Health and Wellbeing Board - Terms of Reference Update

Better oversight of health and wellbeing in Kent, and banging my head on the desk. Not totally mutually compatible, but I gave it a go.

In a debate at Kent County Council 5th November Full Council meeting there was a ratification debate on the Terms of Reference of the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board.

This matters (despite sounding quite dry!), as it's the democratic oversight across our health services in Kent.

I think what was proposed was OK, but could have been better. And so I proposed some changes to make it better, and more representative.

And they were voted down by Reform because...Oh, I have no idea. They gave no comprehensible reasons at all.

"Thank you Chair.

"I promise that this will not be a replay of my performance at the recent Selection and Member Services Committee, where my colleague Richard and myself moved and lost 9 motions in just over 10 minutes.

"It’s not a replay of that mainly because the Chair and Joel in their wisdom wouldn’t let me. But what we do instead is accept that these proposals allow the board to continue its essential work, but to set a marker for what we want to see in future.

"And that matters. Because the Health and Wellbeing Board leads on partnership endeavours to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities across Kent.

"And the best way to build that partnership is to include:

"A guaranteed geographic spread of representation in the board, which isn’t currently guaranteed;

"More residents directly on the board;

"More expert users from groups who face those health challenges day after day;

"Better staff representation, by giving those members a vote.

"And more disparate views: representatives from a range of groups doesn’t change control, but it does broaden feedback and transparency.

"We've worked with the administration, and I'd like to thank Joel for his heroic work on this, to come back with proposals that can be discussed and passed today.

"They don't bind the Council, or the board, but recommend a pathway for change.

"And this isn't a "you versus us" situation or motion. I'm confident no-one in Reform wrote the proposals in front of us.

"They are alright, they aren't perfect, and we can make them better. And that's where this motion sits. Start with what's written, but then improve it.

"More representative. Better feedback from Councillors. Aiming for better health outcomes across the county.

"I’m sure no-one wants to see less representation, less resident involvement, less expert opinion, less representation from all areas. So I hope we can see genuine cross party support for a change that isn't going to set the world on fire, but might, with time, help improve Kent's health.