Agenda and minutes

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

There were no formal late items added to the agenda however supplementary information was circulated to Members in relation to Agenda Item 10 ‘Work Schedule – February 2013’:

1)  NHS February 2013 Newsletter – adults Living with Congenital Heart Disease;

2)  Executive Board Minutes, 15^th February 2013.

The information was not available at the time of agenda despatch.

Councillor Truswell, Emma Stewart, Joy Fisher, Sally Morgan and Betty Smithson declared an interest in Agenda Item 7 ‘Local Healthwatch – Healthwatch Leeds, as Members of LINk. (Minute No. 89 refers)

Councillor Illingworth declared an interest in Agenda Item 9, as a member of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE): Local Government Reference Group.  (Minute No. 91 refers)

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Murray.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd January 2013.

RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd January 2013 were approved as a correct record.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development updating the Scrutiny Board on the arrangements for establishing a local HealthWatch organisation in Leeds from April 2013.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report updating the Board on the arrangements for establishing a local Healthwatch organisation in Leeds from April 2013.

In attendance to assist Members with their questions were:

-  Cllr. Lisa Mulherin (Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing) – Leeds City Council

-  Rob Kenyon (Head of Partnerships and Organisational Effectiveness) – Leeds City Council, Adult Social Services

-  Janet Somers (Consultation and Involvement Officer) – Leeds City Council, Adult Social Services

-  Jess Parker – (Business Development Director) – Touchstone)

-  JagdeepPassan (Chief Executive) – Leeds Involving People

-  Jon Beech (Mobilisation Manager) – Touchstone.

Apologies were received from Cllr. Lucinda Yeadon (Executive Board Member for Adult Social Care) due to a prior engagement.

The Chair opened the item by making reference to the key questions previously identified by the Scrutiny Board prior to the procurement process for local HealthWatch.  By reference, the Chair identified the following questions as being particularly relevant to the discussion:

·  How will you address the challenge of raising awareness of HealthWatch’s role?

·  How would you plan to develop and grow a “representative” body?

·  How will you be inclusive of the “harder to reach/hear” groups?

·  How can you demonstrate that you will recruit officers who have a genuine interest in health and social care?

·  How will you assure the independence of HealthWatch so that it is able to robustly challenge the Council as a service provider and commissioner?

·  How will you determine the priorities of the new body?

·  How will you build partnership relationships e.g. with the Scrutiny Board (Health And Wellbeing and Adult Social Care) and (if appropriate) how will you demonstrate skills in complaints advocacy and resource providing support at all stages of a complaint?

The Head of Partnerships and Organisational Effectiveness addressed the Board updating Members on the procurement of local Healthwatch organisation for Leeds (to be known as Healthwatch Leeds).  He highlighted the following points:

·  HealthWatch represented one of many new organisations as a result of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

·  It was a statutory requirement for local authorities to procure HealthWatch.

·  The new arrangements provided an exciting but challenging opportunity to build on existing strengths of public and patient involvement and engagement across the City.

·  Thanks to all those involved to date in public and patient involvement and engagement across the City.

Reference was also made to some of the difficulties associated with the procurement timescales due to the availability and timing of the release of national guidance. The Head of Partnerships and Organisational Effectiveness closed his opening remarks by thanking Members of the Board for their continued interest and involvement in public and patient involvement and engagement across the City.

It was reported that the Government funding for local HealthWatch had not been ‘ring-fenced’ but the Council had given a commitment to use the resources for the intended purpose.  It was reported that his was not an approach universally adopted across England.

The Board  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing the Scrutiny Board with an update on the transition and transfer of Public Health responsibilities to Leeds City Council from April 2013. 

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided the Scrutiny Board with an update on the transition and transfer of Public Health responsibilities to Leeds City Council from April 2013.

In attendance to answer Members’ questions was:

-  Cllr. Lisa Mulherin (Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing) – Leeds City Council

-  Dr. Ian Cameron (Joint Director of Public Health) – NHS Airedale Bradford & Leeds / Leeds City Council.

The Joint Director of Public Health – NHS Airedale Bradford & Leeds / Leeds City Council addressed the Board congratulating the Council on the positive reception for NHS staff and services being transferred over from the Primary Care Trust (to be formally abolished on 1 April 2013).

