Agenda and draft minutes

Cllr John Boyce

John Baraclough (Leicestershire County Council)

R Levy noted that the previous meeting was held under a different staff team at Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and was held pre-pandemic. To this end, this meeting was viewed as a chance to kickstart afresh the Community Engagement Forum.

The minutes of the meeting of the CEF held on the 5/11/2019 were read, confirmed and signed (virtually) by the Chair.

With regards to the previous meeting’s discussion regarding Plastics in the Community, S Measures volunteered to promote further GoLearn!’s work in this area.

R Levy introduced the Forum to the work of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s Community & Wellbeing team, branded as Active Oadby and Wigston. The team offer several health, wellbeing and physical activity programmes across the Borough, from group walks, Couch to 5K, to Walking Football. These programmes offer opportunities to engage with communities, and achieve Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s Corporate Priorities, in particular RE:

·        “To improve the health of our residents, targeting those groups who have been identified as having health inequalities…”

·        “To improve the health of residents through bespoke health campaigns and interventions”.

Using Arnstein’s (1996) Ladder of Citizen Participation (see below, left), R Levy noted that Active Oadby and Wigston’s programmes do not merely represent a tokenistic engagement with the community. Rather, Active Oadby and Wigston’s programmes and campaigns are co-produced with communities themselves, with listening exercises such as pop-ups (see below, right) and surveys used by the team to determine the needs of communities.

Key ways to get involved with Active Oadby and Wigston’s programmes involve:

·        Searching for, and following Active Oadby and Wigston across social media

·        Visiting their website: www.activeoadbywigston.org.uk

B Gohil asked what inclusive offer was available through Active Oadby and Wigston’s programmes. R Levy said that programmes such as our recent Inclusive Tennis sessions for adults with disabilities demonstrates that team are keen to ensure as many people as possible are able to participate in programmes. R Levy agreed that more could be done to ensure that in marketing and communications of programmes, it is made clear that programmes are accessible and inclusive.

Action: R Levy to communicate to Active Oadby and Wigston team to ensure that inclusivity of programmes is made clear to audiences.

Cllr J Kauffman asked how what was being done besides using social media to promote Active Oadby and Wigston’s programmes. R Levy said that pop-up sessions in the community allow for conversations to be held with community members themselves who may not otherwise use social media. Posters and leaflets are also displayed in prominent areas.

Foqia discussed access issues at Uplands Park, in Oadby. In particular, access to toilets was mentioned, and how they were locked, and this is a barrier to using the park. Further, it was noted that loose dogs pose an issue to those of certain faiths. For instance, if dogs approach and touch those wearing religious garments, it means individuals have to change their clothes before praying. Thus, promoting messages around responsible dog ownership was suggested.

Action: R Levy to inform colleagues in Community Safety of this and for relevant signage/campaigns/messaging to be instated regarding responsible dog ownership.

Foqia also mentioned recently introduced parking charges as a barrier to accessing green spaces and health and wellbeing programmes across the Borough, and transportation in general around the Borough. The location of Brocks Hill Country Park being roughly 0.2 miles off the main road means it is further to walk to access, which can also be a barrier to accessing this green space.

Cllr J Kauffman  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS UPDATE

Cllr Haq invited community organisations present to provide an update on their current work, in particular during the Pandemic.

V Ghiadli said that his social group at St Paul’s Church in Oadby returned initially from the Pandemic in July, and is returning back in February. Active Oadby and Wigston have been to the group twice to host community consultation and health advice.

L Green said that, over the festive season, Oadby Foodbank has provided 35 food parcels to Pupil Premium students and their families who attend the foodbank. During the pandemic, the foodbank was giving out roughly 60 food parcels per fortnight. The foodbank has received several enquiries about fuel poverty/electricity, to which they have referred individuals to Helping Hands. Work has been done with Leicestershire County Council’s welfare van to offer support to residents. L Green commended the work of the volunteers at the foodbank.

L Thornton said that Helping Hands are now returning to more face-to-face sessions, yet these are on an appointment basis. Helping Hands has been able to offer phone and internet appointments to service users.

Reverend S Bailey, representing the Anglican Church, said that online services have been offered as much as possible during the pandemic. St Peter’s Church offered weekly newsletters who couldn’t make online services. The Church has been a collection point for foodbank.

