Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nick Churchill and Matthew Saggers. Councillor Mike Garnett was in attendance as a substitute for Councillor Saggers.

To receive Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any matters on the agenda.

Councillor Garnett declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 9, as Chair of the Harlow Health and Wellbeing Board.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 August 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 August 2022 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Tony Edwards said that details of Police Officers for each ward had been circulated, but would be resent.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

None.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

None.

To consider responses (if any) of the Cabinet to reports and recommendations from the Committee.

None.

The Committee received a report on noticeboards throughout the town. The Committee agreed all Councillors should be included in the review on the location and content of notice boards.

RESOLVED that it was recommended to the Portfolio Holder that:

A    Repairs to existing notice boards are continued to completion.

B    A review of appropriate locations and standard content for notice boards is undertaken.

C    Notice Boards are brought into Council control.

The Committee received a report on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and welcomed the Portfolio Holder for Business and Community Resilience, Councillor Joel Charles to the meeting. The Chair invited Councillor Charles to outline the Strategy.

Councillor Charles began by thanking the previous Portfolio Holder, Eugenie Harvey, for her work. The Strategy had built on this and provided a sober reflection of the current situation in Harlow. He highlighted the five priorities set out in the Strategy and stressed the importance of aligning the Council’s approach to other partners including the County Council.

In response to questions, Councillor Charles said;

• He agreed that Councillors should act as examples.

• The Strategy would succeed as it was an honest, evidence led approach.

• There were great primary care leaders within the town.

• He agreed that it was important to give better skills and employment opportunities to improve outcomes. These would be supported by the Economic Development Strategy.

• Councillor Charles stressed the importance of the community leadership role Councillors had.

• It was agreed that the Committee would be provided with an explanation about how the air pollution figures within the Strategy were calculated.

• The Council would talk to retailers about the trend of shops requiring payment card only use.

• The model being used to develop the Strategy was backed by academic research and was the same as the one being used by the County Council.

The targets used were in line with the County Council’s and SMART Action Plans targets would be developed.

Councillor Edwards requested that Action Plans should be developed for

     i)        Where the Council was working in crosstown Partnership with other agencies;

    ii)        Where it was undertaking Council specific work. 

It was requested Progress on the implementation of the Strategy be brought back to the Committee at a future date.

RESOLVED that the Committee recommended to Cabinet that the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

To review the Committee’s work plan for the current year.

The Committee received a report summarising its work plan. The Committee agreed that:

     i)        A report on allotments would be brought to the March meeting;

    ii)        The Safer Harlow Partnership would be invited a future Committee meeting; and

   iii)        The review on roofing and major repairs to council houses be added to the work plan.

RESOLVED that:

A    A report on allotments would be brought to the March meeting;

B    The Safer Harlow Partnership would be invited a future Committee meeting; and

C    The review on roofing and major repairs to council houses be added to the work plan. The Director of Housing, The Housing Cabinet Portfolio holder, the Chief Executive of HTS and the Cabinet Portfolio Holder responsible for HTS be invited to attend the February meeting.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.