Agenda

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Members to declare any interests in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the extraordinary and ordinary meetings of Council held on 8 November 2022.

To consider any urgent business (with prior approval by the Mayor).

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

To receive petitions under Standing Order No. 8.

To consider written questions under Standing Order No. 9 to:-

(a)     the Mayor;

(b)     the Leader of the Council;

(c)     any other member of the Cabinet;

(d)     any person appointed to preside at a committee, sub-committee or panel;

(e)     the members of the Council nominated pursuant to Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1985, on the discharge of the functions of the following Joint Authorities:-

(i)            West Midlands Combined Authority (the Leader);

(ii)           West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority (Councillor

Jalil);

(iii)         Transport for the West Midlands (Councillor

Webb);

(f)      a nominated member appointed by the Council to the Board of Sandwell Leisure Trust;

(g)     a member of the Council who is, as a result of action taken by or on behalf of the Council, a member or director of any company.

To consider the Sandwell Council Improvement Plan updates.

To consider proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution.      

To consider a departure from the Development Plan.

To receive a progress report from Performance champions.

To consider the political balance for the remainder of the municipal year.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16 November 2022 and consider the recommendation arising:-

(a)     Review of Garden Waste Collection.

To receive the minutes of the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board held on 29 November 2022.

To receive the minutes of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee held on 29 September 2022.

To receive the minutes of the General Purposes and Arbitration Committee held on 24 November 2022 and consider the recommendations arising:-

         (a)     Review of Polling Places and Polling Stations 2022/23;

(b)     Nomination for Honorary Alderwoman (see Extraordinary Meeting of Council).

To receive the minutes of the Ethical Standards and Member Development Committee on 1 November 2022.

To consider the following motions received under Standing Order No. 12:-

18(a)Opt-out HIV Testing

Proposer: Councillor Chapman

Seconder:  Councillor Dunn

This council notes that:

1.      The government has committed to ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030.

2.      As part of the roadmap to reaching zero by 2030, the HIV Commission recommended that opt-out HIV testing become routine across the health service.

3.      As part of the HIV Action Plan 2022-25, the Government made £20 million available from NHS England for opt-out testing in areas classified by the UK Health Security Agency to be areas of ‘very high prevalence’ on HIV and ‘high prevalence’ areas in London.

4.      Sandwell is part of the next tier, as an area of high prevalence of HIV outside of London, with between 2-5 people per 1000 living with HIV.

5.      In the Adult HIV Testing Guidelines, the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV and the British Association of HIV recommends HIV testing for all individuals who have not previously tested who are:

a.      Accessing healthcare in areas of high HIV prevalence (2–5 per 1000) and undergoing venepuncture (a blood test);

b.      Accessing healthcare in areas of extremely high HIV prevalence (>5 per 1000), whether or not they are undergoing venepuncture for another indication.

6.      Opt-out testing has been successful. In the first 100 days of opt-out HIV testing in London, Manchester, Brighton and Blackpool, 102 people were newly diagnosed with HIV and a further 60 found who were lost to care.

7.      Opt-out testing has also been effective in diagnosing hepatitis B and C. In 100 days, 328 people have been newly diagnosed with Hepatitis B and 137 newly diagnosed with Hepatitis C. 

8.      Opt-out HIV testing is an effective tool for addressing inequalities and works for people who don’t traditionally access other ways of testing. People of Black African heritage, women and older people who are more likely to be diagnosed late are also more likely to be diagnosed through opt-out testing than other methods (for example in sexual health services or through postal testing). 

This Council believes:

1.      Finding undiagnosed people in Sandwell will be central to meeting the target of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.

2.      Anyone leaving A&E in Sandwell without knowing their HIV status is a missed opportunity.

This council resolves to request the Leader to:

1.      Write to the Secretary of State for Health to ask for funding for opt-out testing for Sandwell and all other high prevalence areas.

2.      Propose that opt-out testing is discussed at the next meeting of NHS Black Country ICS and that work is undertaken to explore implementing this across Sandwell.

3.      Approach our local MPs, community groups and stakeholders, and leaders of other high prevalence areas in the Black Country and Birmingham to mobilise a campaign to bring opt-out HIV testing to the area.

18(b)Housing Safety

Proposer: Councillor W Gill

Seconder:  Councillor Fisher

That this Council places on record that we are deeply saddened by  ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.