Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Moran.  Councillor D Edwardes was present as substitute for Councillor A Moran.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, and non-registerable interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor S Adams declared that, in the interests of openness and transparency, she represented Disley Parish Council at meetings with the Bollington, Disley and Poynton Care Community; was the lead for Disley Parish Council's Health and Wellbeing Project Group; and was a member of the Patient Participation Group at Schoolhouse Surgery, Disley.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

As per paragraph 4.35 of the Council’s Constitution (Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules - The Party Whip), it is generally accepted that the Party Whip should be suspended in respect of scrutiny matters. However, when considering any matter in respect of which a member of an Overview and scrutiny committee is subject to a formal party whip, the member must declare the existence of the whip, and the nature of it, before the commencement of the committee’s deliberations on the matter. The declaration, and the detail of the whipping arrangements, shall be recorded in the Minutes of the meeting.

There were no declarations of party whip.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to five minutes, but the Chair will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered.

There were no registered public speakers.

To review a report that sets out the Committee’s Terms of Reference for formal noting and consideration as the basis for the Committee’s future work.

The Committee considered a report which set out its Terms of Reference, for formal noting and consideration as the basis for the committee’s future work.

It was explained that this was a standard report presented to the first meeting of a new committee and set out the governance framework approved by Full Council under the Leader and Cabinet arrangements.  The role of Overview and Scrutiny was fundamental to this process.

Members discussed the scope of the Committee's responsibilities, particularly in relation to transition arrangements between Children's and Adults' Services and the scrutiny of NHS and partner organisations.  Concern was expressed that these responsibilities were not explicitly referenced within the Terms of Reference.  In response, officers advised that there was scope to amend or clarify constitutional provisions through the ongoing Task and Finish Group reviewing the new scrutiny arrangements.  It was also explained that the Committee already possessed powers to scrutinise relevant health matters under legislation and could hold joint meetings with other Overview and Scrutiny Committees where matters crossed service boundaries.  The significant overlap between Adults' and Children's Services, particularly in relation to transitions, safeguarding and forthcoming national reforms was highlighted, and suggested that joint scrutiny arrangements may be beneficial where issues affected both committees.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee's Terms of Reference and the governance and procedural framework for its operation be noted.

To scrutinise the Cabinet Forward Plan and identify any likely pre-decision scrutiny items.

The Committee considered the Cabinet Forward Plan to identify matters suitable for pre-decision scrutiny.

Members noted that two Adult Social Care related items were currently scheduled for Cabinet consideration in September 2026:

• Adults Commissioning and Procurement Forward Plan 2026/27
• Better Care Fund Section 75 Agreement 2026/27-2028/29.

Members discussed wider issues scheduled for Cabinet, including Connected Communities and Building Healthier Neighbourhoods, transformation programmes and future commissioning decisions. Concerns were raised regarding the frequency of Committee meetings in comparison to Cabinet meetings and whether this would provide sufficient opportunities for effective scrutiny.

Officers advised that the meeting schedule had been approved by Full Council as part of the new governance arrangements and that major items, including transformation and budget matters, would continue to be brought before the Committee. Informal briefings would also be arranged where appropriate to ensure members received detailed information on complex issues.

Members requested that the Committee undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the Commercial Determinants of Health report scheduled for Cabinet consideration in December 2026.

Discussion also took place regarding the Better Care Fund and proposed delegation of decision-making powers to the Health and Wellbeing Board. Officers explained that, owing to timing constraints, scrutiny of the current Better Care Fund arrangements would take place post-decision on this occasion.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

To agree the Committee’s 2026/27 work programme.

The Committee considered the Work Programme.

Members requested that the Work Programme include:

• Regular consideration of Adult Social Care Transformation Programme progress and associated key performance indicators.
• Ongoing scrutiny of Prevent, Reduce, Enable initiatives.
• Monitoring of NHS Neighbourhood Health developments and their implications for Adult Social Care.
• Consideration of commissioning and service model developments at an early stage, prior to Cabinet decision-making.

