To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 June 2020.

Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 18 June 2020 were approved as a correct record.

Councillor Holloway raised her concerns on the appointment of a Vice Chair to this committee and not having a Vice Chair in place for this meeting had shown a lack of respect to the committee. The Chair explained that the appointments of Vice Chairs had to be made at Council and that September’s meeting would be the next time for this to be agreed.

Councillor Holloway referred to the Chair’s comments made at the June committee on how difficult it was for male victims of domestic violence to get help in Thurrock and he had asked whether there had been any funding appraisals or sources of information support for male victims to which Councillor Holloway had explained that services were offered to both men and woman as it was important that everyone received support. Councillor Holloway then went on to say that domestic violence and sexual violence prominently impacted and affected women and quoted that it was in the high 90%. The Chair had stated that figure was incorrect and had been aware of only one male shelter and added that a 2012 figure of 44% victims were male and saw a large percentage of males coming through with the work that he undertook. Councillor Holloway then continued to state she had contacted SERICC who provided support to adults and children, male or female, who confirmed that in April 2019 to March 2020 1216 Thurrock victims of which 1179 were female and 37 male had been helped, that was 97%. Councillor Holloway had also contacted Changing Pathways and from 2019 to 2020 all the people they had supported were female, that was 100% and so far had supported two males. Councillor Holloway then questioned where Councillor Ralph had got that 40% figure from eight years ago as she was unable to find it and stated it was important that Members were aware of facts before being presented with domestic violence and sexual violence disproportionately impacting women. The Chair stated that from the history of domestic violence and sexual violence men had trouble coming forward and speaking out about their abuse and how they had suffered, that figure was a lot lower than the 95% towards woman than it was to men. The Chair offered this item to be added to the work programme for the next meeting where a full debate could be undertaken regarding the figures on sexual violence and domestic violence involving all parties. Councillor Holloway stated that this was a complex issue as to why men do not come forward and it would be the chair’s prerogative if this was an item to be brought to committee. Councillor Holloway summed by saying that when studies of the different kinds of violence that were perpetrated on men and women, it would show that the violence perpetrated on woman was always more severe.

Councillor Muldowney raised her point made at this meeting for an update on the mismanagement of funds taken from Thurrock’s Clinical Commissioning Group to bail out Peterborough and Cambridge Clinical Commissioning Groups to which Anthony McKeever had agreed to provide a specific update in writing to Members. Councillor Muldowney questioned why a written response had not been received to which Anthony McKeever apologised that he had failed to respond as although he had immediately pursued this matter and persisted with his enquiries within the region there had been no substantial information to share with Members. Anthony McKeever agreed to pursue this matter and Mark Tebbs stated this matter was on their agenda and would continue to be pursued through financial routes and would endeavour to get sorted. Councillor Halden was invited to speak by the Chair who stated that Anthony McKeever was not the decision maker in this issue and had been working hard to get some concessions and making a case for Thurrock.

Councillor Muldowney referred to the point that Mark Tebbs stated in these minutes that a national bid was in process for domestic violence and sexual abuse and worked had been undertaken with SERICC to get that bid and asked for an update. Mark Tebbs stated that this bid had been successful.

Councillor Muldowney referred to the point that Councillor Mayes stated in these minutes that mental health and the fewer number of referrals had been a concern, he reported that a Deep Dive Report on focusing on the status of mental health would be undertaken with a recommendation to set up a working partner taskforce to focus on mental health in its own right and questioned whether this had been carried out. Roger Harris stated an Adult Mental Health Service Transformation Update had been presented at the July’s Health and Wellbeing Board and an item was on the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for Mental Health Providers to present in November 2020.