The Vulnerable Adults, Health and Communities Policy and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 7 March 2024 to discuss the Westminster Community Hubs Programme and receive an update on the Inner West London Mental Health Services Reconfiguration Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The committee also discussed its work programme for the upcoming municipal year.

Westminster Community Hubs Programme

The committee carried out pre-decision scrutiny of the Council's proposed Community Hubs Programme. The programme aims to improve access to integrated council, health, and voluntary and community sector (VCS) services across the city, supporting the #2035 ambition and the Fairer Westminster agenda by reducing health inequalities and enhancing community health and wellbeing.

Key discussions included:

• Resident Engagement: The importance of engaging residents in the development of the hubs was stressed, with a need for broader engagement to inform plans and gather comprehensive data. Concerns were raised about the low numbers from initial street engagement and how to improve this through planned activities. Direct conversations with residents in the south of the City were also highlighted.
• Hub Governance and Operations: The committee explored different governance arrangements for the sites, the standards expected by the Council, reporting requirements, and how to allow organisations flexibility. The integration of services and achievement of a common purpose with voluntary sector partners were discussed. The challenges of reaching and engaging with difficult to reach residents were also a focus.
• Service Provision and Integration: Questions were raised about the potential duplication of services across the borough, how the community hubs would differ from family hubs and children's centres, and why Queen's Park Community Centre remains closed. The inclusion of services like Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES), employability skills, early help, and housing was considered.
• Equality and Inclusion: The committee specifically discussed the needs of the LGBT+ community, including health inequalities experienced by them, and how services could be implemented to improve health outcomes. The deficit of services for older gay men was noted, and the importance of language provision in each hub site to ensure access was emphasised.
• Financial Sustainability: The Council's available revenue for initial set-up and whether organisations would pay for space in larger hubs were discussed. The need for future financial plans and how longer-term funding would be met, including potential impacts on other statutory social services, was a key concern.
• Impact on Local Communities: The potential impact on the immediate local community, such as noise, traffic, and footfall, and how this would be mitigated, was raised. Feedback from initial engagement, such as at Ernest Harris House, was also considered.

The committee made several recommendations, including:

• Investigating a free community health offer for the LGBT+ community, particularly for the ageing male population.
• Considering issues such as disruption from noise, traffic, and footfall in the immediate local community during the planning and implementation process.
• Putting in place longer-term funding plans, including exploring external government funding, to ensure the longevity of the community hubs.
• Retaining overall control and management of the community hubs sites through key performance indicators and regular review schedules with partners.
• Considering individual management structures for each community hub site based on local needs.
• Actively involving residents in the co-space design of the community hubs.
• Considering suitable case studies from other local authorities as part of forward planning.
• Ensuring the Community Programme Strategy returns to the Committee following the formulation of plans, the opening of the first pilot hub, and prior to any further expansion.
• Implementing processes to ensure partnerships with accountable organisations and transparent measurement of partnership suitability.

The committee also requested further information on the service offer for the first community hub pilot and a breakdown of the intended spending on the programme.

Inner West London Mental Health Services Reconfiguration Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Update

Councillor Concia Albert, Chair of the committee, provided a verbal update on the work of the Inner West London Mental Health Services Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (IWL JHOSC). The JHOSC held five public meetings to scrutinise proposed changes to mental health service provision by Central North West London Foundation Trust (CNWL). The scrutiny process is ongoing, with both local authorities committed to local resolution. The JHOSC submitted its evidence-based conclusions on 29 February 2024, commenting on the service reconfiguration proposals and the adequacy of the consultation. CNWL and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) are required to consider the JHOSC's recommendations within 28 days. A report summarising consultation outcomes will be provided to the JHOSC at the end of April, with a further meeting to scrutinise this. The Business Case is scheduled for a decision at the ICB meeting on 16 July 2024, with implementation not expected until September 2024 to allow the JHOSC time for review.

Work Programme

The committee noted that this was the last meeting for the 2023/24 municipal year. A Work Programme meeting will be held on 13 May 2024 to plan the programme for the next municipal year, following the Policy and Scrutiny Cabinet Member Annual Updates in April 2024.