Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Governance Lead Officer on the role of Joint

Health Scrutiny Committees and recommending the establishment of a Joint

Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership

Foundation NHS Trust.

The Committee considered a report of the Governance Lead Officer recommending the establishment of a Joint Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Foundation NHS Trust.

The report advised that there was currently a Joint Scrutiny Committee between Cheshire County Council and Wirral MB Council to scrutinise the work of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Foundation NHS Trust – the provider of mental health, learning disability and drug/alcohol services across Cheshire and Wirral.

The Committee had at its first meeting endorsed the principle of continuing these Joint Scrutiny arrangements and Wirral MBC were also keen to continue the current arrangements.  No response so far had been received from Cheshire West and Chester Council.  The Committee was advised the the Joint Scrutiny Committee met three times per year with the positions of Chair and Vice Chair alternating between Cheshire County Council and Wirral MBC.  Secretarial Services were supplied by the Authority providing the Chair.

The Committee was advised of draft terms of reference and that at present the County Council and Wirral MBC each appointed six representatives with deputies.

RESOLVED:  That the Governance and Constitution Committee be recommended to agree the participation of Cheshire East Council in joint arrangements with Wirral MBC to scrutinise the work of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and appoint six representatives (with Deputies) to serve.