Meeting documents

People Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday, 15th July, 2014 6.30 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
103 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Byford (substitute Cllr Moring) and Councillor McMahon (substitute Cllr Robinson).
104 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors A P Jones, D Norman, Woodley and Longley (Executive Councillors) - interest in the referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;
(b) Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to Use of Pupil Premium - non-pecuniary - Governor at Friars Primary School and Bournes Green Infant School;
(c) Councillor Salter - agenda items relating to - Committee update; update from CCG - non-pecuniary - husband is consultant vascular surgeon at Southend General Hospital;
(d) Councillor Robinson - agenda item relating to Committee update - non-pecuniary - employer mentioned in the report detail;
(e) Councillor Crystall - agenda item relating to update from CCG - non-pecuniary - Council appointed Governor of Southend University NHS Foundation Trust at the Hospital;
(f) Councillor Borton - agenda item relating to Use of Pupil Premium - non-pecuniary - Governor at Milton Hall School;
(g) Councillor D Norman - agenda item relating to In depth report on grammar school entry figures - non-pecuniary - Governor at Westcliff High School for Boys;
(h) Councillor Anne Jones - agenda items relating to - Use of Pupil Premium; Schools Progress; Earls Hall School - non-pecuniary - parent of 2 children at school in Borough;
(i) Councillor Davies - agenda item relating to Use of Pupil Premium - non-pecuniary - worked for some of the schools mentioned in report in last 5 years.
(j) Ms Clarke - agenda item relating to Schools Progress - non-pecuniary - have a privately fostered child in care & school mentioned in report;
(k) Councillor Woodley - agenda item relating to Use of Pupil Premium - non-pecuniary - Governor at Thorpe Greenways School.
105 Questions from Members of the Public.
 Councillor A P Jones, the Executive Councillor for Children & Learning, responded to 2 written questions received from Mr Webb.
106 Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 8th April, 2014
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 8th April, 2014 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.
107 Monthly Performance Report (April 2014)
Business for item 107
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.
108 In-Depth Scrutiny Report - Southend Primary Schools' Falling Grammar School Entry Figures
Business for item 108
Resolved:-

1.That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1.1 That the report and recommendations from the in depth scrutiny project "Southend Primary Schools' Falling Grammar School Entry Figures", as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

1.2 That it be noted that approval of any recommendations with budget implications will require consideration as part of future years' budget processes prior to implementation."

2. That the draft action plan be noted and that regular updates be presented to the Committee.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- A P Jones.
109 Draft Corporate Plan & Annual Report - 2014, incorporating priorities of the Joint
Administration
Business for item 109
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the Council's draft Corporate Plan and Annual Report 2014, incorporating the priorities of the Joint Administration as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2. That the specific commitments set out in paragraphs 2.7 (d) - (h) of the Joint Administration Agreement attached at appendix 2 to the submitted report, be endorsed. These will be progressed within timescales appropriate to the matter in question and, in particular, consultation will take place on need and viability and a report will be brought forward on community facilities in central Southend as soon as possible.

3. That previous Council decisions in relation to Shoeburyness flood defences, Delaware and Priory care homes and the library service be made the subject of detailed review with terms of reference as follows:

(a) Shoeburyness Flood Defences

To review the current preferred option for coastal protection at Shoebury Common, as well as the previous options which were considered; and identify a coastal protection scheme that will be more acceptable to local residents and still provide the necessary standard of protection, safeguard the local environment and offer value for money.

The review will be completed as soon as possible and a report will be presented to Cabinet, after pre-Cabinet scrutiny at the Place Scrutiny Committee.

(b) Delaware & Priory Care Homes

The review will consider the decision to close Priory House and options for the redevelopment of Delaware House.

The review will:

- Consider all information relating to the original decision;

- Re-examine the financial information to consider whether the financial situation has substantially changed since the original decision was made in November 2013; and

- Consider whether all financially viable options have been considered taking into account the condition of Priory and Delaware House, the financial circumstances of the Council, future projected needs of the local population, availability of any new alternatives and the outcome of the consultation.

The review will make one of the following recommendations:

- The original decision made in November 2013 is endorsed and implementation should continue;
- The original decision made in November 2013 is not endorsed and implementation should stop with immediate effect; or

- The original decision made in November 2013 is not endorsed as it stands and the following alternative course of action is proposed.....

The review will be completed as soon as possible and a report will be presented to Cabinet, after pre-Cabinet scrutiny at the People Scrutiny Committee.

(c) Library Service

Whilst accepting many of the outcomes and recommendations made in the approved Library Strategy, it is the Joint Administration's intention to undertake a light touch review to reconsider the decisions that relate to the operation and management of the Library branch network. In particular this would look at the proposed staffing structure necessary to support the library branch network and the appropriate use of and by community groups and volunteers.

The review will be completed as soon as possible and a report will be presented to the September 2014 Cabinet."

Note:- This is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley.
110 Partners in Adoption Annual Report
Business for item 110
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

"That the Partners in Adoption Annual Report be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- A P Jones.
111 Council Procedure Rule 46
Business for item 111
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

"That the submitted report be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: As appropriate to the item.
112 Scrutiny Committee Updates
Business for item 112
Resolved:-

1. That the report and actions taken be noted.

2. That the draft protocol between the Scrutiny Committee and the Health & Wellbeing Board be circulated for consultation, as detailed in section 3.3 of the report.

