To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with Standing Order No.19.
Question submitted by Councillor Ed Fordham;
Given that suicide in the UK still runs above 10 people for every 100,000 - and that male suicide runs at 15.3 compared to female suicide at 4.8 - can I ask what progress has been made to limit the risk of suicide at the bridges of Chesterfield and what measures we have introduced with DCC, Network Rail, the Samaritans and others to limit such opportunities for suicide within the Borough?
Question submitted by Councillor Ed Fordham;
Can the council be updated on the roll out of segregated waste collection in the public rubbish bins in and around the Town Centre and by local shops in and around the Borough?
Minutes:
Under Standing Order No. 19 Councillor Fordham asked the following questions:
· “Given that suicide in the UK still runs above 10 people for every 100,000 - and that male suicide runs at 15.3 compared to female suicide at 4.8 - can I ask what progress has been made to limit the risk of suicide at the bridges of Chesterfield and what measures we have introduced with DCC, Network Rail, the Samaritans and others to limit such opportunities for suicide within the Borough?”
Councillor Mannion-Brunt provided a verbal response explaining that the Council was committed to working with partners such as the Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership and the Chesterfield Community Safety Partnership to address such concerns. It was important that colleagues from a range of disciplines and sectors came together to shape a coordinated response to suicide prevention.
The Council received regular data from Derbyshire Police and British Transport Police on deaths by suspected suicide, which enabled any high frequency locations to be identified and targeted for preventative interventions.
Derby City Council were in the process of developing a policy which would support the safe upkeep of structures and sites, such as bridges and car parks. It was proposed that once developed the policy would be shared across other partners, including District and Borough Councils, with a view to adoption. This would support the prioritisation and resourcing of preventative and mitigating measures for suicide.
Councillor Mannion-Brunt referenced the importance of adopting a community approach to prevention as 75% of people who take their lives were not known to mental health services.
Councillor Mannion-Brunt concluded by talking about the Thinkfest event which had recently been delivered in New Square. There wasfree training available for staff and volunteers in the public and voluntary sectors to become Mental Health First Aiders or to be trained in suicide awareness. Training uptake from attendees at the Chesterfield event had been the highest in the County.
· Can the council be updated on the roll out of segregated waste collection in the public rubbish bins in and around the Town Centre and by local shops in and around the Borough?
Councillor Mannion-Brunt provided a verbal response confirming that segregated recycling bins had been introduced into the town centre as part of a pilot scheme to understand whether this was an appropriate and effective way for the Council to encourage ‘recycling on the go’.
The Council had recently responded to three specific DEFRA recycling related consultations, the results of which would likely result in major changes in the collection and processing of waste. It was therefore essential for the authority to reflect on these consultations as they would inform local, regional, and national policy and approaches to recycling. The Council’s future approach needed to be in line with these policy changes. It had therefore been decided not to widen the current pilot scheme.
Councillor Mannion-Brunt concluded by referencing Recycle Week 2022 which was in September. The Council would be developing a communications plan to further educate residents and address common recycling misconceptions.