Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, and in particular the guests from Calderdale Council: Councillor Ruth Goldthorpe (Chair of Calderdale’s Adults, Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel) and two scrutiny officers, Mike Lodge and Paul Preston, who were attending to observe the work of the Board and to learn how LCC operated health scrutiny in terms of developing scrutiny in Calderdale.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted to the agenda additional information published by NICE entitled ‘Promoting physical activity for children and young people’ which was relevant to Agenda Item 7 ‘Scrutiny Inquiry: The role of the Council and its partners in promoting good Public Health (Session 2 – continued)’. (Minute No. 63 refers).

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

In respect of Agenda Item 6 ‘Minutes of the Previous Meeting and Matters Arising’ (Minute No. 62 refers), Councillor Chapman declared a personal interest as a member of her family worked in one of the adult renal wards.

In respect of Agenda Item 7 ‘Scrutiny Inquiry: The role of the Council and its partners in promoting good public health (Session 2 – continued)’ (Minute No. 63 refers), Councillor Illingworth declared a personal interest as a Lecturer at the University of Leeds.

In respect of Agenda Item 9 ‘Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Foundation Trust Consultation: Scrutiny Board Submission’ (Minute No. 65 refers), Councillor Dobson declared a personal interest as a member of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15^th December 2009.

With regard to Minute No. 55 ‘Renal Services: Statement’, the Principal Scrutiny Adviser confirmed that the deadline for a response from the Secretary of State was imminent.  Members of the Board agreed that this matter should be followed up.

With regard to Resolution (c) of Minute No. 54 ‘Scrutiny Inquiry: The role of the Council and its partners in promoting good public health (Session 2)’, the Principal Scrutiny Adviser agreed to follow up the swimming data requested from the Head of Service (Health Initiatives and Wellbeing Team), Education Leeds.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development introducing the continuation of the second session of the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry aimed at considering the role of the Council and its partners in promoting good public health.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report introducing the continuation of the second session of the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry aimed at considering the role of the Council and its partners in promoting good public health.

The second session of the inquiry was to consider issues associated with reversing the rise in levels of obesity and promoting an increase in the levels of physical activity. 

Attached to the report was the following information:

·  Action Plan for the Improvement Priorities in the Health and Wellbeing Partnership Plan (2009-2012) of the Leeds Strategic Plan (2008-2011) – Appendix 1

·  NICE Public Health Guidance 8 Promoting and creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity – Appendix 2

·  Can’t Wait – Leeds Childhood Obesity Strategy – Appendix 3

·  Adult Obesity – Appendix 4

·  House of Commons Select Committee Report on Obesity (published 2004) – Appendix 5

A paper produced by NICE on ‘Promoting physical activity for children and young people’ was also accepted as an additional paper.

The Chair advised that, due to the length of the debate at the previous meeting, officers from NHS Leeds had been invited back to this January meeting of the Board for Members to hear their contribution.

The following officers from NHS Leeds, Directorate of Public Health, were welcomed to the meeting:

·  Janice Burberry, Children and Young Peoples Lead

·  Emma Croft, Lead for Obesity, Food and Physical Activity

(NB Brenda Fullard, Head of Healthy Living and Inequalities, arrived later in the meeting.)

The Children and Young Peoples Lead gave the Board a brief update on progress being made in relation to the ‘Can’t Wait, Leeds Childhood Obesity Strategy’, referring to Appendix 3 of the report.  She referred to:

·  Levels of childhood obesity in Leeds – quoting 1 in 5 reception children being obese, as an example.

·  The information provided in the strategy on prevalence, causes and local action needed to help Leeds families be a healthy weight.

·  The HENRY (Health Exercise and Nutrition in the Really Young) initiative – which represented a good example of partnership working with Early Years staff.

·  Treatment Services, particularly Carnegie Weight Management – Members were advised that, despite recent inaccurate reporting in the local Press regarding insufficient investment from NHS Leeds in this service, 50 places onto the scheme and two family support workers had been commissioned by NHS Leeds.  However, the following issues were highlighted:

·  The low number of families coming forward to take up places;

·  Access to fresh food across the City - particularly in deprived areas;

·  Access to physical exercise.

