Agenda and minutes

The Chairman formally reported the election of Mr I S Chittenden as County Councillor for Maidstone North East who filled the vacancy caused by the death of Mrs M E Featherstone.

(The following Members made disclosures of personal interest in accordance with Part 2 of the Code of Conduct.  Mr P Lake and Mr M Angell as Non-executive Directors of the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Mr J Fullarton as a Mental Health Manager, East Kent and Mr A Crowther as a Partnership Governor of the Medway Maritime Hospital when new Trust is formed.)

(1)       Mr G Gibbens moved Mr M J Fittock seconded the recommendations contained in the report.

(2)       Ms A Sutton, Chief Executive, Eastern and Coastal Primary Care Trust, briefly addressed the Council and emphasised the need for a joint commitment to improve health in Kent.  She thanked the Council for the opportunity to engage in the day’s debate.

(3)       The County Council viewed a DVD on “Living Life to the Full” which introduced Kent’s Draft Public Health Strategy.

(4)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)      this Council be committed, at a local level, to working in partnership with the Eastern and Coastal Kent and West Kent Primary Care Trusts and Local Government to secure maximum funding for a Public Health strategy to reduce health inequalities and improve the health of Kent’s residents; and

(b)       consultation on the draft Public Health Strategy continue prior to the Strategy being presented to Eastern & Coastal Kent and West Kent Primary Care Trust Boards and the County Council for approval and adoption in September 2007.

Carried without a vote

(1)       Dr T Robinson moved Ms C J Cribben seconded the recommendation contained in the report.

(2)       The County Council viewed a DVD on an abridged version of the Channel 4 programme “Let’s Talk Sex” and copies of the UK Youth Parliament report on Sex Relationships Education – Are You Getting It?” were circulated in the Chamber. 

(3)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the report and the recommendations contained therein, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes, be approved; and

(b)       the Select Committee be thanked for producing a relevant and balanced report.

Carried without a vote

Appendix 1

Recommendation 1

That all those dedicated individuals working to provide young people in Kent with high standard sexual health services be commended.

Recommendation 2

The Committee urges that all key agencies be wholly committed and signed up to the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in an effort to decrease the rate of teenage pregnancy.

Recommendation 3

The Committee endorses and supports all the efforts of the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership.  It recommends expanding the Partnership’s reach to all the young people in Kent by further promoting its sexual health services in places young people frequent.

Recommendation 4

The Committee strongly recommends the broad production, promotion and distribution of discreet information on local sexual health services and support.

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommends that all partner agencies involved must facilitate the expansion of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme, to ensure full screening coverage of all sexually active young people in Kent under the age of 25.

Recommendation 6

That GUM clinics must replace appointments with a “walk in” service.  The Committee insists that the proportion of Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic attenders offered an appointment within 48 hours of contacting the service must reach 100% by 2008. 

Recommendation 7

That the number of school nurses working in secondary schools in Kent be increased, and that the number of accessible, confidential and young people friendly sexual health clinics in all secondary schools in Kent be raised by at least one per cluster by 2008.

Recommendation 8

The Committee commends and supports all those working with disengaged, vulnerable young people, and urges the effective re-integration of more young mothers and fathers into school to complete their statutory education.

Recommendation 9

The Committee recommends that all schools in Kent work towards Healthy Schools validation by March 2009, through a process which is all inclusive to parents and governors.

Recommendation 10

The Committee strongly recommends a strategy for a more consistent and systematic Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) delivery, that is coupled with more robust assessment and monitoring methods, and that is adopted in all primary and secondary schools in Kent.

Recommendation 11

The Committee urges that the new RE and Citizenship Advisor remains permanently in place to ensure that one advisor is permanently and wholly responsible and accountable for PSHE in Kent.

Recommendation 12

That PSHE certificates for both teachers and nurses be widely promoted and supported.  That each school cluster in Kent has a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.