Members emphasised the importance of receiving regular performance information, including measures relating to admissions, assessments, care packages, learning disability placements and financial performance.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme be agreed, subject to the inclusion of the additional items discussed.

To scrutinise the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - Quality Account 2025-26.

The Committee received a presentation from representatives of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) regarding the Trust's Annual Quality Account 2025-26.

The presentation covered service activity, quality improvement priorities, patient safety, clinical effectiveness, workforce development, equality and diversity, research activity and future priorities.

Members were advised that:

• Adult mental health and children's mental health referrals had increased during the reporting period.
• Waiting times for mental health services remained relatively low, although significant challenges persisted in relation to autism and ADHD assessments.
• Digital patient safety dashboards had been introduced across services.
• Work continued to improve patient outcomes through digitised goal-based measurements and improved data quality.
• Significant progress had been made in reducing out-of-area placements and improving discharge arrangements.
• New arrangements had been introduced to strengthen patient feedback and patient experience monitoring.
• Workforce development, recruitment and equality initiatives remained a priority.
• Research activity continued to achieve national recognition and support innovation across services.

During discussion, Members considered the following matters: the content of the Quality Account report; equality issues within the workforce; complaints and disciplinary processes; patient discharge arrangements and readmission monitoring; community-based eating disorder provision; specialist inpatient provision and geographical accessibility; the development of neighbourhood mental health services; and workforce recruitment and retention challenges.  Members were informed of planned developments including a mental health crisis assessment centre in the Macclesfield area and the future expansion of neighbourhood mental health models.

**The Committee had initially agreed to vary the agenda items to consider items 8 and 10 concurrently.  However, owing to time limitations and officer availability in respect of agenda item 9 (‘Q4 / End-of-Year Finance Update 2025/26’), it was agreed that item 9 would be considered and then item 10 picked back up after conclusion of that.**

RESOLVED:

That the Quality Account 2025/26 be received and noted.

To scrutinise the Q4 / End-of-Year Finance Update 2025/26.

The Committee considered a report which detailed the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 in year revenue and capital position; savings delivery; forecast pressures; and mitigating actions / end of year outturn, which had been presented to Cabinet on 2 July 2026.

The report highlighted delivery of the overall Adult Services budget; continuing pressures relating to commissioned care costs; monitoring of placement and contractual commitments; progress against savings and transformation programmes; and emerging financial risks associated with external policy changes and NHS-related developments.

The Committee noted that Adult Services had delivered its budget and achieved a year-end position broadly in line with budget forecasts, representing a positive outcome against significant financial pressures.  Members sought clarification regarding overspends within learning disability and mental health budgets.  In response, officers explained that a number of budget realignments had been required during the year and that mitigating savings had been achieved elsewhere within the service.  The Committee discussed the sustainability of future budgets; risks arising from NHS reforms; continuing Health Care arrangements; the Adult Services Transformation Programme; the Prevent, Reduce, Enable model; and public health reserves and future use of funding.  Officers reported encouraging progress from the Macclesfield Prevent, Reduce, Enable pilot and advised that expansion of the model was underway in Crewe.

RESOLVED:

That the content of the Outturn Report for 2025/26 be noted.

To receive, for information, the Joint Health Scrutiny Task Group Interim Findings Report, the minutes of the Task Group meeting held on 29 June 2026, and the responses provided to the questions raised at that meeting.

The Committee considered information relating to the Specialist Mental Health Rehabilitation Pathway Review and reflected on findings previously considered by the Joint Scrutiny Task Group.

Members raised concerns regarding the extent of consultation undertaken with local authorities and stakeholders; arrangements for safeguarding and multi-agency oversight; potential implications for local authority budgets and housing provision; availability of support outside core service hours; contingency planning for future increases in demand; Section 117 responsibilities and associated financial implications; and the timing of engagement with affected partners.  The representatives of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged the concerns raised and advised that they were not the lead officers for the programme.  However, they undertook to take the Committee's comments back to the Trust for attention.

RESOLVED:

That the information be noted.