Agenda item

This Council welcomes the ongoing work being carried out by the Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group into the future re-commissioning of Neighbourhood Networks in the city.

Council fully supports the work done city wide by Neighbourhood Networks and believes that they provide an invaluable service to many residents in many different communities across the city. Neighbourhood Networks not only provide a great service to residents but also provide services efficiently and deliver significant cost savings to the Council.

This Council believes that Neighbourhood Networks have the potential to be a cornerstone of social prescribing as the concept continues to develop in Leeds.

This Council further believes that funding for Neighbourhood Networks should remain unchanged and continue at current levels.

It was moved by Councillor C Anderson, seconded by Councillor Buckley that this Council welcomes the ongoing work being carried out by the Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group into the future re-commissioning of Neighbourhood Networks in the city.

Council fully supports the work done city wide by Neighbourhood Networks and believes that they provide an invaluable service to many residents in many different communities across the city. Neighbourhood Networks not only provide a great service to residents but also provide services efficiently and deliver significant cost savings to the Council.

This Council believes that Neighbourhood Networks have the potential to be a cornerstone of social prescribing as the concept continues to develop in Leeds.

This Council further believes that funding for Neighbourhood Networks should remain unchanged and continue at current levels.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Charlwood, seconded by Councillor Nagle;

Replace all after “This Council” with:

"praises the key role of Neighbourhood Networks, such as Armley Helping Hands, Older People’s Action in the Locality and organisations covering a further 35 areas of Leeds, in supporting older people to live safe, independent lives in their communities, whilst also contributing significantly to the wider prevention agenda, easing pressure on local health and care systems including the National Health Service. This includes the Neighbourhood Networks now reporting over 2,500 instances of helping to avoid hospital admission each year and improving the health and well-being of those using the service.

Council further welcomes the establishment of the all-party Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group which is currently undertaking an open and transparent review into the future recommissioning of the Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNS) in Leeds.

Council also notes the nationally recognised Neighbourhood Network Services have demonstrated that investment in prevention can fundamentally work to improve lives of people in the city and delay entry into other health and care services. 

Furthermore, this work highlights the ability of local government to deliver innovative programmes which can shape and inform good practice in the sector.

However, the continued cuts to local government, specifically in public health and social care, alongside the squeeze on NHS budgets means that the funding environment remains very uncertain.

Council therefore calls on the government to place health and social care funding on a stable footing, clearly prioritising prevention in the development of the Sustainability and Transformation Plans , to ensure local authorities with health and care partners can effectively address health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of people in their areas.”

Full motion will the read:

"This Council praises the key role of Neighbourhood Networks, such as Armley Helping Hands, Older People’s Action in the Locality and organisations covering a further 35 areas of Leeds, in supporting older people to live safe, independent lives in their communities, whilst also contributing significantly to the wider prevention agenda, easing pressure on local health and care systems including the National Health Service. This includes the Neighbourhood Networks now reporting over 2,500 instances of helping to avoid hospital admission each year and improving the health and well-being of those using the service.

Council further welcomes the establishment of the all-party Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group which is currently undertaking an open and transparent review into the future recommissioning of the Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNS) in Leeds.

Council also notes the nationally recognised Neighbourhood Network Services have demonstrated that investment in prevention can fundamentally work to improve lives of people in the city and delay entry into other health and care services. 

Furthermore, this work highlights the ability of local government to deliver innovative programmes which can shape and inform good practice in the sector.

However, the continued cuts to local government, specifically in public health and social care, alongside the squeeze on NHS budgets means that the funding environment remains very uncertain.

Council therefore calls on the government to place health and social care funding on a stable footing, clearly prioritising prevention in the development of the Sustainability and Transformation Plans , to ensure local authorities with health and care partners can effectively address health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of people in their areas.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Downes, seconded by Councillor Campbell;

To delete “and continue at” in paragraph four and replace with “or increase from”

The amendment in the name of Councillor Downes was declared lost 

The amendment in the name of Councillor Charlwood was carried and upon being put to the vote it was 

RESOLVED - That this Council praises the key role of Neighbourhood Networks, such as Armley Helping Hands, Older People’s Action in the Locality and organisations covering a further 35 areas of Leeds, in supporting older people to live safe, independent lives in their communities, whilst also contributing significantly to the wider prevention agenda, easing pressure on local health and care systems including the National Health Service. This includes the Neighbourhood Networks now reporting over 2,500 instances of helping to avoid hospital admission each year and improving the health and well-being of those using the service.

Council further welcomes the establishment of the all-party Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group which is currently undertaking an open and transparent review into the future recommissioning of the Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNS) in Leeds.

Council also notes the nationally recognised Neighbourhood Network Services have demonstrated that investment in prevention can fundamentally work to improve lives of people in the city and delay entry into other health and care services. 

Furthermore, this work highlights the ability of local government to deliver innovative programmes which can shape and inform good practice in the sector.

However, the continued cuts to local government, specifically in public health and social care, alongside the squeeze on NHS budgets means that the funding environment remains very uncertain.

Council therefore calls on the government to place health and social care funding on a stable footing, clearly prioritising prevention in the development of the Sustainability and Transformation Plans , to ensure local authorities with health and care partners can effectively address health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of people in their areas.”

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillors Finnigan, G Latty and Varley required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on this matter.)

Having declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in this item Councillor M Dobson left the Chamber during the discussion on this item and took no part in the discussion or voting.