Members of the Board were informed that a number of Public Health services / functions would be formally transferring to the Council from 1 April 2013, including a number of prescribed / mandatory functions, such as:

-  Sexual health services

-  NHS Health Check programme

-  Local authority role in health protection

-  Public health advice

-  National Child Measurement Programme.

In addition to a number of non-prescribed / discretionary services/ functions, including:

-  Obesity

-  Physical activity

-  Substance misuse (drugs and alcohol)

-  Stop smoking services and interventions

-  Children 5-19 public health programmes

-  Nutrition initiatives.

It was outlined that approximately 90 public health posts, including vacancies, would transfer to the Council from 1 April 2013, along with the responsibility to manage around 100 contracts at an approximate value of £28M.

The Board was also informed of an uplift in Leeds’ Public Health grant allocation for 2013/14 and 2014/15, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

The Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing – Leeds City Council outlined some the issues associated with the transition for Public Health staff and the Council, but highlighted the significant opportunity this presented to the Council, and  specifically the role of Elected Members.

Members queried the different roles of new/ emerging NHS bodies, and it was confirmed that the NHS Commissioning Board (through its local area teams) would take responsibility for commissioning some services previously the responsibility of the Primary Care Trusts – including screening programmes and immunisation/ vaccination.

Members welcomed the opportunity provided by the transfer of Public Health responsibilities to the Council, but were weary of the role of some national NHS bodies and, based on recent experiences, expressed some concern regarding their future operation.

 In considering the Council’s new Public Health responsibilities, Members also discussed:

·  Free access to swimming pools as an example of how the Council could influence participation in physical activity.

·  The structure of Public Health staff across the Council.  It was confirmed that it was not intended to form a new directorate/ department, with small teams of staff allocated across the Council to help embed public health duties across service areas.

·  The shadow / transitional funding to support the transfer of Public Health to the Council.  It was confirmed that the allocated resources  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

To consider a report of the Head odf Scrutiny and Member Development  providing the Scrutiny Board with an outline of the role of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and recently published guidance aimed at local authorities.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided an outline of the role of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the recently published guidance aimed at local authorities.

Dr. Ian Cameron (Joint Director of Public Health) – NHS Airedale Bradford & Leeds / Leeds City Council was in attendance. 

The Joint Director of Public Health informed the Board that progress has been made and that NICE had appointed a North of England consultant responsible for working with local authorities to help take forward NICE guidance.

The Board discussed the areas where NICE guidance had been produced and noted those areas where guidance was in development. 

The Joint Director of Public Health advised that the proposed structure of Public Health staff within the Council would help provide assurances around the use and implementation of NICE guidance across City Priority areas and within relevant service areas.

The Joint Director of Public Health also reported significant developments in terms of understanding the public health agenda, in particular highlighting progress within the City Development Directorate – while acknowledging further work was still required.

Members considered that it would be essential for Council Directorates to work collaboratively to ensure the effective implementation of NICE guidance.

Members also agreed to invite the Chief Executive to a future Board to share his opinions on the role of the Council and discharge of its public health responsibilities.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and discussions be noted

(b)  That the Chief Executive be invited to the Board to share his opinions on the role of the Local Authority in managing its public health responsibilities.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Board’s work schedule for February 2013.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which considered the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

The Board discussed undertaking extra work but acknowledged the pressure this would put on already stretched resources, with particular reference to the work done and coordinated by Leeds City Council in relation to the review of children’s heart services in England, and its impact on children and families in Leeds and across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Discussion took place on scrutiny activity around adult social care provision.

The Board agreed that an additional meeting should take place in May to allow the Board to continue aspects of its work programme. 

Working group meetings were agreed by the Board as follows:

• 12^th March 2013 2:30pm to 5:30pm – Maternity Services;
• 20^th March 2013 11:10am to 12:30pm – CCG; and
• 21^st March 2013 2pm to 5pm – Visual Impairment.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the work schedule be revised in line with the discussions at the meeting; and

(b)  That an additional meeting of the Board be organised to take place during May 2013.

(Councillor Hyde and Councillor Bentley left at 12:30pm.  Councillor Robinson left the meeting at 12:40pm)

Wednesday 27^th March 2013 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds

(Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

Wednesday 27^th March 2013 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds. (Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.)