Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd February 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 2nd February 2016 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 were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions 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 has been prepared by the Executive Leader for the period 1st March 2016 to 30th June 2016.

The Panel are to receive the following presentations from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group:

(a)   Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health and Care System Transformation Programme

  Ian Weller will be in attendance to present the item and answer questions.

(b)  Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group Performance Report

  Rob Murphy will be in attendance to present the item and answer questions.

Mr Rob Murphy, Dr David Roberts and Mr Ian Weller from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) were in attendance to present and answer questions on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health and Care System Transformation Programme and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group Performance Report.

(a) Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health and Care System Transformation Programme

Mr Ian Weller (CCG) introduced the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health and Care System Transformation Programme. The Panel was informed that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough had been identified as a ‘challenged health economy’ and this provided significant challenges to services. In response the CCG have introduced a new governance structure with the aim of tackling the challenges.

Members were advised that there is a requirement to submit a five year plan by 29th June 2016 to ensure that the NHS in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is creditable and costed. In assisting the formation of the five year plan, five working groups had been established with the aim of producing overarching plans for the service.

Following a question regarding the current financial position of the NHS in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Members were informed that the region has an annual income of £1.2bn and that this year (2015/16) debt was £140m.

The Panel was informed in response to a question on proactive care that there is a long term vision for proactive and prevention care however work was ongoing as the benefits of proactive and prevention care take longer to become visible.

Members were informed that Hinchingbrooke plays a significant strategic role within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as it is located centrally within the region and has a growing population. Dr Roberts added that the CCG are looking at what services are best delivered locally and what are best delivered elsewhere with the aim of building a countywide service.

A Member raised a concern that good governance and financial management would not address the problem of manpower. In response the Panel were informed that Hinchingbrooke had struggled to recruit staff however the hospital that had been reviewing the possibility of pooling staff with Peterborough Hospital to ensure that the rota is fully staffed. An additional problem was that incentives are not in the correct place as bank and agency staff have significant incentives to remain as bank and agency staff.

In regards to a question regarding GPs the Panel was informed that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough require an extra 136 GPs. However in order to assist GPs residents should be self-treating minor illness or consulting a pharmacist therefore enabling GPs to handle more complex cases and in turn taking pressure off the hospitals.

After a query on how Public Health can assist with prevention Members were informed that Public Health are good at giving a steer on where to focus. In addition in regards to falls housing providers and councils are working on identifying trip hazards in their properties. Furthermore the CCG recognise that the third sector is an underused resource which could be utilised for prevention care.

Following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

The Corporate Plan is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Corporate Team Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Corporate Director (Delivery) presented the Corporate Plan to the Panel. The Panel was informed that the Corporate Plan follows the expiry of the old Corporate Plan and the Plan aims to set out what the Council would like to achieve under the three corporate priorities.

A Member raised the point underneath the Enabling Communities section that there is no reference to Public Rights of Way. In response it was noted that the last point in section 1b states that the work programme includes providing accessible leisure, green spaces, countryside and culture opportunities which covers Public Rights of Way however following further discussion it was agreed to look at expanding the point to include Public Rights of Way.

Members would like the inclusion of the A1 and A428 improvement schemes within the Sustainable Growth section however the Panel was informed that those schemes would not be included as they would not be at the delivery stage within the lifetime of the Corporate Plan.

The Panel thought that underneath the Enabling Communities section Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) should be included but noted that DFGs is a moveable fund. Members were informed that it would be looked into.

A Member requested that licences should be monitored under the Corporate Plan as the Council issue a high volume of licences and each licence is linked to business growth. The Panel noted that any measure would be an end to end measure from receipt to approval to ensure licences would be dealt with in a timely manner.

A query was raised within the section of Efficient and Effective Council and the point ‘collecting money that is saved?’ as Members are not sure what it means and why there is a question mark.

The Panel were advised that quarterly reporting of the Corporate Panel would be done through the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Finance and Performance).

To receive a report from the Head of Leisure and Health on the Sports Facilities Strategy for Huntingdonshire 2016 to 2021.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Leisure and Health (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Sports Facilities Strategy For Huntingdonshire 2016-2021 was presented to the Panel. Members were advised that the Council are responsible for the auditing of sports facilities even though not all sports facilities are provided by the Council. The Panel was reminded that the scoping report was presented at the Panel’s February meeting and some minor changes have been made.

Members thought the strategy was worthwhile however a question was raised regarding Public Rights of Way. The Panel was advised that the strategy covers built sports facilities however the Open Spaces Strategy would cover Public Rights of Way.

The One Leisure Six Month Update is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Leisure and Health (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the One Leisure Six Month Update was presented to the Panel. Members were informed that One Leisure has an operating surplus of £350k however this does not take into account overheads and the depreciation value of equipment. The update also highlights that Ramsey Leisure Centre is near a breakeven point and that all the centres are near a cost neutral position.

Following a question on the capacity of the leisure centres the Panel was advised that there is capacity and that capacity does not have to increase in order to increase performance. Through the strategic document, One Leisure would try to attract more people to use the centres at times of underuse.

Concern was raised that the Huntingdon Leisure Centre is losing customers however Members were informed that the site would be refurbished and expanded in the hope of attracting and retaining customers. The Panel noted that the Huntingdon Leisure Centre remains profitable.

The Panel queried the location of chocolate vending machines within the Leisure Centres however Members were informed that the machines cover their costs and that there are healthy options available.

The Panel is to receive the One Leisure Strategic Plan.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Leisure and Health (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the One Leisure Strategic Plan (not including Appendix II) was presented to the Panel. Members were informed that the Strategic Plan aims to assist the growth of One Leisure. The Plan seeks to identify who is the customer and then answer the questions on how to grow the service.

The Panel expressed how pleased they are to see One Leisure move from the poor situation in previous years into a position where the service can look forward and grow. In response the Panel was informed that the change is in part moving responsibility out to the Local Centres where the management knows what their local areas want.

To resolve:

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees.

RESOLVED

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information relating to financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees.

The One Leisure Strategic Plan Appendix II is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Leisure and Health (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) the One Leisure Strategic Plan Appendix II was presented to the Panel. Members gave the One Leisure Strategic Plan Appendix II due consideration.

(At 9.03pm, during the discussion of this item, Councillor T Hayward left the meeting).

(At 9.04pm, during the discussion of this item, Councillor T Hayward returned to the meeting).

To resolve:

that the press and public be re-admitted to the meeting.

RESOLVED

that the press and public be re-admitted to the meeting.

To consider the work programmes of the Economy and Growth and Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

The Panel received a noted a report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of studies being undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels for Economy and Growth and Finance and Performance.

To consider a report on the Panel’s activities and scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest (circulated separately).

With the aid of a report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel reviewed the progress of its activities since the last meeting.

The Chairman of the Voluntary Sector Grant Funding Working Group addressed the Panel and updated Members on progress. The Working Group’s Membership was confirmed as the following Members: Councillors T Hayward (Chairman), D Brown, Mrs L A Duffy and Mrs P A Jordan.

After a short discussion regarding which Overview and Scrutiny Panel should be responsible for the Registered Social Providers Working Group, Members thought that the subject matter falls within the remit of the Panel and therefore should remain with them.

(At 9.19pm, during the discussion of this item, Councillor R B Howe left the meeting).