Agenda item

This report advises the Committee of a petition presented at the Council meeting on 16 October 2014 calling on the Council to save the Health and Lifestyle Trainers Service. The lead petitioner has exercised her right under the Council’s Petitions Scheme to refer the matter to this Committee for consideration. The report also addresses further questions from Members in relation to this matter. 

Discussion:

Members considered a report regarding a petition presented at the Council meeting on 16 October 2014 calling on the Council to save the Health and Lifestyle Trainers Service. The lead petitioner had exercised his right under the Council’s Petitions Scheme to refer the matter to this Committee for review. The report also addressed further questions from Members in relation to this matter. 

Mr Bennett, the Lead petitioner, spoke about the unique nature of the service and its successes. He acknowledged not all of the targets had been met but pointed out these had been extremely ambitious for a new service. The service increasingly focused on delivering behaviour change, often working with people least likely to engage with public health initiatives. Mr Bennett felt that the way in which the Council had described the decision about the end of the contract had been confusing. In any event the effect of the decision had been that this valuable service had come to an end and staff had been made redundant. Finally Mr Bennett referred to legal advice he had received which stated there was a weakness in the Council’s diversity impact assessment which meant Cabinet had not been able to reach a proper view on this matter.

Councillor Cooper, the Local Member, spoke in support of the petition and commented on the vital work the service provided in one of the most deprived wards in the country. The decision to end the contract also called into question the viability of the Sunlight Centre.

A member of the public who attended a support group at the Sunlight Centre also spoke in support of the service and asked the Council to reconsider its decision.

The Director of Public Health responded and apologised for any unintentional confusion caused by terminology used in the report. She advised the Committee to carefully distinguish between the contract with the current service provider (Sunlight) for the HALT service having now come to an end and the fact that a decision had yet to be taken whether or not to procure the service again. She agreed with comments made by the lead petitioner about the effectiveness of public health services but given the significant financial challenges facing the Council decisions about the award of contracts had to be carefully taken and it was prudent to pause the process until the Council’s budgetary position was clearer. The Council would continue in the meantime to provide a range of public health services.

A member proposed that Cabinet should reconsider its decision taken on 28 October 2014 to note the expiry of the existing contract given that as a result of the petition further relevant information (such as the equality and diversity assessments) had come to light which showed there was more to this issue than at first appeared. The HALT team had provided a service across Medway and it was arguable that the decision to end the contract would in the end cost the Council more due to the type of interventions the team made. Cabinet should therefore carefully consider the long term consequences.

The Head of Legal Services advised the Committee that the contract with the Sunlight Development Trust had ceased on 30 November 2014 in accordance with its terms. There was therefore no contract for the service currently in place, and so no extension would be possible – any continuation of the service would require a new contract.

On this basis the proposal to ask the Cabinet to reconsider its decision on 28 October 2014 to note the expiry of the contract was ruled out.

In respect of the viability of the Sunlight Centre other members, whilst sympathetic to the situation users of the service found themselves in, felt that there were many other organisations who did not receive funding from the Council and had no option but to secure alternative funding. If it was decided to re-procure the contract then HALT would be able to bid for it. 

A member then moved that the Committee should note the expiry of the HALT Service Contract with the Sunlight Development Trust and that a decision as to whether to de-commission or re-procure the service would be taken as part of the 2015-16 budget process.

This was put to the vote and was carried.

Decision:

The Committee noted the expiry of the HALT Health and Lifestyle Trainers ServiceContract with the Sunlight Development Trust on 30 November 2014 and that a decision as to whether to de-commission or re-procure the service would be taken as part of the 2015-16 budget process.