Agenda item - Chair's Communications

21.11  The Chair gave the following communications:

Firstly, a note about today’s agenda. We were due to take a report on NHSE commissioned Trans health services, including specialist services for adults, children & young people’s care, and the launch of a new Sussex-wide gender identity service pilot. However, NHSE have only recently announced details of the pilot, and there really hasn’t been time to either properly inform members of this committee, or the local community about the service. In addition, NHSE is currently running a public consultation on a new gender service for children & young people. This consultation runs until December, which means it would not be possible to discuss feedback from this at today’s meeting.

I have therefore decided to defer the Trans health item until the January HOSC meeting. This will give time for NHS colleagues to draft a proper paper for us, with details of the Sussex adult gender pilot and feedback from the children’s service consultation. It will also give members of the local community and stakeholder organisations time to use HOSC public engagement mechanisms if they choose to do so. I’m sure some of the committee have received communications in recent days about the Sussex gender pilot; and I am committed to giving people every opportunity possible to make their views known to the HOSC.

Moving on to other issues, the council has launched a Cost of Living hub on our website to help residents who may struggle this winter. You can find out what benefits and emergency help you could get, what financial advice is available, as well as some of the support and activities you can access to help improve your physical and mental health. There’s also a Warm Welcome Directory that provides information about free indoor activities and places you can go to across the city. 

It’s important it is to do what you can to protect yourself this winter. This includes getting your Covid-19 booster and free flu vaccine if you’re eligible. Both now include everyone who’s 50 or over, as well as people who are more at risk and those that live or work with people who are vulnerable.  Flu jabs can be booked with your GP or pharmacy. Autumn boosters can be booked online or by calling 119, and to make it even easier for you, you can also now walk in at a number of locations across the city

Next Thursday is World AIDs Day. Ahead of the day, community events are taking place this Sunday at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, and a memorial quilt will be on display in Jubilee Library throughout next week. Then a candlelight vigil will be held at 6pm on Thursday 1 December in New Steine Gardens by the AIDs memorial.

Finally, I’m sure members will recall that we asked the Chief Executive of Southern Water to attend the July HOSC meeting to talk about the discharge of untreated sewage into waterways and the sea. The CEO was unable to attend but Dr Nick Mills, Head of the Storm Overflow Task Force, did present to the committee. I’m sure we all welcomed Nick’s contributions, but myself and other members were nonetheless keen to hear from the new CEO at a future meeting. I had ongoing concerns about water quality, which have in fact been borne out despite assurances given in July. I also have had a number of concerned queries from members of the public on this issue, as I am sure other committee members have. I therefore invited the Chief Executive of Southern Water, Lawrence Gosden, to attend the January HOSC.

I am very disappointed to report to you that Southern Water’s response is that a representative of the company will attend but that it will not be the CEO. I will therefore on behalf of this committee and concerned residents of Brighton and Hove express my serious disappointment to Mr Gosden and again invite him to attend in person and explain the ongoing releases of sewage into our local sea water and the impact this is having on the health of our residents.

21.2    Cllr West added that he too was disappointed that the Chief Executive of Southern Water has declined an invitation to attend a HOSC meeting. He noted that NHS Trust Chief Executives found the time to attend HOSC meetings, and that no attendance by Southern Water would give the impression that the company did not take the health impacts of its actions seriously.