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Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Town Hall, Queen's Square, Priory Meadow, Hastings TN34 1QR
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 email mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
Members declared an interest in the following items:
Councillor
Minute Number
Interest
Scott
16 – Update on the Local Health Landscape
Personal – member of the Fire Authority
Additional documents:
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2015 and the Annual Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committees held on 18 June 2015 be approved as a true record.
Meeting with Kier Services to discuss waste management and streetscene
(Representative of Kier Services attending for this item)
(Spoken Report)
Minutes:
The Chair informed the committee that Denzil Baldwin, Kier Contract Director, had been unable to attend the meeting in person to answer questions regarding waste management and streetscene. The Chair would collate any further questions to Kier and forward them for consideration at the Joint Waste Committee.
Members expressed their disappointment that Denzil Baldwin had been unable to attend the meeting. The committee thanked Madeleine Gorman, Partnership Manager, for her attendance.
Quarter One Performance and Financial Monitoring Report PDF 108 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
This item was moved up the agenda, with the agreement of the Chair.
The Senior Corporate and Democratic Services Officer presented a report to advise members of the performance against the 2015/16 targets and performance indicators in the corporate plan during quarter 1. The report also provided a summary of financial information. As agreed at the Annual Joint Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in June, the format of the item had been reviewed as the council trialled new methods of reporting performance monitoring information. The Senior Corporate and Democratic Services Officer sought feedback from members on the new format of the performance monitoring report.
The Director of Operational Services gave an overview of performance in quarter 1, as well as other significant areas of work that had been undertaken in addition to the targets set out in the corporate plan.
Particular consideration was given to the target to protect public safety and quality of life, and how the changing demographic of the town may impact on community safety issues in the future. The council’s targets in respect of community safety were linked to targets set by the Police. The Director of Operational Services explained that the council worked closely with the Police and a variety of other agencies to address public safety issues. The council had recently invested in upgrading its CCTV monitoring equipment, which had proved effective in tackling anti-social behaviour and provide reassurance for residents and visitors. The council continued to attend the Hastings Community Safety Hub, which supported joined up working between key agencies. However, it will be necessary for the council to monitor the implementation of the restructure of Sussex Police over the coming months, and the implications of any reductions in frontline policing on recorded crime and anti-social behaviour. Efforts would also be made to strengthen the deterrents in drug related crime in public places. At their annual meeting in June, Overview and Scrutiny members had agreed to undertake a review of community safety which would consider both the current performance and how the council can effectively contribute to multi-agency working in the future.
Discussion took place regarding the planned refurbishment of Bottle Alley. A condition survey of the structure had been undertaken which would help to inform the repairs schedule when tendering for the works. The Lead Member for Regeneration, Communities and Culture acknowledged that this was a significant project and the council would seek to maximise the impact of investment in the area. Bottle Alley recently hosted an extremely successful launch party for the Coastal Currents Arts Festival. This type of event highlighted the possible alternative uses for the site and the potential for increased community involvement once the restoration had been completed. Members noted that the works to Bottle Alley were supported by a range of other regeneration initiatives in the area, including the restoration of the pier and the refurbishment of the White Rock Baths.
Members were updated on plans to develop a new interpretive centre at Hastings Country ... view the full minutes text for item 14.
Update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2015/16 PDF 41 KB
Minutes:
This item was moved up the agenda, with the agreement of the Chair.
The Senior Corporate and Democratic Services Officer presented an update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme. The initial meeting of the Task and Finish Group to review scrutiny functions, processes and potential streamlining had taken place in July. The remaining three areas of work that members had identified as a high priority at the Annual Joint Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees were due to begin autumn 2015.
Update on the local health landscape
(Dr Roger Elias, Chair of NHS Hastings & Rother Clinical Commissioning Group; Dr Susan Rae, GP Board Member, Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group and Richard Watson, Hastings and Rother – Health Inequalities Programme Manager attending for this item)
(Spoken Report)
Minutes:
Overview and Scrutiny Members have a long-standing interest in local healthcare provision, and at the annual meeting in June members agreed to undertake a piece of work on this subject. However, before this work could be progressed, it was necessary for members to receive an update on the current local health landscape.
Members welcomed Dr Elias, Local GP and CCG Chair, Dr Susan Rae, Governing Body member and Richard Watson, Healthy Hastings and Rother Programme Manager, to the meeting.
The committee was given an overview of the local NHS provision, including the role of the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The CCG plans, co-ordinates and commissions most local NHS services, to meet health needs, on behalf of the people in Hastings and Rother. The CCG is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the services delivered by providers to ensure that they are safe, high quality and meet patient’s needs.
The CCG has commissioned a number of projects to address the priorities identified in this area, including maternity, paediatric and mental health services. Hastings and Rother CCG has also joined the East Sussex Better Together programme, a commissioning partnership between the 3 local CCGs and East Sussex County Council (ESCC), which aimed to integrate and improve local health and social care.
The presentation noted that challenges remained in the local area, including improving provider performance, particularly following the recent CQC inspection of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. It was also necessary to address the shortage of GP’s in the local area.
The committee were updated on efforts to reduce health inequalities, which affected both wellbeing and health outcomes. Health inequalities are caused by social, economic, lifestyle and accessibility factors. The CCG has identified a number of priority areas which addressed health inequalities in Hastings and Rother.
Discussion took place regarding the lifestyle factors which impacted on health inequalities, including efforts to tackle drug and alcohol abuse and promote positive lifestyle choices. Members noted that it was especially important to encourage children and young people to take up a healthy lifestyle, particularly given national and local trends showing an increase in obesity.
Consideration was given to the shortage of local GP’s. It was noted that the proportion of GP’s to patients varied significantly between practices, however, the number of GPs in Hastings remained below the national average. The CCG were considering a number of options to address the shortage, including support for GP federations, and developing the role of other healthcare professionals, including primary care nurses, through improved training opportunities.
The committee discussed how local health services responded to acute medical conditions, including strokes. Members were advised that the centralised stroke unit at the Eastbourne District General site continued to meet its targets and performance in this area was monitored closely.
Members thanked Dr Elias, Dr Rae and Richard Watson for their presentation.
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