Issue - meetings

Future of Public Health in BCP Council

 

 

Meeting: 15/07/2024 - Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 23)

23 Future of Public Health in BCP Council pdf icon PDF 168 KB

This report provides an update to the Committee on the development of BCP Council’s public health function and the process of separating from the shared service agreement with Dorset Council.

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Wellbeing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Customers, Communications and Culture joined virtually for this item.

 

The report provided an update to the Committee on the development of BCP Council’s public health function and the process of separating from the shared service agreement with Dorset Council.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Customers, Communications and Culture addressed the Committee and made a plea that when considering the scope of the role of the Director of Public Health, consideration was given to putting arts and culture at the centre of any policies and strategies and provided the Committee with examples of where art and culture had helped improve the health and wellbeing of people across BCP.

 

The Committee discussed the report, including:

 

  • In response to a query regarding the scope of the role, the Committee was advised that it was a statutory role and that there was a wide range of Director of Public Health roles across local authorities, however there was a core set of responsibilities which must be achieved.
  • It was noted that the Director of Public Health would be required to work closely with most services across BCP Council using data and analysis to help strengthen and improve the health and wellbeing of its residents.
  • In response to a concern about losing the Dorset countywide overview, the Committee was reassured that BCP would continue to be an important part of the Dorset Integrated Care System and where appropriate, working collaboratively, sharing practices and learning from each other in a new partnership way of working.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee note the report.

 

Cllr Jackie Edwards left the meeting at 7:50pm.