Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6th January 2015.

The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6th January 2015 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.

No declarations of interests were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions, which was published on 15th January 2015, is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel received 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 for the period 1st February to 30th June 2015.

Mr R Murphy, Local Chief Officer (Huntingdonshire System), Mr I Weller, Older People Programme Lead and Ms S Shuttlewood, Acting Director of Performance and Delivery, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, will be in attendance for these items.

To receive a presentation on hospital accountability.

The Chairman welcomed Mr R Murphy, Local Chief Officer (Huntingdonshire System), Mr I Weller, Older People Programme Lead and Ms S Shuttlewood, Acting Director of Performance and Delivery, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, who had been invited to the meeting to deliver a presentation to Members on hospital accountability.

The Panel was informed of the ways in which hospitals were held accountable for the services they provided.  The general context was as follows:

  non-foundation trust hospitals ware accountable to the Trust Development Authority;

  foundation trust hospitals were accountable to Monitor;

  the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was accountable to NHS England, and

  the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was accountable to the Secretary of State for Health.

The Panel discussed in detail recent events at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and whether evidence of the problems identified during the recent inspection by the CQC should have been reported on earlier by the CCG. Members were informed that deterioration in some areas had been detected in spring/summer 2014.  The CCG reported these trends upwards and to the CCG and it was these reports that partly prompted the CQC inspection.  The Panel questioned whether the CCG should have made elected Members aware of their concerns but it was pointed out that the CQC had significantly more resources than the CCG and was able to undertake intensive and detailed inspections. The CCG accepted the CQC’s findings but was surprised by the severity of them.  The CCG had no evidence that contradicted the CQCs findings.

In considering the future of the Hospital, the Panel was advised that it was now in special measures.  It had been advised what steps it needed to take to improve services and it had been allocated significant levels of extra resources and support from relevant organizations to do this.  There was already evidence that improvements had been made and the CQC was due to carry out a re-inspection.  The view was expressed that future growth in the local population was likely to mean that a hospital facility would continue to be provided on the Hinchingbrooke site.  This area was currently the 11th most challenged health system in the Country.

Having been acquainted with the way the CCG paid Hinchingbrooke Hospital, the Chaiman thanked Mr Murphy, Mr Weller and Ms Shuttlewood for attending the meeting.

To receive performance data from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group in relation to Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

The Panel received report a report by the Clinical Commissioning Group (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing data on the Hospital’s performance against indicators collated by the CCG. Members were provided with a detailed explanation of those areas where performance was below the target and what steps were being taken to improve in these areas.

To consider a report on the work of the Children and Young People Strategic Partnership Group.

Ms S Tabbitt, Huntingdonshire Head of Localities and Partnerships, and Ms S Stent, Principal of Huntingdonshire Regional College,will be in attendance for this item.

Ms S Tabbitt, Huntingdonshire Head of Localities and Partnerships, Ms S Stent, Principal of Huntingdonshire Regional College, and Ms G Hanby, Area Partnerships Manager, introduced a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing an update on the work of the Children and Young People Group.  Members were advised that the County Council was under a statutory obligation to ensure work took place but there were no detailed requirements in terms of creating structures. The Group reported to the Children’s Trust, but the Trust currently was the subject of a review.

The Panel was informed that the Group did not have a budget and so operated through partnership working. Its approach was to undertake joint planning to add value to existing services and it endeavored to avoid duplication.  The Group took a pragmatic approach to selecting projects for inclusion in its plan.  Projects were largely focused on the County Council but other suggestions were welcomed.  The Panel agreed to consider this request at the Scrutiny Away Day.

It was noted that the Group’s priorities were:

  Promoting emotional wellbeing and supporting young people with emerging mental health problems;

  Reducing the impact of Child Poverty in Hunts;

  Increasing employability of young people and reducing the number of young people who were Not in Education, Employment or Training;

  Increasing Awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation, and

  Supporting New Communities.

The Panel discussed the Group’s work on NEETs. Particular attention was paid to the way NEETs were identified. Members requested data on local tends in comparison with those at regional and national levels. It was agreed that this information would be forwarded to Members after the meeting.

