Agenda item

This council opposes the government’s cut of £170 million to the community pharmacies budget and is alarmed at the statement from the community and social care minister that up to 3,000 pharmacies could close as a result of this cut.

This council recognises the important role that independent pharmacies play in local communities particularly to older residents and those living in remote communities.

This council resolves to:

• Respond to the public consultation currently underway, clearly expressing council’s opposition to the cut in pharmacy budget and any resulting programme of closures.
• Utilise the public health contracts it holds with pharmacies to minimise the effect of government cuts to the pharmacies budget to minimise the number of closures in Leeds.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the government minister setting out council’s concerns about these plans.
• Requests the Chief Executive write to Leeds’ MPs, asking them to join us and call on the government to shelve these plans and protect this vital service.

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.9(a), leave of Council was given to alter the wording of the motion in the name of Councillor Golton to include the amendment in the name of Councillor Mulherin.

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2(d) and 14.10 and with the consent of the seconder, leave of Council was given to Councillor Mulherin to withdraw the amendment in her name.

It was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Mulherin that  this council opposes the government’s cut of £170 million to the community pharmacies budget and is alarmed at the statement from the community and social care minister that up to 3,000 pharmacies could close as a result of this cut.

This council recognises the important role that independent pharmacies play in local communities particularly to vulnerable residents and those living in remote communities.

This council resolves to: 

• Respond to the public consultation currently underway, clearly expressing council’s opposition to the cut in pharmacy budget and any resulting programme of closures.
• Utilise the public health contracts it holds with pharmacies to minimise the effect of government cuts to the pharmacies budget to minimise the number of closures in Leeds.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the government minister setting out council’s concerns about these plans and ask to see their health impact assessment.
• Requests the Chief Executive write to Leeds’ MPs, asking them to join us and call on the government to shelve these plans and protect this vital service.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Buckley seconded by Councillor Robinson

 Delete Paragraph 1 and insert after ‘those living in remote communities’:

‘Council believes that by modernising services and using services such as on line pharmacy provision the needs of some customers could be better catered for.

This Council further believes that any proposed closures of pharmacies should be the subject of local consultation to ensure that vulnerable groups will not be adversely impacted by the proposals.

This Council believes that the needs of vulnerable service users should be protected wherever possible and calls for an Executive Board report exploring how series users in Leeds will be impacted and where services could be modernised and efficiency increased.’

Motion would read:

‘This council recognises the important role that independent pharmacies play in local communities particularly to older residents and those living in remote communities.

Council believes that by modernising services and using services such as on line pharmacy provision the needs of some customers could be better catered for.

This Council further believes that any proposed closures of pharmacies should be the subject of local consultation to ensure that vulnerable groups will not be adversely impacted by the proposals.

This Council believes that the needs of vulnerable service users should be protected wherever possible and calls for an Executive Board report exploring how service users in Leeds will be impacted and where services could be modernised and efficiency increased.’

The amendment in the name of Councillor Buckley was declared lost and

upon being put to the vote it was;

RESOLVED - That this council opposes the government’s cut of £170 million to the community pharmacies budget and is alarmed at the statement from the community and social care minister that up to 3,000 pharmacies could close as a result of this cut.

This council recognises the important role that independent pharmacies play in local communities particularly to vulnerable residents and those living in remote communities.

This council resolves to: 

• Respond to the public consultation currently underway, clearly expressing council’s opposition to the cut in pharmacy budget and any resulting programme of closures.
• Utilise the public health contracts it holds with pharmacies to minimise the effect of government cuts to the pharmacies budget to minimise the number of closures in Leeds.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the government minister setting out council’s concerns about these plans and ask to see their health impact assessment.
• Requests the Chief Executive write to Leeds’ MPs, asking them to join us and call on the government to shelve these plans and protect this vital service.