Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Brookfield (substituted for by Councillor L Braithwaite), P Butterill, S Pochin, L Roberts and M Simon.

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.

There is no facility to allow questions by members of the public at meetings of the Scrutiny Committee. However, a period of 10 minutes will be provided at the beginning of such meetings to allow members of the public to make a statement on any matter that falls within the remit of the committee, subject to individual speakers being restricted to 3 minutes.

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

To consider an update on the role and activity of the council, a Lead Local Flood Authority, in respect of its flood risk management arrangements.

Presentation to follow.

The committee considered a presentation on the council’s role and responsibilities with respect to flood risk management as a Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA). The update provided a breadth of information on the various other (flood) Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) and how these organisations work in partnership to prevent and alleviate the prevalence and impact of rainfall and flooding events in Cheshire East.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         the council’s responsibility as a Local Planning Authority with respect to flood risk;

·         which RMAs could declare Section 19 Investigations and how these were initiated and undertaken;

·         how the council as a LLFA provided advice, guidance and information on flood risk and flood risk management to the 26,000 residential and 8,000 commercial properties in the borough;

·         whether or not the council’s strategic planning and housing development plans factored in the development of new sewage treatment plants and other waterworks, to ensure that the necessary hydro-infrastructure was in place to support the borough’s increasing housing stock; and

·         that it would be beneficial if all elected members of the council received lists of emergency contact details that could be contacted in the event of flooding events.

In summarising the committee’s debate and questions, the Chair stated that the committee would do all it could to support the council’s efforts to further improve outcomes in respect of flood risk management, and ensure that all RMAs in Cheshire East continued to prioritise funding for flood prevention and mitigation schemes.

Helen Davies, Democratic Services Officer, provided a short verbal update to the committee on the progress of Flooding Task and Finish Group – established by the now decommissioning Environment and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Committee members expressed a strong interest in being able to support this important piece of work and suggested that it could receive the report and provide feedback on it prior to its consideration by the Highways and Transport Committee (the council’s responsible service committee).

RESOLVED –

1          That the update be received and noted.

2          That the Flood Risk Manager collate a list of key emergency contacts that could be used by elected members in the event of a rainfall and/or flooding incident.

3          That it be reported to the responsible lead officer(s)/director(s) the committee’s interest in being able to support and feedback on the written report of the Flooding Task and Finish Group.

To confirm that the committee received and reviewed (by correspondence), the 2020/21 Quality Accounts of East Cheshire NHS Trust and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and agree to any feedback and comments it wishes to provide.

The committee noted receipt by correspondence of the 2020/21 Quality Accounts of both East Cheshire NHS Trust and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The Chair invited members of the committee to raise any feedback and/or comments that they wished to submit the Trust. No comments were submitted.

RESOLVED –

That the 2020/21 Quality Accounts of East Cheshire NHS Trust and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust be received.

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme. The Chair noted that, following upcoming informal liaison meetings with relevant partners such as NHS Cheshire CCG, other NHS organisations, and the Police and Fire Authorities, the committee would be better informed of current and future priorities to schedule work programme items around.

The committee requested that the three major hospital trusts in the borough attend a meeting to present an update on their individual and collective plans to recover from the impacts of Covid-19, including but not limited to elective and non-elective surgery waiting lists, as well as staff wellbeing, recruitment and retention.

RESOLVED –

That the Scrutiny Officer submit to the three major hospital trusts in the borough, the committee’s request for updates to be provided to it on their individual and collective plans to recover from the impacts of Covid-19, including but not limited to elective and non-elective surgery waiting lists, as well as staff wellbeing, recruitment and retention.