Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Davidson (substitute Cllr G Phillips) and Councillor L Davies (no substitute) and A Clarke (co-opted member).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Jones and Moyies - interest in the referred/called-in items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b) Councillor Salter – agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee update - non-pecuniary - husband is Business Unit Director at Southend Hospital for surgical services including oral surgery - urology;

(c) Councillor Robinson - agenda items relating to – Public Questions; Scrutiny Committee update; Schools Progress Report - non-pecuniary – NHS employee of Trust in Southend, mentioned in report; parent of children at schools mentioned in the public question and report;

(d) Councillor Nevin – agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee update - non-pecuniary - previous employee at Southend Hospital and as employee of BARTS who provide dentists to Southend;

(e) Councillor Borton – agenda item relating to – 21^st Century Children’s Centres- non-pecuniary – School Governor at Milton Hall School and also on a Steering Group at Summer Court Children’s Centre;

(f) Councillor Folkard – agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee update – non-pecuniary - ambassador for fundraising team at Southend Hospital; on reading panel at Southend Hospital for information leaflets;

(g) Councillor Buckley – agenda item relating to Notice of Motion: HIV Testing – non-pecuniary – shares residential address with Councillor Flewitt;

(h) Councillor Jones – agenda item relating to Notice of Motion: HIV Testing – non-pecuniary – knows one of the workers;

(h) Mr M Rickett – agenda item relating to Schools Progress – non-pecuniary – Parent Governor at school and parent of child attending one of the schools mentioned in report.

(i) Mr J Cooke – agenda item relating to Schools Progress – non-pecuniary – parent of child attending one of the schools mentioned in report;

Councillor Jones, the Executive Councillor for Children & Learning responded to a written question from Mr Webb.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 13^th October, 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 7^th September, 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Minute 402 – Item 7 refers

Called-in by: Councillors J L Lamb and A E Holland

The Committee considered Minute 402 of Cabinet held on 10^th November 2015, which had been called in to scrutiny. This concerned the Notice of Motion in relation to HIV testing, proposed by Councillor Evans and seconded by Councillor Flewitt and had been referred to Cabinet from the Council held on 22^nd October, 2015.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee the Executive Councillor for Health & Adult Social Care agreed to explore all options to raise awareness.

Resolved:-

1. That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That this is a laudable motion and the Council has an on-going commitment to reduce the rates of late and undiagnosed HIV in Southend-on-Sea and ensure that these are as low as possible. However, in these times of reducing budgets from Central Government and forced cuts to services we offer and the limited data about the downward trajectory, it is not possible to commit to a target to halve the rate by 2020 as that would require significant extra expenditure”.

2. That accordance with Standing Order 39, the matter be referred to Full Council for consideration.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Moyies

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for the period to end September 2015. An Exceptions Report will be circulated shortly and copies will be available at the meeting. 

Comments/questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered Minute 404 of Cabinet held on 10^th November, together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end September 2015. The Committee additionally had before it the Exceptions Report which had been circulated on 27th November 2015.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 412 – item 18 refers

Called-in by Councillors J L Lamb and A E Holland

The Committee considered Minute 412 of Cabinet held on 10^th November, 2015, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People which presented the draft integrated Market Position Statement for providers of adult health and social care services.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the commitments for citizens, commissioners and providers, as set out on pages 1 and 2 of the submitted statement, be approved.

2. That the tools to support the market as set out on page 2 of the statement, be noted. 

3. That the Council commits to the next steps as set out on page 13 of the submitted statement.

4. That the Director for People and the Chief Accountable Officer of Southend Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in consultation with the portfolio holder for Health and Social care, be authorised to publish refreshed and focused chapters.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Cllr Moyies 

Report of Corporate Director for Corporate Services

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which updated Members on some scrutiny matters, as follows:

(a) Complex Urological cancer surgery in Essex – update information set out in section 3 of the report and an update by NHS England was circulated at the meeting – noted. Councillor Betson advised the Committee that she would stand down as one of the Councillor appointees to the Joint Committee.

