Agenda and minutes

Councillor J Clowes, Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care

Councillor S Gardiner, Cabinet Support Member for Health and Adult Social Care

Councillor L Jeuda, substitute for Councillor G Boston

Councillor S Jones, substitute for Councillor D Hough

G Kilminster, Head of Health Improvement, Cheshire East Council

D Taylor, Partnerships and Planning Manager

V McGee, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

H Grimbaldeston, Director of Public Health

D J French, Scrutiny Officer

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2012.

RESOLVED:  that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September be confirmed as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest made.

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

There were no declarations of the existence of a 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 5 minutes, but the Chairman 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 notified the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda at least one working day before the meeting with brief details of the matter to be covered.

There were no members of the public present who wished to address the meeting.

To receive an update from Julie Green, Director of Corporate Affairs and Governance, East Cheshire NHS Trust

Julie Green, Director of Corporate Affairs and Governance, East Cheshire NHS Trust, updated on the current position with Foundation Trust Status.  A tri partite agreement had been signed between the Department of Health, Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and the East Cheshire Hospital Trust to go forward towards Foundation Trust status.  There was a three stage process involving the Strategic Health Authority; then the Department of Health and finally Monitor who would look at quality assessment and financial sustainability.

The Trust had developed a five year Integrated Business Plan which was awaiting feedback from the Strategic Health Authority.  The Trust Board had successfully completed a Board Governance Assurance Assessment which had looked at leadership, Board skills etc.  A monthly performance meeting took place with the Strategic Health Authority, this included completion of a single operating model statement outlining performance and quality indicators.  Then an assessment of Historic Due Diligence was to be carried out.  After that a period of consultation would take place once the SHA had confirmed the date.  In preparation for the consultation, the Trust was looking at Governor Development Plans and a Membership Scheme. 

In discussing the item, the following points were raised:

      Whether the Trust had kept contact details of people who had expressed an interest in becoming a Member of the Trust from four years ago when the Foundation Trust process had previously been considered?  In response, the Committee was advised that the details had been kept and the Trust was hoping to reengage with them shortly;

      What was the relationship between the Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Groups?  The Committee was advised that representatives of the Clinical Commissioning Groups were invited to meetings of the Foundation Trust Committee and the External Assessor had met with Commissioners too;

      It was noted that Monitor had delayed some applications and it was asked whether it was possible to learn from those delayed applications?  Ms Green explained that Monitor had produced a schedule of lessons learned and this was available and the Trust had referred to it as guidance.  

RESOLVED:  that the update on Foundation Trust status be noted.

To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care.

Councillor Clowes, Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care, updated on the following matters:

      The public consultation on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy was now complete and responses were being analysed.  There had been feedback including there should be involvement of the Living Well Dying Well project and hospices; more specific reference should be made to childhood obesity; there should be reference to smoking cessation; dealing with self harm; isolation and loneliness of older people; drug misuse; improved access to the natural environment.  An informal meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board was to take place on 16 October to discuss the comments;

      The Local Healthwatch consultation was complete and the results were being analysed.  Confirmation of funding was still awaited although funding would be higher than originally anticipated.  A tender document for the contract was currently being prepared.  The consultation had suggested that the advocacy role should be carried out by specialists.  Members asked why Healthwatch and Advocacy was not included in one contract and Councillor Clowes explained that it was felt that advocacy and complaints was a very specialised area with professional expertise needed; 

      A Mental Health training and awareness session had been arranged for Tuesday 30 October and Members were encouraged to attend.

RESOLVED:  That the update be noted.

To review the current Work Programme (attached).

The Committee reviewed its current work programme. 

Councillor Clowes referred to the proposed Task/Finish Group on Excess Winter Deaths and an officer meeting that had been held in preparation for winter 2012 – 13.  She felt it would be helpful for some representatives of the Task/Finish Group to attend the meeting as observers.

Councillor Moran referred to the item on prostate cancer discussed at the previous meeting and circulated some further information from the Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Councillor Clowes advised that the Health and Wellbeing Board launch event would take place on Wednesday 7 November at Crewe Alex Football Ground.

RESOLVED:  that

(a) the work programme be noted;

(b) representatives of the Excess Winter Deaths Task/Finish Group attend the officer group that is looking at preparations for winter.

To consider extracts of the Forward Plan that fall within the remit of the Committee.

There were no items on the Forward Plan for the attention of the Committee.

To note any consultations referred to the Committee from Cabinet and to determine whether any further action is appropriate.

There were no consultations from Cabinet.