Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Houston (substituted for by Councillor A Harewood) and L Wardlaw (substituted for by Councillow L Smetham).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 July 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were received.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the Agenda

No declarations of a party whip were received.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit 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.

Members of the public wishing to make a statement should provide notice in writing at least three clear working days before the meeting takes place.

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak.

To consider the Healthwatch Cheshire East Annual Report 2019/20, as well as an update on the work undertaken since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The committee agreed to move this item up the agenda to be considered as the first substantive item of business.

Consideration was given to both the Cheshire East Healthwatch Annual Report 2019/20, as well as an update on the work it had undertaken throughout the Covid-19 response and recovery periods.

The committee asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         whether any ‘enter and view [of health services]’ had been undertaken during lockdown;

·         the impacts of the pandemic on people in care homes and their loved ones;

·         the work undertaken by pharmacies during the pandemic response period; and

·         the reasons for the increased number of people that contacted the NHS Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) in the 2019/20 year.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

To consider an update from health partners.

Report/presentation to follow.

Before commencing their presentation, the officers in attendance from local health partners began by thanking the committee for its role and support in the redesigning of adult’s and older people’s mental health services in Cheshire East. This piece of work had won the Health Service Journal national award.

The committee considered an update on the work that had been undertaken in response to Covid-19, as well as a presentation on the redesign of acute services. Questions and comments were made regarding;

·         the rates of prostate cancer screening since the beginning of the pandemic;

·         whether the data on Covid-19 cases would be analysed alongside the ‘tartan rug’ (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment), to see whether there was a higher rate of cases in areas of greater inequality;

·         what the ‘Independent Sector’ was and what it’s role had been during the pandemic;

·         the progress made in encouraging elective surgery patients to return to hospital settings and progress their cases;

·         the 111 First pilot being run by Mid-Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust; and

·         what the implications would be for health bodies if the ambitious targets set by central government were not met.

RESOLVED –

1          That the update be noted.

2          That the next quarterly update of ‘Sustainability of Health Services in Cheshire East’ be added to the committee’s work programme for 14 January 2021.

To review the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

The committee considered the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

RESOLVED –

That the Overview and Scrutiny Chairmen’s Group be asked to discuss and determine which of the overview and scrutiny committees should take the lead on the Forward Plan item relating to the identification of a transit site for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

To review the committee’s work programme.

The committee considered its work programme.

RESOLVED –

1             That the Social Value Policy item be received via electronic circulation, rather than as a substantive item of business on the 8 October meeting agenda.

2             That the Overview and Scrutiny Chairmen’s Group be asked to discuss and determine which of the overview and scrutiny committees would be most suitable to take the lead on reviewing the performance of the council’s contract with Emerging Futures.