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 the death of Awaab Ishak and is committed to ensuring that lessons are learnt to ensure that such a tragedy cannot happen again.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
· Recognises the duties it has in the Housing Act 2004 to improve the housing quality for both social and private tenants.
· Commit to ensuring that all people in the Borough do not live in poor quality housing.
· Use the powers it has to ensure that all accommodation in Sandwell, whether private or social, is of high safety and quality standards.
· Commit to carry out a review of housing conditions in Sandwell and supply the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities with an assessment of damp and mould issues affecting privately rented properties.
· Assess action that may need to be taken in relation to damp and mould issues affecting privately rented properties in the Borough and supply the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities with this assessment.
· Welcome the government’s plans to enable a rigorous new regime that holds all landlords to account for the decency of their homes and the service they provide.
· Prioritise enforcement of housing standards and ensure that there is a strong and up-to-date plan to ensure there is adequate enforcement capacity to drive up standards in the private rented
18(c) Safe working, transport and enforcement…………………………
Proposer: Councillor Suzanne Hartwell
Seconder: Councillor Hinchliff
Shift work is widespread in many industries particularly hospitality, as well as health and care workers, and many National Health Service workers – all are expected to work or have a degree of late night working.
Late night working increases at this time of year (December).For those who work in retail, these workers are often women or students who work part time or to avoid child care costs.
Many workers of all genders and ages are increasingly worried of attack but especially women who are afraid of attack and sexual assault/harassment.
We would like to acknowledge the tremendous job that our local officers do to protect the residents of Sandwell but there are many weaknesses with enforcement of the law against sexual assault and harassment - this is appalling and together with the reduction of officers over the last decade which is an absolute disgrace makes this a difficult combination for women to feel safe.
This councils call upon the Leader to write to the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority and ask him to provide assurances on the following:
· To make sure improvement to late night and off-peak transport by making sure time schedules are relevant, kept to and that cancellations are at a minimum with just reason.
· Because of the Cost of Living Crisis, ensure fares are kept to a minimum at an affordable level so as not to exclude the low paid such as nurses.
· Not to cut services in areas where it is known that late working is absolute or possible such as retail or hospitals
· Ensure all drivers and other public transport workers are trained to be aware of what Sexual Harassment is and know what to do in the event that it happens.
· Liaise with Trade Unions as necessary to prevent strike action that would stop transport
And to write to Simon Foster – the Police and Crime Commissioner:
· Requesting that he makes representations to the government on strengthening the law regarding sexual harassment, and to lobby the government for more officers to strengthen enforcement in Sandwell to prevent any rise in harassment.
18(d) Cost of Living Emergency
Proposer: Councillor Carmichael
Seconder: Councillor Piper
In April 2022 this Labour administration brought a motion to this council regarding the Cost-of-Living Crisis. Since then, we have had a further TWO budgets and seen inflation rise to the highest it has been in forty years. This council now finds itself looking at discretionary services as part of its budget cuts.
This council thanks our officers for all the additional work already done to support residents in this crisis and to also note that we know that the council is doing all it can to protect our vulnerable residents including.
· Signposting of benefits and other support
· Exploring all ways to ensure that grants received go the most vulnerable
· Providing extra funding to food banks, school voucher scheme, Ukraine hosts
· Setting up a Cost of Living Webpage and the recent set-up of a cost-of-living WhatsApp service
· Setting up Sandwell’s warm spaces and supplying grants to organisations
This council believes that there is still more that will need to be done to help out our residents and this council resolves to:
· Escalate our established Cost of Living Crisis status and declare a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ this highlighting the massively difficult situations many residents are facing
· Continue to explore ways in the councils’ budget to ensure our most vulnerable receive help, even though we recognise the governments cuts over the last decade.
· Convene a cost-of-living summit in this council and invite partners, businesses, organisations, trade unions, MPs to help this council address the situation.