Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Governance Lead Officer detailing the requirement for the preparation of an Annual Work Programme and outlining how this can be facilitated.

The Committee considered a report outlining the need to prepare an Annual Work Programme and advising ways to facilitate this.  The Committee would be expected to prepare an Annual Work Programme and account for its progress at year end.

Members noted that as the statutory Health (and Adult Social Care) Scrutiny Committee it had a number of issues that it “must do”:

      Consider Substantial Developments or Variations to local NHS Services;

      Deal with any matters referred to it, for example from Local Involvement Networks (LINk) or on a petition;

      Contribute to the Annual Health Check of Health Trusts;

      Consider Inspection Reports relating to Adult Social Care;

      Consider Annual Report on Complaints relating to Social Care;

      Deal with matters that had been “Called In” under the Scrutiny Procedure Rules;

      Consider the Annual Public Health Report.

There would also be a need to retain capacity to identify/scrutinise large scale cross-cutting strategic issues that impacted on the health and well-being of people in Cheshire East.  The Committee noted a number of Reviews undertaken by the County Council‘s Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Select Committee including on Diabetes and Community Support Centres.  In addition there were a number of other important strategic issues locally including the Social Care Redesign and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

The Committee had already agreed in principle to hold Mid Point Meetings involving the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Group Spokespersons to assist with managing the business of the Committee.  It was also noted that the Committee ought to consult on its draft Work Programme both internally with the Cabinet and Management Team and externally with local NHS Trusts and the LINk and consideration would need to be given as to what stage to do this.

Members discussed a possible Work Programme and highlighted the following issues/areas for consideration, in addition to any proposals for NHS Service Redesign:

      The Knutsford and Congleton Community Healthcare Project – it was noted that this would be considered at the next meeting but would require further consideration during the municipal year;

      Drug and Alcohol issues – this had been highlighted in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and at the Cheshire County Council/Wirral MB Council Joint Scrutiny Committee;

      Community Support Centres – this was the subject of a Task/Finish Panel at Cheshire County Council but may need further consideration.

RESOLVED:  the Committee’s Work Programme for the year 2009/10 concentrate on those areas of work that it “must do” along with the items listed above.