Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from councillors J Clowes (substituted for by Councillor L Smetham), A Critchley, and L Wardlaw (substituted for by Councillor K Parkinson.)

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2020

Upon consideration of the minutes of the previous meeting, the committee queried why the request made for a report from East Cheshire NHS Trust had not been included on the agenda.

RESOLVED –

1          That it be noted that the requested report from East Cheshire NHS Trust be received at the next meeting on 5 March 2020.

2          That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

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

No declarations of interest were received.

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

No declarations of the existence of a party whip were received.

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 and 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.

Councillor D Brown spoke to the committee as a member, and on behalf of, the Congleton Town Council Mental Health Support Group. He noted the positive work undertaken to reconfigure and improve mental health services in other areas of Cheshire East; was interested in the current and future plans for mental health services local to Congleton.

RESOLVED –

That Councillor D Brown be thanked for his statement.

To consider the progress made to date by health partners.

Consideration was given to a presentation and report on the progress made to date by health partners in the redesign of adults and older people’s mental health services in Cheshire East.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         whether the information history relating to a young person’s accessing of mental health services was available to other organisations or local authorities if they were to move to different areas of the country;

·         what contingencies had been put in place in the event that all of the beds within this new service provision were taken up;

·         whether mental health professionals had been consulted on this service model, and had agreed that this was the most effective model for health partners to adopt;

·         what financial savings had been made to date following the re-design, and what the long-term savings were projected to be;

·         whether mental health care for people with eating disorders in Cheshire East was as robust as possible.

The committee discussed the recent decision made by Northern Planning Committee to not approve the development of a new care home in Cheshire East. Despite the decision being made based on planning-related issues, members considered whether further training for members of the planning committees on the growing demand for health and social care services, would help to ensure that similar decisions can be made with a more holistic view of the multitude of needs of residents in the Borough.

RESOLVED –

1          That the information relating to the financial savings made to date, and long-term savings projections, be gathered by health partners and circulated to the committee outside of the meeting.

2          That the committee’s comments regarding training for planning committee members be passed on to the Executive Director Place.

To consider an update on the strategic context across Cheshire and Merseyside and the wider Cheshire footprint, and the implications of this on the Cheshire East Health and Care Partnership strategic planning for health service provision over the next five years.

Consideration was given to an update on the Cheshire East Place Partnership Five Year Plan, which provided members with assurance that the work of the council and health partners was being planned and undertaken as part of this wider vision for Cheshire East, with consultation and communication being carried out between all partners.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         whether there are specific areas that NHS partners had consistently had budgetary overspend on;

·         the need for the council and partners to work together effectively in order to address the health and income inequality across Cheshire East; and

·         the need for the committee and others to recognise that the current financial pressures requires all involved to focus on patient outcomes and value for money, above concern about where a service is provided from.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

To consider an update on the performance related to the Council’s Falls Prevention Strategy.

Consideration was given to the council’s draft Falls Prevention Strategy. Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         whether there is available data on the causes of falls, and if this could be used to help to strengthen and focus the Strategy; and

·         the need for the Strategy to focus on reducing inactivity in people, to in turn keep muscles stronger for longer and prevent muscle deterioration.

RESOLVED –

That, subject to the committee’s comments being noted as part of the consultation, the Falls Prevention Strategy be endorsed.

To review how the Council is supporting residents to find, and remain in, secure employment.

Consideration was given to an update on the work undertaken by the council to support residents to find, and remain in, secure employment.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         the need for the council’s elected members to promote the work of the Supported Employment Team, and for the council to encourage small and medium sized employers to take on more supported internships; and

·         whether the council would be able to apply for future iterations of the European Social Fund, now that the Withdrawal Bill had been legally passed by Parliament.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

Consideration was given to the council’s forward plan of key decisions.

RESOLVED –

That the Scrutiny Officer liaise with the relevant officers about the Vulnerable and Older Persons Housing Strategy 2020-23 being presented to the committee at one of its meetings during the planned period of consultation.

To review the current work programme.

The committee reviewed its work programme. A query was raised about when the committee could expect to receive the requested update from the Local Safeguarding Adults Board and Cheshire Police.

RESOLVED –

1          That the item on adult safeguarding be added to the work programme at the nearest appropriate date.

2          That the Scrutiny Officer ask the relevant officers and partners about providing a response to Councillor D Brown’s statement.

3          That the work programme be noted.