Questions
In accordance with Procedure Rules 11, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Chairman, the appropriate Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee any question about a matter which the Council, the Cabinet or the Committee has powers, duties or responsibilities.
Questions must be sent in writing to the Monitoring Officer at least 3 clear working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
Question 1
Councillor S Furlong had submitted the following question :-
NHS White Paper
“On July the 13th the Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansbury announced the NHS White Paper “Equity and Excellence - Liberating the NHS” How will this paper improve the health care and choice for the residents of Sandbach in the future”?
Councillor A Knowles, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing responded as follows :-
“Thank you very much for your question. Although you stipulate Sandbach, the answer will be relevant for all our Villages and Towns in Cheshire East. The basic principles of the NHS White Paper are very straight forward and simple:-
(1) Putting Patients and Public First
(2) Focusing on Improvements in Quality and Healthcare Outcomes
(3) Autonomy,Accountability and Democratic Legitimacy
(4) Cutting Bureaucracy and Improving Efficiency
There are many benefits, but I want to focus on just one. The main part of the legislation that will impact on us as a local authority is transferring local health improvement functions to us from the PCT. What this can mean for us now is taking ownership of really getting to grips with tackling the Health issues in Cheshire East, such as consequences of an aging population, Health Inequalities and preventable deaths, through lifestyle modification, all mentioned by Dr Heather Grimbaldeston, in her presentation earlier today. As a Council, we know where our deprived estates are and where we need to focus on to tackle health inequalities, but also involving regeneration, housing and education, to bring a joined up approach. Because Public Health has come to the Authority we can for the first time come at this problem, bringing all the Councils departments to tackle this issue.
For a long time we have known that C.E.C has the fastest growing ageing population in the North West and with this demographic scenario we have to start planning and prioritising service delivery towards them. We know, for example, that 10% of all ambulance call outs are for people aged 65 and over, who have fallen, of which 60% end up being taken to hospital.
Preventable deaths through lifestyle modification - this again is very tied up with health inequalities. The main causes of premature deaths - 36% are cardiovascular disease. With Public Health coming to the Authority, we can work with our Leisure Services, getting the population more active, educate on non smoking and lifestyle change. So it brings everything together.
Finally, the LAPS will act as the conduit for us to burrow down to the street level, to recognise where to put our time, effort and recourses on health prevention.
So this is only one aspect of the NHS White Paper that will impact on us. Positively, there’s more, but this alone will, I believe, improve dramatically the future health of our residents, whether it be in towns or rural areas”.
Question 2
Councillor R Cartlidge had submitted the following question :-
Allotments Crewe
“Is the Cabinet member aware of the considerable distress that has ... view the full minutes text for item 61