The Vulnerable Adults, Health and Communities Policy and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 7th March 2024 to discuss the Westminster Community Hubs Programme and receive an update on the Inner West London Mental Health Services Reconfiguration. The committee made several recommendations regarding the Community Hubs Programme, including the need for a free community health offer for the LGBT+ community, consideration of local disruption from hub sites, and the development of longer-term funding plans.

Westminster Community Hubs Programme

The committee undertook pre-decision scrutiny of the Council's proposed Community Hubs Programme, which aims to improve access to integrated council, health, and voluntary and community sector (VCS) services across Westminster. The programme is linked to the #2035 initiative and the Fairer Westminster agenda, focusing on improving community health and wellbeing and access to support for residents.

Paul Perkins, Programme Lead for Community Hubs, presented the report, highlighting that the programme intends to create accessible, collaborative, and co-designed spaces across the city. Councillor Aicha Less, Cabinet Member for Communities, Children and Public Protection, emphasised the programme's role in tackling health inequalities and strengthening community resilience.

During the discussion, councillors raised several points:

• Engagement with Residents: Concerns were raised about the breadth and depth of resident engagement to date, with a call for more comprehensive data collection and improved engagement figures. Councillors sought to understand how engagement is being carried out in areas within a 15-minute walk of intended hub sites and how to reach residents who are difficult to contact.
• Governance and Management: The committee questioned the different governance arrangements for the sites, the standards the Council expects, and how services will be integrated with voluntary sector partners to achieve a common purpose. They also asked about the decision-making processes for managing each venue and the potential for flexibility and creativity for operating organisations.
• Service Provision and Duplication: Councillors explored the balance of services within the hubs between VCS, health, and Council services, and how the Council determines the appropriate mix. They also raised concerns about potential duplication of services with existing family hubs and children's centres and inquired about the reasons for the continued closure of Queen's Park Community Centre.
• LGBT+ Community Health: Specific attention was given to the health inequalities experienced by the LGBT+ community, particularly older LGBT+ individuals and Black gay men. The committee recommended that the Council investigate a free community health offer for this demographic.
• Impact on Local Communities: The potential impact of hub sites on immediate local communities, such as noise, traffic, and footfall, was discussed, with a recommendation that these issues be considered during planning and implementation.
• Funding and Sustainability: The committee sought clarity on the Council's revenue for initial setup and whether organisations would pay for space in larger hubs. Concerns were raised about longer-term funding and whether funding for hubs might detrimentally affect statutory social services.
• #2035 and Primary Care Integration: The evaluation of #2035 priorities in the hub design and their consideration alongside primary care provisions, especially in the first hub, was discussed. The role of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment in informing hub needs, such as prevention services and male primary care, was also highlighted.
• Staffing and Demographics: The committee questioned how hub staffing would reflect community demographics and how residents would be involved in co-design.
• NHS Services and Public Health Data: The use of NHS services and public health data sets in hub areas to address public health needs, particularly in deprived areas, was discussed, along with the potential impact on hospitals and Council services.
• Inclusion of Services: The inclusion of services such as Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES), employability skills, early help, and housing was explored, and how engagement has informed these decisions.
• Language Provision: The importance of language provision in community hub sites to ensure access was stressed.
• Exemplar Models: The committee asked about other exemplar models considered in the planning, such as the community trust initiative in Bromley-by-Bow.

The committee made several recommendations, including investigating a free community health offer for the LGBT+ community, considering local disruption from hub sites, putting in place longer-term funding plans, retaining overall control and management of hub sites through KPIs and review schedules, considering individual management structures for each site, actively involving residents in co-space design, considering suitable case studies from other local authorities, and ensuring partnerships are accountable and transparent. They also requested an outline of the service offer for the first pilot hub and a breakdown of the intended spending on the programme.

Inner West London Mental Health Services Reconfiguration Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Update

The committee received a verbal update on the Inner West London Mental Health Services Reconfiguration Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (IWL JHOSC). The update noted that the JHOSC had held five public meetings to scrutinise proposed changes to mental health service provision by Central North West London Foundation Trust (CNWL). The JHOSC submitted its evidence-based conclusions on 29 February 2024, commenting on the reconfiguration proposals and the adequacy of the consultation. CNWL and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) are required to consider the JHOSC's recommendations within 28 days. A report summarising consultation outcomes will be provided to the JHOSC at the end of April, and the JHOSC will scrutinise this further. The decision-making business case is scheduled for the ICB meeting on 16 July 2024, with implementation not expected until September 2024 to allow for JHOSC review.