Agenda item

To consider a report from Leeds City Council’s Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting an activity summary of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber), alongside other key events, from January 2011; and providing an opportunity for the Joint Committee to consider its future role.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support (Leeds City Council) submitted a report that presented a summary of the Joint Committee’s work, key activities and outcomes, since being formally established in 2011.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser (Leeds City Council) introduced the report and highlighted the main information presented to allow members of the Joint Committee to formally review its work and consider its future role.

Members commented on the summary timeline of the Joint Committee’s activity and other significant events since January 2011.  Members also commented that the summary provided a useful reminder of the collaboration between the 15 top-tier Yorkshire and Humber local authorities and significant work undertaken by all those involved over an extended period of time. 

While reflecting on the positive outcomes achieved through the work of the Joint Committee, members also recognised that, as NHS England’s review of Congenital Heart Disease Services for Adults and Children had essentially concluded, so too had the work of the Joint Committee. 

It was also recognised that:

·  The local health and care landscape had changed significantly since January 2011, which included the development of Sustainability and Transformation Plans and associated Health and Care Partnerships across England, including Yorkshire and the Humber. 

·  Other joint health scrutiny arrangements were in place and being developed to reflect the changing health and care landscape.

·  There had been a reduction in the overall level of resources available to support the work of scrutiny committees. 

·  Any residual matters, including the further report identified during previous item (minute 46 refers), could be considered by individual local authority health overview and scrutiny committees, and/or as part of the other emerging joint health scrutiny arrangements across Yorkshire and the Humber. 

With no future meetings planned and the alternative health scrutiny arrangements discussed at the meeting, it was therefore proposed that the Joint Committee would cease to be operational from the end of the current 2017/18 municipal year. 

At the end of the meeting, the Chair paid tribute to the work of the Joint Committee, including past and present members, and the officer support provided over an extended period, primarily through Leeds City Council’s attending Principal Scrutiny Adviser. 

Other members of the Joint Committee, including original members from when the Joint Committee was initially established, echoed the Chair’s comments, stating the work and outcomes achieved provided an excellent example of successful joint scrutiny arrangements. 

RESOLVED

(1)  That the work and the outcomes achieved by the Joint Committee, including the contributions of past and present members, be recognised as an excellent example of successful joint health scrutiny arrangements.

(2)  That, with no future meetings planned and the alternative health scrutiny arrangements discussed at the meeting, the Joint Committee would cease to be operational from the end of the current 2017/18 municipal year. 

(3)  That the further progress and assurance report identified and requested by the Joint Committee (minute 46 refers), be circulated to each constituent health overview and scrutiny committee for appropriate consideration, as determined by the respective individual local authority.

The meeting closed at 11:35 am.