Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

Reference was made to the following supplementary information circulated at the meeting:-

-  Agenda Item 8 (Minute No. 62 refers) – Recommendation Tracking – Kirkstall Joint Service Centre – Update on the recommendations of the Leeds City and Regional Partnerships Scrutiny Board Review.

-  Agenda Item 8 (Minute No. 62 refers) – Recommendation Tracking – Update on the recommendations of the Board’s Inquiry into Promoting Good Public Health: The role of the Council and its Partners

-  Agenda Item 10 (Minute No. 60 refers) – Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS – Update on the Government’s response to the consultation around the White Paper.

-  Agenda Item 10 (Minute No. 60 refers) – Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS – Presentation from NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)

None of the documents had been available at the time of agenda despatch.

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.

Councillor E Taylor made a general declaration of personal interest in respect of today’s agenda, in her capacity as an NHS employee.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillor S Armitage and Ms Emma Stewart, Leeds Local Involvement Network.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd November 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd November 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing a further update around the Government’s overall vision for the future of the NHS.

Further to Minute No. 53, 23^rd November 2010, the Board received an update regarding the Government’s White Paper, ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’, which set out the Government’s vision of the future of the NHS, and also a briefing paper on the latest White Paper entitled ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Public Health in England’.

In attendance at the meeting, and responding to Members’ queries and comments, were:-

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care).

-  John England, Deputy Director, Adult Social Care.

-  Gill Matthews, Implementation Consultant, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  It was reported that many of the Scrutiny Board’s previous representations had been picked up in the Government’s response to the original White Paper consultation exercise and also in the new White Paper on Public Health.  The proposed role of the Health and Wellbeing Boards had been further clarified and strengthened and, locally, work was ongoing to initialise the local Board, including work on proposed Member training, a draft constitution and terms of reference for the Board, and a proposed workshop in February bringing together all key stakeholders.  It was intended that a Shadow Board would be in place by April 2011.

·  Significant uncertainties remained surrounding several key areas, including the HR implications of the proposed changes, transfers of budgets and commissioning arrangements.

·  It was clear that local Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees would remain once the new Health and Wellbeing Boards were operational. It was noted that this represented a significant change to the original proposals.

·  As well as representation on the Health and Wellbeing Boards from a broad political spectrum, it was also anticipated that there would be a role for Area Committees and local Member ‘Health Champions’ in embedding the arrangements locally.

·  There was an acknowledgement of the danger of concentrating too much on the new structural and governance arrangements, important as they were, and the need for good communication and liaison with patients and carers was emphasised.

·  The need for the Council to review its whole service provision ethos holistically, and to embed its new role and responsibilities, was also referred to.

·  Gill Matthews gave a presentation on the role and work of NICE, both in terms of its national role, but also the role it could, and would, play locally in developing, assisting and supporting the new Health and Wellbeing Boards, e.g. the development of best practice guidelines and quality standards.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the update report be noted, and a further report be submitted to the January 2011 meeting.

b)  That Gill Matthews be thanked for her contribution today, and be invited to attend the proposed local stakeholder seminar planned for February 2011.

To consider a joint report of Leeds City Council and NHS Leeds on Quarter 2 action trackers summarising progress against the joint Leeds Strategic Plan (LSP) improvement priorities relevant to the Health Scrutiny Board for 2010/11 as well as key NHS Leeds priorities.

The Board considered the joint Leeds City Council/NHS Leeds Health Performance Report for Quarter 2, 2010/11.

In attendance at the meeting, and responding to Members’ queries and comments, were:-

-  Ian Cameron, Joint Director of Public Health, NHS Leeds/Leeds City Council

-  Brenda Fullard, Head of Healthy Living and Health Inequalities, NHS Leeds

-  Paul Bollom, Priority Outcome Commissioner, Children’s Services.

-  Graham Brown, Performance Manager, NHS Leeds.

-  Councillor Judith Chapman, Chair, Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services).

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  Premature mortality in the most deprived areas – Ian Cameron outlined current initiatives to improve this most challenging key indicator, and responded to Members.  It was suggested that the Scrutiny Board might wish to conduct a review once the Council had assumed its new public health responsibilities, perhaps to assess existing initiatives against new expectations and priorities.

·  Improvements in the infant mortality rate, and the underlying reasons for this.

·  A request for statistical information to be broken down into Ward level information so that problem or ‘hotspot’ areas could be more easily identified.  The point was made that local Ward Councillors were an invaluable source of information for anyone wanting to know details of what was happening at grass roots level.

·  Problems with the former ‘alcohol tracker’, due primarily to data availability and patient confidentiality issues.  This did not mean that tackling alcohol abuse was not an NHS Leeds priority, and a new action plan was due out in April 2011.

·  Issues surrounding cancer referral and treatment times (PCT Vital Signs Indicators VSA12 and VSA13 - Page 31 of report refers), e.g. external late referrals from other Trusts, and action being taken to ensure that targets were met in Q3 and Q4.

·  Teenage conception rates – Members expressed concern that there had been no improvement in this area over the past 10 years and questioned whether existing strategies were working.  Councillor Chapman, on behalf of her Scrutiny Board, requested that a Joint Inquiry be established between the Children’s Services and Health Scrutiny Boards, and this was agreed.

RESOLVED –

a)  That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

b)  That a Joint Inquiry into teenage conception rates be agreed, and the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser prepare a draft Terms of Reference, in consultation with the Chairs of the Health and the Children’s Services Scrutiny Boards.

(NB:  Councillors G Kirkland and G Latty left the meeting at 3.57 pm at the conclusion of this item.)

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing the Board with a progress update on the Board’s previous scrutiny inquiries and recommendations.

The Board reviewed and noted progress on the implementation of its recommendations in respect of the Kirkstall Joint Service Centre proposal and its Inquiry into Promoting Good Public Health.

A Member expressed frustration at what he regarded as the very slow progress of Council Departments and officers in embedding a public health ethos into their service delivery, in particular, in his opinion, the Development Department. He regarded that this was an issue which the Board could usefully address.

RESOLVED – That the progress reports be received and noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Health Service Direct Discharge.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding the recent request of the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care) at its meeting held on 10^th November 2010 that the Health Scrutiny Board should review or monitor the current Health Service Direct Discharge arrangements, especially in view of the financial implications for the Council of adults discharged directly into residential or nursing homes.

RESOLVED – That the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser make arrangements for this issue to be added to the Board’s regular quarterly monitoring reports, in order that the Board can monitor the situation.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Children’s Cardiac Surgery Services.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report seeking Board nominations to serve on a Joint Regional Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be consulted on a national review of Children’s Cardiac Surgery Services.

RESOLVED –

a)  That, in line with the Regional Joint Health Scrutiny Protocol, the following Members be nominated as Leeds City Council representatives (as required):-

-  Councillors M Dobson, Peter Harrand and Eileen Taylor.

b)  That the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser contact Board Members absent today to ascertain whether or not there are any further nominations.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted the Board’s current work programme, updated to reflect decisions taken at previous meetings.

Reference was made to earlier Minute No. 62, and the best way to address the Member’s concerns.  It was agreed that the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser should arrange a meeting between the Member concerned and the Chairs of the Health and City Development Scrutiny Boards, and possibly the Director of City Development, to explore the concerns in more detail.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the Board’s Work Programme be received and noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Board will be held on Tuesday 25^th January 2011 at 10.00am (Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

Tuesday, 25^th January 2011, at 10.00 am (pre-meeting at 9.30 am).

The Chair wished everyone the compliments of the season, and thanked Board Members and officers for all their hard work and dedication throughout the year.