(b) Southend Hospital - PET-CT scanner – information set out in section 4.1 of the report and at Appendix 1. At the last meeting, the Committee had supported the proposals by NHS England to move the PET-CT service to the existing fixed scanner at Southend Hospital, as it offers the best long term benefits for patients and the future of the PET-CT service and to support the timescale for implementation (Minute 326 refers). However, Thurrock HOSC rejected the proposals and Essex HOSC asked for more engagement and information. 

A letter from clinicians at Southend hospital which had been sent to NHS England on this matter was tabled at the meeting.  This supported the position to activate the static PET CT scanner already based on the Southend Hospital site.

The Committee noted the proposed engagement and that the consultation has been extended to allow for more effective and clinical engagement which will now conclude in January 2016 and urged NHS England to reach a decision on the location of the PET CT scanner and that for the reasons discussed the location should be Southend Hospital.

(c) School admission arrangements – sibling admission criteria - information set out in section 4.2 of the report – noted.

(d) Emotional wellbeing and mental health service – information set out in section 4.3 of the report – noted.

(e) Community dental services in Essex – information set out in section 4.4 of the report and at Appendix 2 – noted.

(f) update on in depth scrutiny project – Transition arrangements from children’s to adult services – information set out in section 5 of the report – noted.

Resolved:-

1. That the report and actions taken be noted.

2. That NELFT be invited to give an all member presentation in the new year.

3. That an urgent letter be sent to NHS England regarding the location of the PET-CT Scanner.

4. That Councillor Nevin replace Councillor Betson as a Member of the Joint Committee for complex urological cancer surgery in Essex.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.

Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below, on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Minute 418 – Item 24 refers

Called-in by Councillors J L Lamb and A E Holland

The Committee considered Minute 418 of Cabinet held on 10^th November, 2015, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People on the proposed redesign of the management structure of Children’s Centres in Southend.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the model for the delivery of our Children’s Centres offer, be revised.

2. That it be noted that a new single delivery model would aim to:

(i) Increase efficiency through joined up leadership and management and a single performance management rather than nine.

(ii) Develop a strong single leadership and management platform to allow budgetary integration.

(iii) Maintain strong service delivery for families whilst providing scope for improvement.

(iv) Provide opportunities to jointly bid for outside funding and become a sustainable delivery model.

(v) Provide an integrated platform for the delivery of ‘A Better Start’ services.

3. That as part of the redesign process, the following options be considered:

·         Charitable Trust

·         Company limited by guarantee

·         Company limited by shares

·         Mutual”

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Cllr Jones

Minute 421 – Item 27 refers

Called-in by Councillor J L Lamb and A E Holland

The Committee considered Minute 421 of Cabinet held on 10^th November, 2015, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People on the above.

Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the acquisition of sites A and B as set out in the submitted report (and in appendices 2 and 3) be proceeded with (having noted the conclusion and reconfiguration works required) and that the Corporate Director for People be authorised, in consultation with the Head of Finance and Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Education, to deal with any amendments to the terms arising through negotiations.

2. That an application to the Secretary of State for Education be proceeded with for the appropriation of site C, as identified in the submitted report, from education use for alternative purposes.

3.That the existing £10m budget for school places be re-profiled as set out in section 8.2 of the submitted report.

4. That it be noted that at a cost of £2.5m to £4.5m per form of entry, the requirement of 10 forms of entry across existing secondary schools is likely to cost between 25m and 45m up to 2021 (the range of cost is wide to reflect the very different circumstances and build/reconfiguration requirements and specific costs will not be known until specific opportunities are identified and costed in detail).

5. That it be noted that the additional estimated cost for secondary school places will need to be considered in the relevant capital programme reviews as part of setting the Council’s annual budget.

6. That it be noted that the proposed acquisitions provide the opportunity to save significant capital investment by acquiring existing sites rather than building new or extending existing schools.”

Note:- This is a Council Function

Executive Councillor:- Cllr Jones

Report of Corporate Director for People

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for People. This advised members of the provisional headline performance data and measures taken to support, challenge and intervene in schools identified as causing concern. The report also provided information on the number of Southend pupils entering the 11+ and the measures to assist disadvantaged pupils prepare for the 11+ examinations.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Cllr Jones

Report of Corporate Director for People

The Committee received a briefing paper of the Corporate Director for People on the above.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Cllr Jones