Agenda and minutes

None

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 and Congleton Borough Council;

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

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

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

(g)   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.

There were no Members of the Public present who wished to address the Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 February be approved as a correct record.

To receive a verbal update from the Governance Lead Officer on various current issues including the Scrutiny Structure for Cheshire East, Public Speaking Time, the Joint Scrutiny Committee and future meeting dates.

The Governance Lead Officer briefed the Committee on various current issues:

• The Committee’s role in scrutinising the Local Area Agreement in particular in relation to Adult Safeguarding and the Children’s Trust/Children’s Safeguarding;
• The role for Local Authorities to scrutinise Crime and Disorder Partnerships;
• The recent Guidance on Councillor Call for Action which would be reported more fully to Governance and Constitution Committee on 16 April;
• The issue relating to Public Speaking Time/Open Session would also be discussed at Governance and Constitution Committee on 16 April.

RESOLVED:  That the update on current issues be noted.

To consider a report of the Governance Lead Officer on Reflections and Legacy issues from Cheshire County Council.

The Committee considered a report of the Governance Lead Officer on legacy issues from Cheshire County Council in relation to the scrutiny of health and adult social care.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to a number of specific matters:

• Implications of the realignment of the two Cheshire Primary Care Trusts’ (PCT) boundaries, which was shortly to be the subject of a consultation period led by Western Cheshire PCT;
• Social Care Redesign – this was due to be reported back to the Committee shortly;
• Patient Transport Services;
• North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) – at the County Council’s final Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Select Committee meeting NWAS had attended to do a presentation to Members and agreed to attend future Scrutiny meetings on a regular six monthly basis;
• Relationships with Local Involvement Networks (LINks).

RESOLVED:  That

(a)   the list of legacy items contained within the report be noted;

(b)   a presentation by a representative(s) of the Local Involvement Network (LINk) be done to an early meeting of the Committee;

(c)   regular induction events continue based on issues identified by the Committee and officers;  and

(d)   the Committee conduct an Audit of the Recommendations contained within the 6 Scrutiny Reviews carried out in the area of Health Scrutiny by the County Council – Diabetes, Obesity, Tobacco Control, Suicide Prevention Services, Access to Dental Services and Transport at the Countess of Chester Hospital Site.

To consider a report of the Governance Lead Officer on progressing the Committee’s Work Programme.

The Committee considered a report of the Governance Lead Officer listing various items previously identified by the Committee for inclusion in the Work Programme.  The Committee had previously agreed to hold Mid Point meetings as one way of developing its Work Programme.  The Committee noted that a first meeting of the Joint Scrutiny Committee with Wirral MB Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council was to be held in May and feedback would be presented to the next available meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To consider future training and induction needs.

There were no additional Training/Induction Needs to those already identified above.