Draft minutes

Councillor Dale proposed that Councillor Ferguson be appointed as Chair.  This was seconded by Councillor Swinburn. 

RESOLVED that Councillor Ferguson be appointed as Chair of the Inequalities Working Group.

RESOLVED that the Membership and Terms of Reference for the Inequalities Working Group agreed by Council on 21 September 2022 be noted.

Councillor Dale proposed that Councillor Wilczek be appointed as Vice Chair.  This was seconded by Councillor Dunn. 

RESOLVED that Councillor Wilczek be appointed as Vice Chair of the Inequalities Working Group.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fairless-Aitken and Pattison.

The Chair requested a round of introductions from all those present.

The Chair outlined the core purpose of the group and members raised the following areas which areas they felt important: 

• Areas of deprivation 
• Financing of schools in deprived areas 
• The involvement of Town & Parish Councils with areas of concern 
• Areas slipping through the net which could be mapped 
• People’s aspirations, eg living standards 

Emma Richardson informed the group that deprivation would be picked up under the Placed Based Tool and the VCS Commission, Thriving Together which fed into other smaller groups.

Gill O’Neill, Deputy Director of Public Health referred to the Inequality Plan within the agenda pack and the document previously circulated to members of the group 

The Inequalities Plan had identified five principles: 

• Look at everything through an inequalities lens 
• Voice of residents and better data sharing 
• Community strengths are considered first 
• Enhancing our services to ensure enquiry in access to opportunity 
• Maximising our civic level responsibilities. 

And three screening questions: 

• What can communities do for themselves? 
• What do communities help with? 
• What can’t communities do that agencies/institutions can? 

Emma Richardson, Senior Manager explained that in response to rising costs of living, poverty and hardship, the Interim Executive Director of Public Health had presented a report on the proposals for the allocation of Public Health ring fenced grant reserve to reduce health inequalities to Cabinet on 13 September. 

It had been agreed that £1 million from the Public Health reserve support the implementation of the NCC Poverty Action Plan over 18 months.  This decision followed a prioritisation exercise.  The highest criteria were the aim to reduce inequalities and local need, and evidence of impact/effectiveness and prevention.  This would build upon key council touch points for place-based working – VCSE Liaison Group, VCSE Support Commission and Northumberland Communities Together. 

Areas of gaps and concerns identified were: 

• Dwellings with poor heating and changes to support available 
• Temporary Household Support Funding  
• Increasing demand for food, fuel, and advice 
• Limited capacity to deliver services – both NCC and VCSE  
• Best use of Business Intelligence for directing limited resource 
• Shared responsibility for information sharing to residents and partners. 

The plan focused on key areas: 

• Targeted hardship support  
• Food  
• Fuel 
• Children and young people 
• Access to advice and information and building resilience 
• Funding allocations tied to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) 

Ms Richardson explained that people felt insecure and should have access to the correct information.  A Cost of Living website had been launched which was kept up to date. 

Allocations from the reserve would support warm spaces and places with preventative work; community fridges and shops and larders; Energy Plus pathway – Warm Homes on Prescription.  Fuel pathway hardship payments to those households most in need, targeted to residents with chronic conditions adversely affected by cold homes.  Support measures for children and young people with breakfast clubs and personal hygiene products. 

NCT would be investing in community based development staff to further embed asset based development approaches. 

The presentation would be shared with members of the group. 

In response to member questions, the following information was provided: 

• Asset based community staff would be a mix of redeployed and new staff in place for a fixed term of 2 years. 
• NCT had a joined-up approach.  Locality Coordinators met with social prescribers, eg CAN, CAB, Thriving Together to work collaboratively.  Pathways within NCT go through CAB and CAN. 

• Cormac Russell had been contracted to work with the Northumberland system who was an expert in community development 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Chris Jarvie, Seaton Sluice PAD Group and Gary Shaw, Clinical Advisor,  CPR and Defibrillator and Awareness Trainer were in attendance and shared a presentation and demonstration with the group.  (Presentation attached to the filed notes). 

Mr Jarvie explained the PAD Group and their aims.  Delivery of CPR and Defibrillator Awareness training and legal issues. 

Following the presentation and demonstration, the following issues were discussed: 

• Lack of defibrillators in certain areas 
• The distance where defibrillators should be deployed 
• Mouth to mouth resuscitation was discouraged 
• CPR Awareness training 
• The Good Sam app 

Thanks were given for the presentation and demonstration which had been very helpful. 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Tuesday, 10 January 2023 at 2:00 pm.  Ashington 

Tuesday, 14 March 2023 at 2:00 pm.  Berwick 

Tuesday, 9 May 2023 at 2:00 pm.  Wooler. 

Tuesday, 4 July 2023 at 2:00 pm.  Hexham 

Tuesday, 12 September 2023 at 2:00 pm.  TBC. 

Future meetings would be held in various locations across the county.