Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from – Cllr S Aujla (no substitute), R Hobbs, co-opted member, J Simons (co-opted member), Cllr A Govier (substituted by Cllr B Smedley) and Cllr J Snell (no substitute). Cllr T Robbins and Cllr G Oakes joined the meeting on line.

Apologies were received from – Cllr S Aujla (no substitute), R Hobbs, co-opted member, J Simons (co-opted member), Cllr A Govier (substituted by Cllr B Smedley) and Cllr J Snell (no substitute). Cllr T Robbins and Cllr G Oakes joined the meeting on line.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

There were no new declarations of interest made at the meeting.

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

Submissions / request to speak had been received from the following member of the public and the information provided had been circulated as a supplementary agenda pack.

1.     Ms E Bryczkowski

The responses will be circulated in an addendum document with the minutes from the meeting.

Submissions / request to speak had been received from the following member of the public and the information provided had been circulated as a supplementary agenda pack.

1.     Ms E Bryczkowski – attended the meeting and spoke around her questions and points regarding dental services.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked Ms Bryczkowski for her questions and for taking the time to attend the meeting.

It was agreed that the responses to the questions by NHS Somerset will be circulated in an addendum document with the minutes from the meeting.

To receive PowerPoint presentation.  A position statement on child oral health improvement is also attached (see pages 33 – 37).

This item will be led by Sukeina Kassam, Deputy Director Primary Care and Matthew Mills, Head of Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry and Rachel Handley, Consultant in Public Health will also be attending.

Note – the Chair will allow 45 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation from NHS Somerset on the provision of NHS Dental Services in Somerset, and a position statement on child oral health improvement, provided by Public Health.

The Chair requested (a) a briefing be provided to cover the questions raised during discussions, around early years, sign-posting, primary care recovery plan, route for queries to be funnelled; (b) an update to the Committee on issues raised in 4 – 6 months.

Link to NHS dental statistical data information

The Committee welcomed and noted the update.

The Vice Chair welcomed the following to the meeting for this agenda item - Sukeina Kassam, Deputy Director Primary Care NHS Somerset, Matthew Mills, Head of Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry, NHS Somerset, Tessa Fielding, Programme Manager, NHS, Matthew Jerreat, Clinical Chair South West Local Dental Network and Rachel Handley, Consultant in Public Health.

The Committee received a detailed presentation from NHS Somerset on the provision of NHS Dental Services in Somerset, and also a position statement on child oral health improvement, provided by Public Health.

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:

·           Funding is allocated to commission sufficient access for ‘50% of the population’ – how is this calculated and is the unspent amount ringfenced – national position and the underspend is ringfenced and there are initiatives to use the funding / targeted work.

Reiterated that dentists are independent providers and hold contract with them – there is significant concern from stakeholders about access to NHS dental services as an increasing number of practices ceases providing NHS services. The amount dentists receive is also an issue. Also referred to the NHS dental statistical data information

·         Question about targeted group re oral health in early years settings – use index of multiple deprivation, which includes issues of rurality.

·         Question about supervised tooth brushing and capacity within schools to do this – working with school nurses - the details will be circulated (Public Health).

·         Questions about the supervised toothbrushing programme; trial of child friendly dental practices and progress and outcomes; community dental services for ‘some homeless people’ and what this means  – supervised toothbrushing targeted in areas of deprivation and involves training of staff and key oral health messages. There is a new provider across the county and the pilot was extended and are awaiting national evaluation. With regard to community dental services for homeless, is around stability of urgent care service essentially. Will provide linked appointments.

·         Pleased that dental service is part of SEND service – collaborative – NHS 111 workforce deal with calls from desperate people and must have impact on them - highlighted the service development opportunities and prioritisation needed around access, oral health, and inequalities. Clinical triaging referenced – Somerset has contracted with Smile Dental Triage to support patients with advice and appointment booking for emergency / urgent dental treatment. This is accessed in Somerset by calling NHS 111 and following the options for dental care.

·         Noted that the service is creating a webinar setting out the Service available which will be available to all in the West region.

In conclusion, the Vice Chair thanked the presenters for attending the meeting and requested that:

1.   A briefing be provided to cover the questions raised during discussions, around early years, signposting, primary care recovery plan, route for queries to be funnelled;

2.   An update Committee on issues raised come back to either a joint meeting or to the Adults & Health Committee,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To receive PowerPoint presentation.

This item will be led by Emily Fulbrook, Deputy Director, Operations, Adult Services and Jayne Shelbourn-Barrow, Service Director for Children and Families

Note – the Chair will allow 45 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation on preparing for adulthood, following the joint scrutiny workshop held in October 2020.  Feedback from the workshop has supported the development of the SEND Strategy and 6 mission statements within preparing for adulthood.

The key principles of transition planning and the Service Improvement Plan align well with the 4 priorities within the ASC Strategy in terms of:

·         prevent and early help

·         right support, right place , right time

·         a supported skilled and flexible workforce

·         future focussed

The key principles of transition planning and the Service Improvement Plan align well with the key themes of the SEND Strategy:

·         working together

·         getting help as early as possible

·         access to the right support and provision

·         preparing for the future.

The Committee welcomed and noted the update.

The Committee received a presentation from Emily Fulbrook, Deputy Director, Adults & Health Operations and Jayne Shelbourn-Barrow, Service Director for Children and Families, on preparing for adulthood, following the joint scrutiny workshop held in October 2020.  Feedback from the workshop has supported the development of the SEND Strategy and 6 mission statements within preparing for adulthood.

