The Health and Care Policy Development Committee met on Wednesday 7 June 2023 to discuss future themes for consideration and to review the committee's terms of reference. The meeting also included standard procedural items.

Discussion and Agreement of Themes for Consideration during 2023/24

The committee was scheduled to discuss themes relevant to the terms of reference for Policy Development Committees. This discussion was to be led by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health and the Corporate Director of People Health and Care. Additionally, draft templates for recording outstanding actions from previous meetings and member attendance were to be reviewed. These templates are intended to be updated at each subsequent meeting.

Update from Overview and Scrutiny Committee

A standing agenda item was included to receive updates from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. However, it was noted that the Overview Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on 12 June 2023, and therefore, there were no updates to provide at this meeting.

Terms of Reference for Policy Development Committees

The report pack provided an overview of the six Policy Development Committees within Redbridge Council, including Homes and Neighbourhoods, Clean and Green, Health and Care, Safe Redbridge, Children and Young People, and Strategy & Resources. The Health and Care Policy Development Committee's specific remit was outlined as supporting independent living, addressing health inequalities, and ensuring access to resources and capacity to support the Redbridge population. The intended outcomes for this committee include increased average life expectancy, increased average healthy life expectancy, and increased usage of leisure facilities.

The general powers of all Policy Development Committees were also detailed. These include assisting the Council and Cabinet in developing new policy, reviewing budgets and performance, developing their own work plans, investigating policy development, and focusing deliberations on whether policies achieve their intended outcomes, reach intended groups, address community needs, achieve customer satisfaction, and utilise resources effectively. The committees are also empowered to encourage community participation, conduct site visits, hold public surveys, commission research, and review regional and national policy implications for Redbridge. They can invite relevant Cabinet members to meetings and receive presentations from stakeholder partners and the Youth Council. The report also noted that meeting venues may vary to allow for community settings.

The report pack also included a table for noting attendance at future meetings throughout the 2023/24 municipal year, as well as a section for tracking actions from previous meetings, with columns for reference, meeting date, action, lead officer, deadline, and update.

The meeting also included standard procedural items such as the election of a Chair and Vice Chair, apologies for absence and declarations of substitutes, declarations of interest, and a period for public participation. A motion to exclude the public for the discussion of exempt information was also listed.