Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 10^th June 2014.

2 Minutes.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 10^th June 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

2 Minutes.

Councillor S J Criswell declared a non-disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of Minute No’s 14/22, 23 and 25 by virtue of his Membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.

Councillors Mrs P A Jordan and Mrs D C Reynolds declared non-disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of Minute No. 14/24 by virtue of their employment in the NHS.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions, which was published on 23rd June 2014 is attached. Members are invited to note the decisions and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

5 Minutes.

The Panel considered and noted the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Executive Leader of the Council for the period 1^st July to 31^st January 2015.

To receive a report from the Sport and Active Lifestyles Team Leader detailing the activities of the Sport and Active Lifestyles Team over the 2013/14 year.

20 Minutes.

With the aid of a report by the Sport and Active Lifestyles Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to the Sport and Active Lifestyles Team’s (SALT) performance, work programmes and highlights during 2013/14. In introducing the report, the Sport and Active Lifestyles Manager drew Members’ attention to the latest position with regard to public health funding and Lottery grant which would end in March 2015 and November 2016 respectively.

The Panel discussed the costs of physical inactivity in Huntingdonshire, which was reported as amounting to £2.5 million in 2011/12. Attempts were being made to impress this message on a number of health professionals, in particular the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, with a view to securing future funding. It was, however, proving difficult to attract external funding owing to the financial constraints placed upon these organisations.

The Panel acknowledged the benefits that the Team’s work programmes brought to local communities, the extent of the publicity work undertaken and the increasing levels of demand from service users. A discussion then took place on the Healthy Walks programme and the option to transfer this service to local communities. There was a concern that services would not be sustained by communities in the future and there were a number of health and safety considerations that might deter volunteers from accepting responsibility for the management of the scheme. Nevertheless, the point was made that an exit strategy from the programme should be devised in the event that funding for Healthy Walks was not forthcoming in the future.

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report now submitted be noted.

To receive a report from the Housing Strategy Manager reviewing the progress of the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency shared service and the ongoing demand for Disabled Facilities Grants.

20 Minutes.

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the outcome of a review of the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency (HIA) shared service following two years of operation. The report also referred to the impact on the service of the Better Care Fund and the ongoing demand for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

The Housing Strategy Manager reminded Members of the background to the current arrangements. The HIA was the Council’s first shared service. While some problems had been experienced in the first year of operation, the service was now operating as intended and had met each of its three key objectives; namely to deliver cost savings for both District and County Commissioners, to improve operational resilience and opportunities for cross boundary working and to provide a platform for improved performance and efficiency over time.

Members’ attention was drawn to the terms of the Government’s Better Care Fund (BCF), which was a pooled fund for Health and Adult Social Care. The Government’s contribution to Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) capital funding would also be transferred into the BCF and for the time being would be ring fenced for DFG expenditure.

Referring to the opportunity that existed to broaden the shared service, Members challenged the risks associated with the development of a County-wide shared service if all Cambridgeshire authorities did not sign up to the proposals. Particular reference was made to the potential withdrawal of revenue funding from the County Council and its impact upon Huntingdonshire.

Members noted that waiting times for Occupational Therapy (OT) assessments to be completed for Priority 1 and Priority 2 cases had reduced. Priority 3 cases remained a concern with individuals waiting as long as 25 weeks in some cases. However, where necessary, these cases were provided with interim aids to enable them to cope during this period. The possible introduction of a “fast track” grant system for smaller works was being considered. This would improve the figures as smaller adaptations could be undertaken outside of the DFG process thereby eliminating the need for an OT assessment.

The Panel supported the Housing Strategy Manager’s intention to produce a report on the lessons learnt from the establishment of the Cambridgeshire HIA shared service. This would inform future shared service proposals.

Finally, Members discussed the tender process for appointing contractors to undertake HIA works. It was suggested that ways of allowing smaller local firms to compete for such works should be investigated as it could reduce costs and enable more clients to benefit from the DFG budget. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to

(a)  grant permission for Officers to work up an Outline Business Case for the expansion to a County-wide service, with final agreement being subject to a Detailed Business Case to go before Members at a later date;

(b)  endorse the extension of the current Shared Service Agreement by a further 12 months to 31^st March 2016; and

(c)  request  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider whether the Panel wishes to submit a response to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust’s consultation currently being undertaken on Personality Disorder Community Service/Complex Cases Service, including Lifeworks.

The consultation was launched on 2^nd June 2014 closing on 14^th July 2014. A copy of the consultation document is attached.

20 Minutes. 

Pursuant to Minute No. 14/11, the Panel was acquainted with details of the current consultation being undertaken by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust on the Personality Disorder Community Service/Complex Cases Service, including Lifeworks. The consultation sought service users’ views on the future of community personality disorder services across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area.

Having noted that the consultation period would end on 14^th July 2014, the Panel agreed to submit a response to the consultation. While the Panel welcomed the proposals to strengthen the personality disorder service across the County, in particular those affecting Huntingdonshire, comment was made that if community support within discharge planning was to be recovery focused as stated and also to facilitate social inclusion, there would be a need for service providers to be fully integrated with local partners and networks. This would enable and encourage referrals to be made to community groups and activities to be undertaken based on the knowledge of what was available and appropriate.

The consultation document stated that service users in Huntingdon, Peterborough and Fenland would now have access to specialist personality disorder services where no specialist services currently existed. However, it was not clear where and therefore how accessible this would be. Clarification was therefore sought on where such services currently existed together with details of what was being proposed within Huntingdonshire in the future. Similarly, clarification was sought on what was meant by the statement that “Huntingdon has limited access to the Cambridge service”.

RESOLVED

  that a response to the consultation being undertaken by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust on the Personality Disorder Community Service/Complex Cases Service, including Lifeworks be submitted on behalf of the Panel on the basis of the comments outlined above.

To receive an update from Councillor R C Carter on the outcome of recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire Health Committee.

5 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted the Minutes of the meetings of the Cambridgeshire Health Committee held on 29^th May and 19^th June 2014 (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book).

To consider, with the aid of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the current programme of Overview and Scrutiny studies.

10 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of studies being undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels for Economic Well-Being and Environmental Well-Being.

To consider a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services on the Panel’s programme of studies.

15 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of actions taken in response to recent discussions and decisions. In noting that representatives of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) would be in attendance at the Panel’s September 2014 meeting, the Chairman requested that information on the CCG’s performance was circulated with the Agenda for the next meeting. Councillor Mrs D C Reynolds then drew attention to reduced levels of funding from the CCG to GP practices and the impact this would have upon their financial viability. It was agreed that the matter would be raised at the September meeting.

In noting that it would be timely to arrange a meeting of the Elderly Patient Care Working Group after the Panel’s September 2014 meeting, the Chairman requested Officers to contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) to establish what feedback it had received from patients in respect of elderly patient care at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Pursuant to Minute No.14/17, it was reported that the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office had declined an invitation to attend a future Panel meeting.

To scrutinise decisions as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel.

5 Minutes.

The 146^th Edition of the Digest of Decisions was received and noted.

In noting that Miss H Ali would be leaving the District Council later that month, the Panel expressed its gratitude for the support and assistance she had provided and extended their best wishes to her in her future career with Ofsted.