Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Evans and J Parry (substituted for by Councillor L Braithwaite).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 September 2020, be agreed 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

There were no declarations of a party whip.

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.

Note: in order for officers to undertake and background research, it would be helpful if members of the public notified the Scrutiny Officer listed at the foot of the Agenda at least one working day before the meeting with brief details of the matter to be covered.

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

To consider an update on head and neck cancer pathway services for residents of Cheshire East.

The committee resolved to move this item to the first of the substantive agenda items.

The committee gave consideration to an update from NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group and East Cheshire NHS Trust on the present unsustainability of the clinical pathway for head and neck cancer patients in eastern Cheshire, and the proposed solution that would offer patients a “one-stop” appointment where various diagnostics are completed and reported upon their first appointment.

Questions were put in relation to the travel and transportation implications for patients; whether they would be required to travel further for these ‘one-stop’ appointments, and when patients could access transport support options.

RESOLVED –

The committee supported the proposed changes to the head and neck cancer pathway.

To consider an update on the council’s response to Covid-19.

Consideration was given to an update on the council’s response to Covid-19 relating to adult social care services. The committee was informed that there had been increased infection rates across the borough and that the council was continuing to work hard to ensure that services and residents will be effectively supported to manage during the colder, winter months.

It was also reported that the government had very recently announced that additional funding would be made available to the whole care market, to ensure preparedness for winter. The council would need to prepare and submit an Adult Social Care Winter Plan to provide assurance that it has appropriate plans in place to apportion this funding to.

Questions and comments were put in relation to;

• whether the council had ensured that all providers had access to the Clipper system to request and receive PPE;
• the number of care homes in the borough that had experienced a Covid-19 outbreak (defined as two or more cases);
• exactly what amount of money the council would receive from the government’s additional winter funding;
• whether the financial stability and viability of Cheshire East’s care homes was under threat due to the impacts of Covid-19; and
• if the vacancies in care homes had led to an increased pressure on the council’s domiciliary care services.

RESOLVED –

1          That the update be noted.

2          That the council’s proposed Adult Social Care Winter Plan 2020/21 be presented to committee at its next meeting on 5 November 2020.

To consider an update on adult safeguarding in Cheshire East.

The committee received an update on the overall performance of adult safeguarding in Cheshire East. Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         concern (and seeking further clarification) to figures that showed that in approximately 55% of cases, no suspects were found;

·         whether the combined cases in Crewe and Macclesfield, accounting for approximately 37% of cases in the borough, was high or proportionate compared to cities and towns in other local authorities;

·         concern regarding relatively high proportion (21%) of victims that withdrew their support to a case investigation, and whether this presented a challenge to domestic abuse investigations; and

·         whether increased enforcement work would support residents to be and feel safer in their homes.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

To consider the 2019/20 annual report of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board.

Consideration was given to the 2019/20 Annual Report of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board, which provided a retrospective review of performance and achievements from the previous municipal year.

Members requested confirmation that any new cohorts of elected members would be provided training on adult safeguarding, to ensure they had the most up-to-date information and advice on how best to support their residents.

RESOLVED –

That the report be noted.

To consider the schemes that were implemented through winter 2019/20, as well as the work and planning which has taken place for the upcoming winter 2020/21.

The committee considered a report that reviewed the successes and learning points from the previous winter (2019/20), and presented the planned work to be carried out during the upcoming winter (2020/21).

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         whether there were adequate supplies of flu vaccinations to ensure all that needed one would receive one;

·         how flu inoculations would be prioritised between different age groups; and

·         the lack of detail in the report regarding the rural implications of the proposed winter services.

RESOLVED –

That the report be received and noted.

To consider the work being undertaken by the council to develop and deliver a localised approach to the Covid-19 Test Trace Contain Enable (TTCE) in Cheshire East..

Consideration was given to the proposed Cheshire East Covid-19 Outbreak Prevention, Management and Support Plan, and the programme of work that had been undertaken by the council to develop and deliver a localised approach to Covid-19 Test Trace Contain Enable in Cheshire East.

The committee asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         what the exact, up-to-date Covid-19 infection rate was in the borough, which as at 8 October 2020, was 136.4 cases per 100,000 residents;

·         how the infection rate compared to neighbouring authorities and other North West regions; and

·         what the criteria for an official outbreak of Covid-19 was, and this would be reviewed following the return of schools and further education establishments.

RESOLVED –

That the Cheshire East Covid-19 Outbreak Prevention, Management and Support Plan be endorsed.

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

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

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

To review the current work programme.

The committee reviewed its current work programme, and agreed to amend it in order to prioritise certain pieces of work and allow it to receive and scrutinise new items relating to Covid-19.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be agreed, subject to the following changes being made;

• the Social Value Policy paper, due to be presented to Cabinet on 10 November 2020, be circulated to the committee electronically once available;
• the item on the performance of the Emerging Futures contract, requested by Councillor S Brookfield, be added to the committee’s meeting agenda for 14 January 2021; and
• the recently reported paper regarding the council’s proposed Winter Plan 2020/21 for its Adult Social Care services, be brought forward to committee on 5 November 2020.