Agenda and minutes

Session 1 - https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/S3r2Hoz5eVI

Session 2 - https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/PM6aAByBSP0

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 December 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.

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 the standing update report on the Covid-19 pandemic and the work undertaken by the council to respond and recover to it.

The committee agreed to bring forward this item, in order to assist the Chairman and attendees to manage the timings of its other agenda items.

The Director of Public Health and Director of Commissioning provided the committee with updates on present data trends and local response, as well as the position regarding care homes and the care market.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

• wanting to know more detail in respect of the work that has, and continues to be, carried out by the council’s contractor Pulse Regeneration;
• whether the council is confident that the vaccination programme in Cheshire East was on target to complete all vaccinations for over-70s by 15 February 2021;
• how Covid-19 was most commonly transmitted between people; and
• how quickly it was expected that those most vulnerable groups of people – such as those who require complex care support – would be vaccinated.

A point of concern was raised on behalf of residents from the borough’s more rural areas, who had reported feeling confused and unsure of when and who to talk to about the vaccination programme or other matters, without calling and troubling local GP services. The committee was keen to ensure that communication put out by the council and partners took into account these concerns raised from the rural communities.

RESOLVED –

1          That the update be noted and a further report be presented to committee at its next meeting on 4 February 2021.

2          That a written response be provided to the question regarding the work carried out by the council’s contractor Pulse Regeneration.

To scrutinise, discuss and feedback on the NHS England and Improvement proposed merger of CCGs and introduction of Integrated Care Systems, as well as the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership’s proposed Memorandum of Understanding.

Consideration was given to the national directive put forward to move from the current health service arrangements, to one led by regional Integrated Care Systems from April 2022.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         concern that the decision-making structure / governance of the Integrated Care System would be dominated by the city regions, and the voice of Cheshire East Council be lost within this;

·         a feeling that there should be greater representation of elected councillors on the Integrated Care System Board;

·         concern that the devolution / regionalisation of services could lead to the voices of smaller, rural communities being diminished in comparison to larger towns and cities; and

·         that, alongside the development of the Integrated Care System, the role and powers of health scrutiny and health and wellbeing boards be strengthened and made more robust.

RESOLVED –

That the committee’s comments and feedback be formally submitted to the Chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership, to consider and take on board during the development of any proposed Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System.

To consider the Pre-Budget 2021/22 Consultation proposals within the remit of this committee.

The committee considered the Pre-Budget Consultation 2021/22 proposals relating to services that fell within its remit, with a view to passing on its comments, feedback and recommendations to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny (28 January 2021) to include within its final budget scrutiny feedback to Cabinet (2 February 2021).

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         concern that some of the potential proposed savings would have to be made through staffing cuts, which would likely lead to even greater pressures on other council staff and health service partners;

·         the clear, significant need for additional funding within the adult social care sector, and of the need for councils and other bodies to lobby for the publication of the Government’s Green Paper on Adult Social Care; and

·         to seek clarity regarding the ‘Learning Disabilities Future Service Development and Review’ proposal.

RESOLVED –

That the committee’s comments, questions and feedback on the Pre-Budget 2021/22 Consultation proposals be formalised and presented to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (28 January 2021) to include within its final budget scrutiny comments/recommendations to Cabinet (2 February 2021).

To consider an update from Emerging Futures on the work it undertakes with, and service it provides for, residents in Cheshire East.

Consideration was given to an update on the work carried out by Emerging Futures to provide Housing Related Support, Community Substance Misuse and Recovery Substance Misuse services delivered by Emerging Futures in Cheshire East.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         queries from local residents and constituents regarding anti-social behaviour arising from Emerging Futures properties;

·         the addiction support services provided by Emerging Futures in Cheshire East; and

·         requesting further detail and information about the service users in employment and how Emerging Futures supports its residents to work towards securing employment opportunities.

RESOLVED –

1          That the update be noted.

2          That council officers liaise with Emerging Futures to discuss in more detail the queries raised by Cheshire East residents.

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

Consideration was given to the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

To review the current work programme.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme. A suggestion was made that the committee add an item to its work programme to consider its transition to the committee system from May 2021 and how it may pass on any pieces of relevant work to the incoming service committees.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be updated to include a new item on the transition to a committee system for 15 April 2021.

There were no apologies for absence.