The key principles of transition planning and the Service Improvement Plan align well with the 4 priorities within the ASC Strategy in terms of:

·         prevent and early help

·         right support, right place , right time

·         a supported skilled and flexible workforce

·         future focussed

The key principles of transition planning and the Service Improvement Plan align well with the key themes of the SEND Strategy:

·         working together

·         getting help as early as possible

·         access to the right support and provision

·         preparing for the future.

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:

·         planning for those young people in system – issues arise with ‘not known before’ children and young people, often with complex needs – work together and partnership working highlighted.

·         Want to see more on ‘resilience’ and delivery quality care – will bring ‘my life, my future’ to future meeting.

There is a specific item surrounding preparing for adulthood, and this is about reviewing and updating and implementing the agreed pathways, so it is across the children's social care and adult social care, developing practise guidance and joint working protocols and developing joint commissioning of service, specifically looking at young people 16 plus to prevent the need for several moves within a short time frame, along with more preventative community provision and the plans for this work is to start at the end of October, beginning of November and this was identified as part of a 16 week diagnostic where Newton Europe came in and worked with, across both children's and adults, speaking to a number of staff, looked at some of the outcomes that have been achieved so far for individuals and have created a work programme that is going to encompass both children and adults as part of that journey. Have county wide preparing for adulthood meetings, which has been running for nearly 2 years.

·         Mention of work in Martock area and the Chair said that youth support is an issue which can be added to work plan of the Children & Families Scrutiny.

·         Welcome the collaborative working happening – the ‘cliff edge’ comments made is scary prospect for young people and welcome the work being done; how will the Newton work impact on / how working in practice?

·         Newton work is chid service specific - ‘stories’ weren’t included in presentation, due to time at meeting – welcome opportunity to come back to scrutiny with that (share stories, outcomes, voice of young person).

·         Are there ‘lived experience’ volunteers for children & young people; how shape what do; how measure ‘success’ – do have individuals who have lived experience and are also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive PowerPoint presentation.

Attached for reference, is information on Somerset smokefree pathways and local picture (see pages 71 – 72).

This item will be led by Kate Anderson, Service Manager, Public Health and Rachel Handley, Consultant in Public Health will also be attending. 

Note – the Chair will allow 45 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation from Public Health Team and engaged in discussions and debate of the points raised. The presentation raised several important and informative points.

The Committee agreed a recommendation that they wished to present to The Executive.

The Committee agreed unanimously that we would write to The Executive in relation to Electronic cigarettes:-

1.     The Committee asked that the current government consultation (link to the consultation Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: your views - Department of Health and Social Care (dhsc.gov.uk) be shared with all members who are encouraged to complete and promote locally in their divisions.

2.    The Committee asked that licensing committee be asked to review and action stronger enforcement of the sale of these devices in line with the current legal position.

3.    The Committee asked that the ‘Quit tool not cool tool’ slogan, as highlighted by the presentation be supported and promoted in the council.

4.    The Committee requested that Council take a position with regard to seeking government to work at increasing legislation around electronic cigarettes, that included but not conclusive:- a ban of the use of single use devices with exception of use to support stopping smoking, a ban on child targeting (advertising and packaging), an introduction of plain packaging that would include a health warning, an introduction of an increasing age ban on sales of these devices in line with the change made to cigarette sales.

The Committee received a presentation from Kate Anderson Service Manager, Public Health and Rachel Handley, Consultant in Public Health on the Somerset approach to reducing smoking and youth vaping.

In the presentation they highlighted:

·         The Somerset, local approach to vaping is around preventing uptake of smoking or vaping – only use vapes to quit smoking – support to be smoke and vape free.

·         Referenced the schools offer, the Intent programme (smoking & vaping prevention programme) which is free to all secondary schools in Somerset.

·         Referred to the national consultation which closes on 6 December 2023.

·         Vaping is increasing but the majority of young people do not vape and it is not understood to be a gateway to substance misuse and vaping is a highly effective quit tool for adults (it’s a quit tool, not a cool tool’).

·         The main local action is to continue to work with schools and young people to keep understanding local trends; Trading Standards to minimise access; continue to reduce the impact on the environment from smoking and vaping.

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:

·         What work is being done with retailers – ‘Think 21/25’ for example – as shops should not sell vapes to under 18’s – are doing work with schools; also encourage reporting if shops do sell to underage young people. Is illegal to sell to under 18’s but it is not illegal to ‘give’ them away. Referred again to the national consultation.

·         Feel that the comment ‘majority of young people don’t vape’ is misleading and there is no data here that does not indicate leads to substance misuse – there is more evidence nationally and referred to school survey , 11-year-olds upwards – seeing significant drop in young people smoking.

·         Very interesting presentation – feel need for tough messages though – the fruit based vapes are most popular product and if limited this would have impact; also seeing non nicotine vapes on market now as well.

·         Vaping when driving is dangerous and need better health warning on them -  valid points. Mention about campaign in primary schools around being smoke/vape free in cars.

·         Interesting that the majority of vapes sold are produced in China however China itself bans flavoured vapes.

·         Real concerns about marketing of vapes to children & young people.

·         The presentation raised several important and informative points.

The Committee thanked the presenters for the interesting and informative presentation and agreed a recommendation that they wished to present to the Executive.

The Committee agreed unanimously that it would write to the Executive in relation to Electronic cigarettes:-

1.     The Committee asked that the current Government consultation (link to the consultation Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: your views - Department of Health and Social Care (dhsc.gov.uk) be shared with all members who are encouraged to complete and promote locally in their divisions.

2.    The Committee asked that the Licensing Committee be asked to review and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.