M Barton from LAMP Advocacy: Mental Health Care & Support Leicester introduced the work of this charity. On the basis that access to GPs has been challenging, especially during the Pandemic, LAMP work with service users to dig deeper and provide service users with other options following what GPs may be able to provide. LAMP help service users to articulate their needs and interests, acting independently. LAMP aims to help those with existing mental health diagnosis and ensure that their needs within the community are met. LAMP aims to improve community capacity to support those with ill mental health.

S Renton addressed that a mental health forum is being set up by the NHS for the Borough, this will be in early Spring 2022.

J Cloke addressed that a study of mutual-aid groups during the pandemic, conducted by Hull and Sheffield University will have publically accessible findings. The group in Oadby supported residents with prescription collections throughout the pandemic.

L Green said that work was being done by Plastic Free Oadby and that contact will be made to invite them to next meeting.

Shireen addressed the work of the Muslim Association’s Community Plodders, who support individuals by going on daily walks. Classes are now taking place in the building of the Association, in addition to online. Preventing isolation was identified as a key priority.

S Measures introduced the work of GoLearn!, this is Leicestershire County Council’s adult learning offer which provide full range of courses on employability, ESOL, independence skills. S Measures is  keen to promote these services as much as possible. GoLearn! can offer bespoke sessions for a group with an identified need. S Measures happy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To include; awareness of services, promotion of physical activity, promotion of Community Health Champions.

To include; awareness of recycling rules, awareness of upcycling initiatives, awareness of fuel poverty.

Chair introduced Dr Latif who presented key information regarding COVID-19. Dr Latif works for UK Health Security Agency.

Dr Latif said that vaccine uptake in the East Midlands was broadly positive, across the East Midlands, uptake was:

·        82%- 1^st dose

·        76%- 2^nd dose

·        60%- Booster

The Omicron variant has caused disruption and increased case rates nationally, but a slight decline in case rates is now being experienced across the country. Dr Latif noted a most recent rule change which means if you have a positive lateral flow test, you must isolate immediately, rather than take a PCR test.

Dr Latif mentioned that in the Under 19 age group, case rates are not declining, and in the Blaby district, cases remain particularly high.

Dr Latif’s key recommendations were:

·        Maintain physical distancing, particularly in crowded spaces

·        Wear face masks in indoor settings

·        Maintain good hand hygiene.

R Mbedl asked for more local data to be presented. This data can be accessed online.

Dr Latif informed the group of the local Avian Flu outbreak which was also causing a high workload for medical professionals.

J Cloke, on behalf of his work with the Oadby support group, said that he had not heard of a lack of information by the Council to the public on COVID-19 matters. J Cloke mentioned the difficulty was how to get in touch with those who are self-isolating, to be able to offer instant support. J Cloke suggested that an emergency response team who, for instance, have access to a central list of those who are self-isolating, or a greater, collaborative working relationship with pharmacies across the Borough.

Cllr Haq responded by citing the work of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s Community Hub, which galvanised a team of volunteers to support those shielding or isolating during the Pandemic.

A Dingley said that OWBC would not be able to share personal details of those isolating, due to GDPR. OWBC have had to delete personal detail of all those supported by the Hub, as directed by Public Health.

Cllr Haq asked Dr Latif if we are moving from a pandemic to an endemic. Dr Latif said that it was hard to say, and that no one has a crystal ball. In response to concerns around availability of lateral flow tests, Dr Latif said that this was being addressed by central bodies, and for individuals to go online to order lateral flow tests.

V Ghadiali asked Dr Latif whether someone is more likely to transmit the virus if they are not vaccinated and whether, on this basis, those unvaccinated should not be permitted to attend social events which feature those who are elderly. Dr Latif responded by saying that those who are not vaccinated are more likely to be ill. Protecting the vulnerable remains a recommendation, although vaccines are not mandatory.

Foqia asked whether Oadby and Wigston Borough Council had a Volunteer Charter or a Volunteer Co-Ordinator position to best support volunteers who contribute to looking after residents across  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

Cllr Haq and R Levy agree, in the interest of timing, to postpone the agenda item on making the Borough

a greener place, and what we can do to support residents to make greener choices.

Cllr Haq thanked everyone for their attendance and celebrated how this meeting was an opportunity for networking, and collaboration.

TBC

THE MEETING CLOSED AT   15.10    PM.