·  The Joint Obesity Board which was being set up to co-ordinate and oversee the work of the NHS and partners in this regard. 

The Lead for Obesity, Food and Physical Activity gave the Board a brief update on progress being made in relation to combating adult obesity in Leeds and referred to Appendix 4 of the report.  Reference was made to:

·  NHS Leeds’ commitment to delivering Healthy Ambitions Staying Healthy in Yorkshire and Humber  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a summary of the issues discussed at the first meeting of the working group on 3^rd December 2009 and seeking endorsement from the Board on any proposed actions and/or recommendations.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting Members with the draft minutes of the Health Proposals Working Group’s first meeting of the municipal year on 3 December 2009 and seeking the Board’s endorsement on the proposed actions and recommendations.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser advised that, due to an earlier request by Members, the Board would be circulated with more detailed information about the work of the Shakespeare Medical Practice and Walk-in Centre and if any issues arose, these would be dealt with at a future meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the actions and recommendations proposed in the minutes of the Health Proposals Working Group (3^rd December 2009) be endorsed by the Scrutiny Board (Health).

(b)  That Members of the Board be provided with more detailed information about the work of the Shakespeare Medical Practice and Walk-in Centre.

(Note: Councillor Illingworth left the meeting at 11.55am at the conclusion of this item.)

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Scrutiny Board’s submission issued to LTHT in response to the consultation around the Trust’s initial proposals to become an NHS Foundation Trust for the Board to formally endorse.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting Members with the Scrutiny Board’s submission issued to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, in response to the consultation around the Trust’s initial proposals to become an NHS Foundation Trust.  Members’ approval of the submission was requested.

In brief summary, Members raised the following issues:

·  That the consultation was not about whether LTHT NHS Trust would become a Foundation Trust, as this was not optional, but more about what kind of Trust it would become.

·  The likely running costs of being a Foundation Trust.  (Members noted that this figure had been requested but had not been forthcoming).

·  That ‘seldom heard’ or hard to reach groups were notorious in not taking part in consultations and whether there had been any attempt to consult with small businesses in particular.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser confirmed that the consultation period had ended but that a request could be made of LTHT NHS Trust to report back to a future meeting of the Board on the process and outcomes of the consultation and on the expected running costs.  An additional meeting of the Board could be arranged at the end of this municipal year if this item could not be fitted into the current work programme.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the consultation response as submitted, be formally endorsed by the Scrutiny Board (Health).

(b)  That LTHT NHS Trust be invited to a future meeting of the Board to report on the process and outcomes of the consultation and on the expected running costs.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting an update on current activity and the Board’s revised outline work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year, for the Board to consider, amend and agree as appropriate.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting a revised outline work programme for the Board to consider, amend and agree as appropriate.

Attached to the report was the following information:

·  Scrutiny Statement - Renal Services in Leeds (December 2009) – Appendix 1

·  Letter from the Department of Health – Appendix 2

·  Revised outline work programme 2009/10 – Appendix 3

·  Minutes of the Executive Board meetings held on 9^th December 2009 and 6^th January 2010 – Appendices 4 and 5

Steven Courtney, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, drew Members’ attention to the information on ‘Quality Accounts’ contained in the report and sought Members’ views on their potential role and the process for submitting these accounts.

It was agreed that the Principal Scrutiny Adviser would hold discussions with health service colleagues with a view to producing a draft submission in March to tie in with performance management reporting.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the arrangements and revised timetable for completing the scrutiny inquiry around ‘The role of the Council and its partners in promoting good public health’ be noted.

(c)  That the updated information as presented on specific work areas and associated activity be noted.

(d)  That the information presented around ‘Quality Accounts’ be noted and that the Principal Scrutiny Adviser hold discussions with health service colleagues with a view to producing a draft submission to the March meeting of the Board.

(e)  That, subject to the above comments and additions, the Work Programme be updated as agreed.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on 16^th February 2010.

Noted that the next meeting of the Board would be held on Tuesday 16^th February 2010 at 10.00am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

The meeting concluded at 12.10pm.