Issue - meetings

Scoping Documents in respect of the following subjects have been submitted for Members’ consideration:

a)    Suicide Prevention – Submitted by Councillor Debbie Chance

Members gave consideration to a scrutiny proposal form which proposed a Short, Sharp Review in respect of suicide prevention. Members were asked to consider whether this would be asuitable topic for further scrutiny.

The suggestion of a Short, Sharp Review to look at suicide prevention inRedditch had been put forward by Councillor Debbie Chance.  She explained that this was an important topic to be investigated in light of public health statistics from 2015to 2017, which indicated that Redditch had a higher suicide rate than the national average.

Members acknowledged that this was an important topic as this had an impact on many people; therefore, the proposed review was welcomed.

The potential for the Committee to first receive a presentation in respect of this matter was briefly discussed.  However, Members were advised that as the Council did not have internal expertise in this field, it might be more practical for relevant external partner organisations to be invited to attend meetings of a Short Sharp Review group; in order to share their expertise. 

It was envisaged that the review might take longer to complete  than anticipated.  Members agreed that the review would take place in the new municipal year. 

The Senior Democratic Services Officer (Redditch) advised Members thatthe Chair for scrutiny reviews were usually appointed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the same meeting that Members agreed to launch a review.  However, as the proposal had been agreed close to the date of the local elections and Members were not intending to launch the review until the 2019/20 municipal year started Officers suggested that on this occasion the Chair should be appointed in the new municipal year.

RESOLVED that

a)        the proposed Short, Sharp Review in respect of  suicide prevention be launched; and

b)        the Chair of the Suicide Prevention Short ,Sharp Review be appointed in the new municipal year.