Agenda item

Memorandum of Understanding

(To consider a report from Glen Garrod, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, on the memorandum of understanding for housing between various agencies, which is being developed by the Health and Wellbeing Boards Housing, Health and Care Delivery Group)

Minutes:

It was reported that the role of housing in achieving and maintaining good health, and the need to connect Housing services with Health and Social Care was well recognised nationally and locally.  The Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board had included Housing as one of its seven priorities in its Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS) and established the Housing, Health and Care Delivery Group (HHCDG) to oversee the Housing Delivery Plan.

 

The HHCDG had identified the need to agree a strategic vision with principles and core values for a Lincolnshire approach to working across the Housing, Health and Care sectors.  The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) attached as Appendix A to the report articulated the benefits of collaborative working and created an opportunity for better understanding of the preventative role that housing could play in achieving good health outcomes and sustaining independence.

 

The Committee was advised that the MoU had been supported by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 11 December 2018.  A number of partners had already formally signed up to this and others were following due process in order to do so.

 

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         A quarter of the population in any given area could have a disability currently or within the next 5 – 10 years, and currently houses were not designed to take account of this.

·         If health and wellbeing was to be tackled, there was a need for open space so people could go for a walk or enjoy other activities.  How modern estates were built needed to be considered so that they could include space for people to walk, play and exercise.

·         It was thought essential that open space should be included within new developments and they should also include cycle paths.

·         It was commented that the housing sector moved more slowly than both the NHS and social care sectors, and that it always took a number of years to implement changes.  Health colleagues had engaged with the Place directorate.  It was noted that open space had wellbeing value not just in terms of physical health but also benefitted mental health.  The existing system, if it was left for 20 years would still not meet the needs of those people that needed it.  The authority had been working with a number of districts to look at provision of extra care developments through partnerships, as there would be extra funds available which could be applied.

·         It was commented that the Sincil Bank area in Lincoln was being regenerated as the need to create open space had been recognised and a pocket park was being developed, as there was very little green space in the city generally.

·         It was commented that there was a need for greater emphasis on cycle routes, and it was commented that by way of example North Kesteven District Council had a condition that any larger developments must also include housing that was suitable for older people, for example have wider doorways, and this seemed to work well.

·         It was also noted that there was a need to ensure that there was the right percentage of single person dwellings, as more people were living alone.

·         It was commented that there were already a lot of bungalows in Lincolnshire, on the face of it this was in many instances appropriate housing for older people, and this could also be a factor in why a lot of older people moved to the county.  However, whether all the bungalows were actually fit for purpose was another matter for consideration as some may be in need of modernisation.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the comments made in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding be noted.

2.    That the actions within the Delivery Plan which was currently being refreshed by the Housing, Health and care Delivery Group be noted.

3.    That the principles of the memorandum of understanding be embedded within Lincolnshire County Council's activities when  scrutinising other topics.

 

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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