Issue - meetings

To receive the minutes of The Cheshire and Wirral Councils’ Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 23 January 2012 for information.

The Committee considered the minutes from The Cheshire and Wirral Councils’ Joint Scrutiny Committee. Attention was drawn to item 30: Future of the Cheshire and Wirral Joint Scrutiny Committee. There was a concern that a recent resolution by the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to recommend the disbanding of the Joint Committee was incommensurate with the discussion that was held in the Joint Committee meeting. Indeed a number of comments were made regarding the good work of the Joint Committee and it was stated that all stakeholders should be looking at ways to continue and improve practice rather than seeking to disband it. This was felt particularly pertinent considering the challenges and flux that the impending Health and Social Care Bill could bring.

As Vice-Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Saunders provided the rationale behind the resolution. She explained that there was a feeling that Councillor resources would be better spent focusing on the needs of Cheshire East residents and that this could be achieved by merging issues around mental health, learning disabilities and drug and alcohol services into the relevant local Committees.

Having heard this, a number of comments suggested that until the Council fully understood how commissioning would work once the Health and Social Care Bill became enacted and embedded, the Joint Committee should remain. With this in mind, it was suggested that the Committee should state to the Constitution Committee its concerns about the recommended disbanding of the Joint Committee in a time of flux and uncertainty. It was also agreed that further information was required on the value and practice of the Joint Committee before any other statements on its future could be made.

RESOLVED:

a)    That a recommendation be made to the Constitution Committee to place a moratorium on any decision to disband the Joint Committee until there was clarity on the full implications of the Health and Social Care Bill on commissioning.

b)    That further information on the value and practice of the Joint Committee be brought to a meeting in the near future.