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Weekly updates
Malvern Hills Council Endorses UK Stewardship Code
This week, the Malvern Hills council held several meetings. Here are the details:
Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board
Date: Monday 24 June 2024
This meeting was cancelled.
Pensions Committee
Date: Tuesday 25 June 2024
The Pensions Committee convened to review and discuss several key matters concerning the Worcestershire Pension Fund. Here are the highlights:
Pension Investment Sub-Committee and Pension Board: The Committee reviewed the minutes from the June 2024 meetings of the Pension Investment Sub-Committee (PISC) and the Pension Board. The PISC advises on investments for local government pension schemes, ensuring they are managed effectively.
Business Plan: The Committee discussed the Worcestershire Pension Fund Business Plan for 2023/24, which outlines the projects and initiatives the Committee will focus on throughout the year. The Committee noted the progress made on these projects and requested that training on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations and guidance be prioritised.
The Committee noted the progress made against the projects in the Business Plan and asked that the training on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations and guidance is prioritised.
Training Update: The Committee received a report detailing the training undertaken by its members and officers. They requested that future training reports include information on climate change.
The Committee noted the training undertaken and requested that a report on training relating specifically to climate change is added to the next meeting.
Governance Update: An update on the Fund's governance arrangements was provided, noting no breaches of policies during the reporting period. Ongoing projects include updating the Fund's risk register, developing a new communications strategy, and reviewing the Fund's cyber security policy.
Worcestershire Pension Fund Annual Accounts: The Committee reviewed the Worcestershire Pension Fund Annual Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2024, noting that the Fund had outperformed its benchmark. The Statement of Accounts will be presented for approval at the September meeting.
The Committee noted the content of the report and that the Statement of Accounts will be presented at the September meeting of the Committee for approval.
UK Stewardship Code: The Committee discussed the UK Stewardship Code (UKSC), a set of principles for responsible investment. They agreed to recommend that the Council adopts the UKSC.
The Committee agreed to recommend to the Council that it adopts the UK Stewardship Code.
Cabinet
Date: Thursday 27 June 2024
No video or transcript was provided for this meeting.
This week's meetings highlight the council's ongoing efforts to manage the Worcestershire Pension Fund effectively, with a focus on governance, training, and responsible investment. The adoption of the UK Stewardship Code underscores the council's commitment to ethical investment practices.
Tackling Health and Social Care: Key Insights from Malvern Hills Council Meetings
This week, the Malvern Hills council held several important meetings. Here are the details:
Health and Wellbeing Board
Date: Tuesday 21 May 2024
The Health and Wellbeing Board focused on several key public health initiatives. The meeting highlighted the achievements of the outgoing Chair, Councillor Karen May, particularly the Stay Connected Pledge and the joint local health and wellbeing strategy. These initiatives have been pivotal in promoting mental health and addressing broader health determinants.
The Public Health Review for 2023-2024, presented by Lisa Macklin, underscored the collaborative nature of public health efforts. Key achievements included:
- High performance in health visiting services.
- Reduced smoking rates during pregnancy.
- Successful MMR vaccination campaigns.
- Community development programs leading to low loneliness rates in Worcester.
- Significant increases in bowel screening rates.
Lisa Macklin emphasized the importance of combining asset-based and deficit-based approaches in public health. Asset-based approaches enhance community strengths, while deficit-based approaches address specific health issues. For example, resistance band programs have successfully reduced falls-related admissions.
The meeting also discussed the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as service delivery interruptions and CO screening issues. Despite these challenges, the public health team achieved notable outcomes, including a decrease in smoking rates at the point of delivery and improved continuity of care for individuals released from prison.
The meeting concluded with a focus on addressing social isolation and loneliness through community-based solutions and public health support for vulnerable populations.
Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Date: Monday 20 May 2024
This meeting primarily addressed social care issues, including safeguarding, self-neglect, exploitation strategies, and the management of complex cases. Key points included:
Safeguarding and Self-Neglect: Maurice, the new Sea of Honor, highlighted the benefits of a rapid verbal building process in disseminating learning from serious incidents. He stressed the importance of understanding cognitive decline in self-neglect cases.
Exploitation Strategy: The council's efforts in improving the exploitation strategy, particularly concerning rough sleeping, were discussed. The inclusion of people with lived experiences in the assurance framework has been positively received.
Complex and High-Risk Management (Calm Process): Maurice praised the council for funding the Calm Process, which uses innovative engagement methods to connect with individuals with complex and high-risk lifestyles.
Staffing Concerns in Social Care: Maurice raised concerns about future nursing shortages and the impact on adult care services. He suggested that societal attitudes towards nursing and social care professions need to change to attract more people.
CQC Inspection and Professional Curiosity: Maurice shared his experience with a CQC inspection, noting the importance of professional curiosity and mental capacity in safeguarding.
Multi-Agency Working and Information Sharing: Maurice emphasized the importance of multi-agency collaboration and information sharing in safeguarding.
Challenges in Health and Social Care Integration: Maurice discussed the challenges in achieving full integration of health and social care, despite the efforts of the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Future of Social Care: Maurice called for serious leadership and societal change to address the challenges in social care.
Direct Payments and Financial Management: The council discussed the need for improvements in managing direct payments for social care.
Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding: The complexities of CHC funding and the importance of accurate decision-making and collaboration were reviewed.
Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Date: Wednesday 22 May 2024
The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarised.
Planning and Regulatory Committee
Date: Tuesday 21 May 2024
This meeting was cancelled.
Cabinet
Date: Thursday 23 May 2024
This meeting was cancelled.
The discussions this week highlight ongoing efforts to improve public health and social care in Malvern Hills. The emphasis on collaboration, innovative approaches, and addressing systemic challenges are recurring themes that will likely continue to shape council initiatives.
Recent meetings
Pension Investment Sub-Committee - Friday, 27th September, 2024 10.00 am
We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Wednesday, 25th September, 2024 10.00 am
The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarised.
Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board - Wednesday, 25th September, 2024 2.00 pm
We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
Pension Investment Sub-Committee - Thursday, 26th September, 2024 2.00 pm
We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
Cabinet - Thursday, 26th September, 2024 10.00 am
We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
Health and Wellbeing Board - Tuesday, 24th September, 2024 2.00 pm
The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarised.
Planning and Regulatory Committee - Tuesday, 24th September, 2024 10.00 am
The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarised.
Audit and Governance Committee - Friday, 20th September, 2024 10.30 am
We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
West Mercia Police and Crime Panel - Monday, 16th September, 2024 11.00 am
The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarised.
Pension Board - Friday, 13th September, 2024 10.00 am
We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.
Upcoming meetings
No meetings found.