In response to a question by a Member, it was confirmed that the Group found its links with District Council representatives to be extremely valuable.  Following further discussion, an undertaking was provided to submit further update reports to the Panel following Group meetings on a quarterly basis. The Panel would consider how it might have greater involvement in this area of work in the future.

The Panel noted that the Group made available small amounts of money to fund independent groups. Information on how to apply would be circulated to Members for distribution in their wards.

The Chairman thanked Ms Tabbitt, Ms Stent and Ms Hanby for their presentation.

To consider a report by the Head of Leisure and Health on the progress and future plans of the Huntingdonshire Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

By means of a report by the Head of Leisure and Health (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was informed of recent changes in the way the Health and Well-Being Thematic Group was organized and operated. The Head of Leisure and Health now was the Chairman of the Group.  She had overseen a change to the Group’s structure and to the way it worked.  Analysis had been undertaken of the issues facing the District and priority area hde been identified, as follows:

  Excess Weight (including Obesity) – Children and Adults;

  Mental Health – Children and Adults, and

  Delivering Services for Older people to enable them to live independently, safely and well.

A Working Group had been established to progress this work.  Like the Children and Young People Group, the intention was to add value to existing services and to avoid duplication.  Work was co-ordinated by the Head of Leisure and Health.

The Panel suggested that the Group should take care to ensure all local voluntary groups were factored into the services to be provided by the Uniting Care Partnership.  Although the Chief Executive of the Hunts Forum of Voluntary Organizations was the Vice-Chairman of the Group, it was pointed out that not all voluntary organizations were affiliated to the Forum.

It was reported that the Council was reviewing all its involvement in Partnership working. Once this work was complete, a report would be submitted to the Panel.

To consider a report by the Housing Strategy Manager on the performance of the Safer Homes Service and on options for the future of the service.

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing analysis of options for the future of the Safer Homes Scheme.  Members were informed that it was likely that the Safer Homes Scheme had an important role in reducing demand for Disabled Facilities Grants, which were significantly more costly and so could have a beneficial effect on the Council’s overall budget position. Members questioned whether this effect might be extended by at least maintaining the current level of funding but it was accepted that there currently was no evidence to support this.  The Panel, therefore, recommended the Cabinet to commission jointly with partners a new countywide service and to review the District Council’s funding position during 2016/17 to consider whether to continue with the funding after the end of the contract.  The District Council’s investment in 2015/16 would be £25k and £10.4k from 2016/17 onwards.  The timing of the review would give the Council the opportunity to collate the necessary evidence and to identify alternatives.

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to approve Option 2 contained in the report now submitted.

To consider performance against the key activities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2014/15 for the period 1st October to 31st December 2014.

By way of a report by the Policy and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was updated on progress achieved against key activities identified under the Working with Our Communities strategic theme in the Council’s Corporate Plan over the period 1st October to 31st December 2014.

The Panel noted that the review of the Council’s partnerships was likely to take longer than expected but Members did not otherwise identify any issues with performance that it considered needed to be brought to the attention of the Cabinet.  They, however, reiterated the point that the allocation of indicators between the Panels needed to be reviewed to make them consistent with their remits.  It was suggested that the Corporate Plan Working Group should be involved in this process.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to the fact that recycling or composting rates had remained consistent despite a reduction in compostable waste being collected during winter months.  Members agreed that this positive trend should be recognized.

To receive an update from Councillor R C Carter on the Cambridgeshire Health Committee.

The Panel received and noted the Cambridgeshire Health Committee Decision Statement for the meeting held on 11th December 2015 (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). It was agreed to invite the Uniting Care Partnership to the meeting in June to discuss its approach to the provision of older people’s healthcare and adult community services in Huntingdonshire.

To consider the work programmes of the Economic and Environmental Well-Being Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

The Panel received and noted a report (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 on progress of the Panel’s activities.

With the aid of a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel reviewed the progress of its activities since the last meeting. The Chairman advised Members that the public would be invited to submit questions to be asked during the item at the next meeting on Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Following a suggestion by Chief Inspector Laura Hunt, Area Commander – Huntingdonshire, that closer working should take place between the Police and Councillors, it was agreed that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman should meet with Chief Inspector Hunt to look at ways this might be taken forward.

To scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that sit within the remit of the Panel. (TO FOLLOW).

The 152nd edition of the Decision Digest was received and noted.