Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

RESOLVED:  That the following Declarations of Interest be noted:

(a)   Councillor A Richardson – personal interest on the grounds that he was a Member of Cheshire County Council and Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council;

(b)   Councillor G Baxendale – personal interest on the grounds that he was a Member of Congleton Borough Council and Congleton Town Council;

(c)   Councillor R Fletcher – personal interest on the grounds that he was a Member of Cheshire County Council, Congleton Borough Council and Cheshire Fire Authority;

(d)   Councillor D Flude – personal interest on the grounds that she was a Member of Cheshire County Council and a Member of the Alzheimers’ Society and involved with various charities relating to health and social  care;

(e)   Councillor S Jones – personal interest on the grounds that she was a Member of Alsager Town Council;

(f)     Councillor A Martin – personal interest on the grounds that he was a Member of Nantwich Town Council;

(g)   Councillor A Moran – personal interest on the grounds that he was a Member of Cheshire County Council and Nantwich Town Council;

(h)   Councillor A Thwaite – personal interest on the grounds that he was a Member of Congleton Borough Council.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work 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 questions were submitted at least one working day before the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the Governance and Constitution Committee be recommended to disapply Procedure Rules 11 and 35 that relate to Public Speaking Time/Open Session for the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on the grounds that the Committee is not a decision making body.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2008.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 December 2008 be approved as a correct record.

John Weeks, Strategic Director for People, will verbally update the Committee on the Strategic Needs Assessment.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director for People on the Cheshire East Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) – “A First Look”. 

The JSNA was a shared statement on the health and social care needs of people living in Cheshire East which the Council and Primary Care Trust (PCT) had a legal duty to undertake.  The document would be used to develop and improve services.

The current JSNA was an initial assessment of the health and social care situation in Cheshire East summarising findings to date and identifying priorities for improving health and well-being Cheshire East.  At this stage five key areas were identified:

      Children and Young People aged 0 to 18 years of age;

      Older people aged 65 years and over;

      Long term health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia and strokes that affect people’s daily living;

      Inequalities – the causes of different health outcomes for people in Cheshire East including access to services; and

      Lifestyle choices that impact on the health and quality of life of an individual.

The document was published on the PCT website and would be a living document that would be continually updated and refined as new information and intelligence was developed locally, nationally and internationally.

Members were advised that comments on the document were welcomed and they could comment individually or as a Committee. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted and Members of the Committee be invited to make individual comments on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment document.

John Weeks, Strategic Director for People, will verbally update the Committee on “Independence, Well-Being and Choice” – Adult Safeguarding.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director for People on developments regarding the safeguarding of vulnerable adults.  Following a review of safeguarding by Cheshire County Council and the findings of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) arrangements were underway to establish a Safeguarding Board for Cheshire East. 

By introducing a Safeguarding Board the Council would be adopting a wider approach by addressing the need to promote the health and well-being of vulnerable and older people as well as delivering adult protection where there had been incidents.

The Safeguarding Board would be multi-agency and include representation from Cheshire Police, the Probation Service, the Local Authority, Health and Housing.  A Stakeholder Event had been held and arrangements were underway to appoint an Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Board that would comprise officers from Partner organisations.  Elected Member accountability would rest with the appropriate Cabinet Member.

RESOLVED:  That:

(a)   the update report be noted and a progress report be submitted to the next meeting;

(b)   all Members be provided with the details of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator when appointed; and

(c)   a training event be provided for all Members of the Council on issues relating to Safeguarding Adults.

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.

To consider a letter dated 16 December 2008 from the Chairman of the Northern Burn Care Network inviting Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees to an event to consider the provision of Burn Centres.

The Committee considered a letter dated 16 December 2008 received from the Chairman of the Northern Burn Care Network (NBCN).  The NBCN had been established approximately twelve months ago following a national review of Burn Care Services across England and Wales which had led to new National Burn care Standards.  The NBCN was looking at how the new National Burn Care Standards were to be met and were keen to engage Overview and Scrutiny in the process.   Stakeholder Engagement Events had been held and the Department of Health had advised that an event for Overview and Scrutiny Chairs should be held to assist in the engagement process.  The Committee was invited to consider whether the Chairman or Vice Chairman should attend the event which was on 2 February at Wakefield.

RESOLVED:  That the Vice Chairman, accompanied by the County Council’s Scrutiny Policy Manager, be nominated to attend the event organised by the National Burn Care Network on 2 February.

To consider a report of the Governance Lead Officer with further information

on cooption and seeking the views of the Committee on whether to progress

the matter further.

The Committee considered a report on co-option that sought views on whether to progress co-option further.  The Committee was advised that, subject to the views and agreement of the Governance and Constitution Committee, it could co-opt – in a non-voting capacity – any individual whose experience and views Members felt could be of benefit.  The County Council Committee had quite an extensive scheme of representation with some representatives attending meetings on a regular basis.  However, there was no requirement to have a scheme of co-option and many Health Scrutiny Committees did not have such schemes.

In considering the issue Members were advised that there were a number of points to take into account:

      Liaison with other organisations could be achieved without having permanent co-option including involving organisations in Task and Finish Panels that were looking at a specific issue;

      It was important to have “balance” on the Committee;

      If the Committee was to pursue co-option it would need to consider from which sectors to seek representation together with the term of office to be applied and whether to have substitution arrangements;

      How to handle potential conflicts of interest.

RESOLVED:  That

(a)   no action be taken on permanent co-option to the Committee for the time being; and

(b)   further consideration be given to this matter in approximately twelve months time.

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.

To consider dates for future meetings.

The Committee considered future meeting dates.

RESOLVED: That future meetings of the Committee be held on Monday 23 February at 2.00 pm and Monday 23 March at 2.00 pm at venues to be confirmed.