent Treatment Centre over-night at Newark Hospital, he queried whether there were alternative ways of delivering the outputs, noting that a building staffed all night was not necessarily required but access to 24-hour care, 7 days a week was, without having to travel to access treatment was the ultimate aim. The capacity of service provision needed to be reviewed and he requested that the Portfolio Holder raise the suggestion with the Integrated Care Board. The Portfolio Holder thanked the Member for their suggestions.
In relation to an increase in urgent care provision, a Member queried what the next steps were that the Portfolio Holder was to take to facilitate an increase in care at Newark Hospital. The Portfolio Holder stated that there had been improvements in service provision but any increase could only be provided by the health service and not the Council.
A Member noted that the Active4Today Board were interested in the work of the Portfolio Holder and would provide her with details of the work they were undertaking with schools. He noted that leisure centres dealt with a significant number of GP referrals and would like to provide this information to the Portfolio Holder and the Committee for information.
In noting the debate, a Member queried with the Portfolio Holder what she would wish to have achieved at the end of her tenure. The Portfolio Holder commented that health and equality took time to achieve but that she would wish to see the provision of services throughout the night at Newark Hospital.
In closing the debate, the Chair thanked the Portfolio Holder for her attendance and presentation.