{Disestablished Committee} - Social Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee

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Present:

• Councillor Karney - In the Chair 
• Councillors Cowan, Hitchen, Isherwood, N. Murphy, Barbara O'Neil, Royle, Watson, Whitmore, Williams and Wilmott 

Also Present:

• Councillor Curley, Executive Member for Adult Services
• Councillor S Murphy, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources 
• Councillor Swannick, Executive Member for Planning and Environment 

SS/06/39 Minutes

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2006 were approved as a correct record.

SS/06/40 War memorials - update

The Deputy Director of Libraries and Theatres updated the Committee on the work being done to improve and refurbish war memorials in the city utilising resources made available to support a rolling programme of works up to 2008 through the City Centre Initiative, and also maintenance works to public art around the City.

The Committee noted the parallel work of updating inscriptions on memorials where this was possible in the light of new information verified by the Ministry of Defence, and involving local communities in this work.

Decision

To note the works undertaken so far, to commend the focus of works on neighbourhood war memorials, and to thank the Deputy Director for her very informative presentation.

SS/06/41 Financial Inclusion

As part of the Committee's on-going campaign to champion the rights of consumers the Committee received a presentation from Dr.Karl Dyson from Community Finance Solutions at University of Salford of the findings of the residents' survey into financial exclusion which it was intended would inform the baseline study commissioned by the Council to be received later in the year. This research sought to identify the extent of individual financial exclusion in Manchester and to describe its affect on the broader economy; the evidence gathered would inform the identification of options to address the issue. Dr Dyson quoted evidence from the survey where loans with interest rates up to 707% APR were being supported by families on limited incomes.

Members were concerned about the impacts of the increasing costs of domestic fuel and the possibility that many families would be unable to meet their fuel bills this winter. It was noted that Manchester Advice were planning an information campaign, starting in October, aimed at advising older people of the various ways of making savings on fuel bills and in particular how to change energy provider. The Chair indicated that he considered it perverse that the most disadvantaged fuel customers were required to pay a 12-15% premium for the use of key meters.

Members again focused on the importance of the financial inclusion strategy targeting young people so that they have the skills necessary to survive in an aggressive financial environment.

Decision

To note the results of the baseline survey and to request that this presentation is circulated to all elected members of the Council

SS/06/42 Domestic Abuse Strategy 2006-2007

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Care which sought comments on the Domestic Abuse Strategy and provided an update on progressing the strategy and key deliverables in the remainder of the year. The Director outlined the challenges that existed for the Council and its partners in tackling these diverse positively and constructively and she welcomed the recognition that the Home Office review team had given to the coherent approach being adopted as part of its recent inspection.

Councillor Sue Murphy advised members of the significant progress which had been made during the last year, a key achievement being the completion of the Strategy Document, though she warned against any sense of complacency in terms of the work that remained to be done to achieve real and sustained reductions in domestic violence Members noted the implementation of a range of services to help and support those at risk from domestic violence but at the same time they recognised that the 1000 cases of domestic abuse reported each month represented only a fraction of the scale of overall abuse.

Members asked whether information was available to demonstrate any geographical foci in relation to domestic violence, and officers agreed to investigate whether data could be meaningfully extrapolated by area.

Reference was also made to the known correlation between alcohol abuse and domestic violence and members were keen to know if there was raw data available to demonstrate any specific impacts of the FIFA World Cup on the incidence of domestic abuse. Officers indicated that alcohol was a known factor in 32% of reported cases but no information was known to be available that would enable any football or other sporting related linkages to be drawn.

Members then turned to look at the measures available to abusers seeking help, the extent to which attendance at counselling sessions could be enforced, and whether the threat of imprisonment was often the only effective catalyst to get people to engage with counselling programmes. In this context reference was made to the parallel work being done by health service partners and members were concerned to ensure that effective mechanisms were in place to ensure that this work was fully joined up. In particular members were keen to know that midwives received appropriate training to enable them to identify signs of abuse involving pregnant women, and that there was a keen focus to keep the needs of affected children clearly in view, particularly given the evidence that children from abusive homes often themselves perpetuate the cycle of abuse and demonstrate juvenile anti-social behaviour. Evidence supported that many young people on the streets at night were purposely escaping abusive households The Director indicated that close cooperation already existed with the health service providers but that the move to a single Primary Care Trust for Manchester would provide an appropriate opportunity to review and re-focus joint approaches in this field of work.

Decision

To thank Councillor S Murphy for championing this work within the Council; to note the progress being made and the astonishing statistics that are themselves the drivers for concerted strategies to make real progress. To request the officers to report back to the Committee early in 2007 with an update.

SS/06/43 Valuing Older People - next steps

The Committee gave consideration to a report of the Director of Adult Social Care updating members on the progress made by the Valuing Older People Programme, and seeking views on proposals designed to improve the effectiveness of the programme. The Director outlined the challenges in terms of managing the changing needs and aspirations of each successive generation.

Councillor Curley, as the lead Member on this issue, felt that the importance of grandparents as part time or full time carers and as valuable role models for young people was grossly undervalued, and that great care was necessary to avoid terminology that in any way classed older people as a burden.

A member was concerned that the strategy needed to be strengthened in relation to the education needs of older people consistent with the ethos of 'lifelong learning', and she was concerned that the focus on adult education was threatened by proposed reforms driven by reductions in funding from the Learning and Skills Council.

The Chair requested that consideration was given to an awards system within the Council that recognised the achievements made by older people within their communities.

Decision

To note the report.

SS/06/44 Gambling Policy

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Environmental Services in relation to the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005, and proposing a draft statement of gambling policy for the purposes of consultation.

The Committee noted that the Act transferred responsibility for regulating commercial gambling from the magistrates to local authorities and the newly established Gambling Commission.

Decision

To welcome the gambling policy statement which addresses many of the concerns of this Committee in relation to consumer protection, and to request the officers to report on any significant issues raised during the consultation round.

SS/06/45 Fireworks Campaign 2006

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Environmental Services updating the Committee on arrangements for the 2006 fireworks campaign.

Decision

To note the report.