(a)       Chair’s Introduction

Prior to the consideration of the matters set out in the agenda, the Chair outlined their expectations of the standard of conduct and behaviour to be shown at the meeting.

(b)       Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Badger (no substitute), Councillor T Cox (no substitute), O Cartey (no substitute) and Councillor K Murphy (no substitute). Apologies were also received from Councillor L Burton (Cabinet Member).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a)       O Richards (co-opted Member, Healthwatch Southend) declared the following interests:

                      i.        Minute No. 32 (extension of the contract for Healthwatch Southend) – pecuniary interest due to employment, withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of this item.

                     ii.        Non-pecuniary interest in all agenda items – Independent Councillor for Leigh Town Council.

                    iii.        Minute No. 33 (All-Age Advocacy Contract Award 2025) – Healthwatch Southend is a referring agency to South Essex Advocacy Services (SEAS).

(b)       Councillor M O’Connor – Minute No. 33 (All-Age Advocacy Contract Award 2025) – pecuniary interest, is employed by South Essex Advocacy Services (SEAS) which tendered for the contract. Withdrew from the meeting for consideration of this item.

(c)       Councillor L Salter – Minute No. 30 (Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust strategy development) – Husband is a consultant surgeon at Southend Hospital; Daughter is a consultant at Basildon Hospital; Son-in-law is a general practitioner in Southend-on-Sea.

(d)       Councillor J Harland – Minute No. 30 (Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust strategy development) – family member is employed at Southend Hospital and trustee of Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation.

(e)       Councillor S Habermel – Minute No. 30 (Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust strategy development) – sister and nephew employed at Southend Hospital.

(f)        Councillor C Nevin – Minute No. 30 (Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust strategy development) – employed at external National Health Service Trust; family members employed at Mid and South Essex Trust hospitals.

(g)       Councillor S Nadeem – non-pecuniary interest in all agenda items – child has Special Educational Needs.

The Committee noted the response of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and SEND (presented by the Leader of the Council in the Cabinet Member’s absence) to a question asked by Mr Webb.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday, 29^th October 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The Director of Strategy and Innovation presented a paper that set out the outcomes of the Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust’s (MSE) strategic review so far of its 10-year strategy development. The four priorities in development by the Trust were:

1. Our communities: we put patient and community involvement at the centre of everything we do and plan for our local population needs.
2. Our services are high-performing and sustainable: we have clear plans to ensure our services can deliver high quality care and best value for money with focus on equitable access.
3. Our people excel: as an organisation we focus on culture, capacity and capability.
4. Our partnerships: as the largest provider of care in mid and south Essex, we will further develop our current partnership journey and ensure we embed collaboration and integration in everything we do.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by the Director of Strategy and Innovation from Mid and South Essex. These related to:

·         BMA doctors dispute at Mid and South Essex regarding cuts to extra pay, with doctors being advised to not work outside their contracted hours for the reduced rates – it was agreed that a written response from the Trust would be provided outside of the meeting.

·         How much engagement had taken place and with which people/organisations, there was some concern that the engagement with the Local Authority was not reaching the correct people. Any communication for the Local Authority to be directed to the Executive Director of Adults and Communities (M Harvey) in the first instance.

·         Concern regarding GP shortages in the City and the delay in diagnostics in the cancer unit.

·         Comments that the outcome of the public consultation will not be seen in the time frame provided, and how residents comments and views would be considered as part of the strategy development.

·         That the drive to have Centres of Excellence was good from a clinical perspective but posed difficulties to residents who want to access local services. Question how the Trust would ensure the national drive to deliver services closer to home is reflected in this strategy.

·         Lord Darzi review highlighted that patient and staff engagement was not strong enough, queried what measures would be included in the strategy to improve this in future.

Resolved:

That the contents of the report be noted and requested that the comments of the People Scrutiny Committee be considered in the next phase of the Trust’s Strategy development.

The Committee received a report from the Executive Director (Children & Public Health), by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny, that sought approval for the procurement and award of a contract to deliver residential children’s services from the property at Caulfield Road.

The People Scrutiny Committee firstly congratulated the team for achieving a ‘good’ Ofsted rating in the recent ILACS inspection.

Committee members asked questions in relation to the role of the registered manager and the consultation process which had taken place.

The Executive Director confirmed that the home could accommodate four young people at any given time.

The Leader of the Council highlighted that the framework was not anticipated to incur any additional budget pressure and that spend was envisioned to be lower than the current spend position.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function

Cabinet Member: Councillor L Burton, portfolio holder for Children, Young People and SEND.

The Committee received a report from the Executive Director (Adults & Communities), by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny, that set out the commissioning of the local Healthwatch service. 

The Committee asked the below question which the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Healthier Communities undertook to provide a written response:

·         How many individuals did Healthwatch engage with annually, and whether any demographic data was collected.

The Chair requested that in future contract monitoring reporting, that further detail on how many people were completing the surveys be provided, so that statistics were presented in numerical form rather than calculated as percentages.  

The People Scrutiny Committee thanked Healthwatch Southend for delivering an excellent service representing the interests of residents and in the collection of valuable data.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor M Sadza (Social Care and Healthier Communities)

The Committee received a report from the Executive Director (Adults & Communities), by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny, that set out the current advocacy contracts and outlined the tender process to award a contract for a new all age advocacy service in January 2025

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Healthier Communities and the Executive Director.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is and Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor M Sadza (Social Care and Healthier Communities) and Councillor L Burton (Children, Young People and SEND)

The Committee received a report from the Executive Director (Adults & Communities), by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny, that set out the extension to contract for the provision of the SMDS and IHS service for a period of 6 months until 30 September 2025, to allow time for a procurement exercise to take place during that period.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is and Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor M Sadza (Social Care and Healthier Communities)