3. That the protocols between the Scrutiny Committee and Southend Clinical Commissioning Group and the People Scrutiny Committee and Healthwatch Southend be reviewed, as detailed in section 3.3 of the report.

4. That the Chief Executive of the Hospital be invited to attend a meeting to discuss issues around the A&E service.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
113 Suggested in depth Scrutiny projects - 2014 / 15
Business for item 113
Resolved:

1. That the in-depth scrutiny project for 2014/15 be - ‘How the Council assists and excites individuals and community groups to achieve healthier lifestyles'.

2. To note that the following Members have been appointed to the Panel, which will manage the in depth project - Councillor Moyies (Chairman), Councillors Betson, Courtenay, Endersby, Folkard, McMahon, Morgan and Phillips.

3. To note the information attached at Appendix 3 to the Report, the summary of work of the 3 Scrutiny Committees during 2013 / 2014.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
114 Access to treatments and the Service Restriction Policy
Business for item 114
Resolved:

That the NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) be requested to:-

(a) consider placing a summary of the Service Restriction Policy on its website; and
(b) see if steps can be taken to improve information provided to patients and carers.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
115 Exclusion of the Public.
 Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out below, on the grounds that it 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.
Part II(Confidential)
116 Report on the use of Pupil Premium funding
  • (Attachment: 21)Report of Corporate Director for People
Business for item 116
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- A P Jones
117 Schools Progress Report
  • (Attachment: 22)Report of Corporate Director for People
Business for item 117
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- A P Jones
118 Earls Hall Infant School and Earls Hall Junior School
  • (Attachment: 23)Report of Corporate Director for People
  • (Attachment: 24)Appendix 1
Business for item 118
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- A P Jones
18.30 / 20.50

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Moyies (Chairman)
Councillor Davies (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors Betson, Borton, Butler, Chalk, Courtenay, Crystall, Day, Endersby, Folkard, Moring*, Phillips, Robinson*, Salter and Ware-Lane

Mr Copeland, Mr M Rickett, Ms Semmence, Ms Clarke and Mr Keay (co-opted members)

(*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31)
In attendance:
Councillors A P Jones, D Norman, Woodley and Longley (Executive Councillors)

R Tinlin, J K Williams, F Abbott, S Leftley, Dr Atherton, J Theadom, K Marks, C Cheswright and D Simon

Business

ItemBusiness
107The Committee considered Minute 59 of Cabinet, the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end April 2014 which had been referred to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration. The Committee additionally had before it the latest MPR to end May 2014, which had been circulated on 9th July 2014.

With regard to CP 7.3 and CP 7.4, the Chairman said that he had asked for a report on the % of Southend children attending a good and outstanding school in the borough.
108The Committee considered Minute 61 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 1, item 6 refers), together with a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services. This was the final report on the in depth scrutiny project ‘.Southend Primary Schools' Falling Grammar School Entry Figures".

The Committee additionally received the draft action plan, by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny.
109The Committee considered Minute 62 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to all 3 Scrutiny Committees (Cabinet Book 1, item 7 refers), together with a report of the Chief Executive & Town Clerk presenting the Council's Corporate Plan and Annual Report for 2014.
110The Committee considered Minute 68 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 2, item 13 refers), together with a report by the Corporate Director for People setting out the work of the Partners in Adoption Consortium for 2013/2014.
111The Committee considered Minute 76 of Cabinet which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet item 21 refers) concerning actions taken under Council Procedure Rule 46.
112The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which updated Members on some scrutiny matters, as follows:

(a) Outline of health scrutiny role - set out in section 3.1 - 3.2 of the report - noted;
(b) Update on the Working Protocols between People Scrutiny Committee and Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, Healthwatch Southend and the Health & Wellbeing Board - set out in section 3.3 of the report - noted;
(c) Draft Quality Accounts - information set out in section 4.1 and at Appendix 1 - noted;
(d) Co-commissioning of some primary care services - set out in section 4.2 and at Appendix 2 - the CCG will be approached for an update about the process and the implications locally;
(e) Care Quality Commission (CQC) - set out in section 4.3 -the session with the CQC will be rescheduled;
(f) Southend Hospital and ongoing issues around A&E service - set out in section 4.4 and at Appendix 3 - the Chairman said that the Chief Executive of the Hospital will be invited to attend a meeting to provide an update. He also intends to meet with the Chief Executive separately;
(g) Healthwatch Southend Annual Report - referred to in section 4.5 of the report - noted.
113The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services concerning the possible in depth scrutiny projects to be undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee in 2014/15. The report also attached some information about the work carried out by the Scrutiny Committees in the 2013 / 14 Municipal Year.
114The Committee welcomed Mr Charles Cormack, Chair, NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to the meeting. The CCG had been invited to the meeting to provide clarity and reassurance about access to health treatments in south east Essex following concerns raised about the Service Restriction Policy / access to hip and knee replacements. Mr Cormack explained that unfortunately Dr Husselbee, Clinical Chief Officer is unwell and sent his apologies.

Dr Husselbee had sent through a briefing paper and this was circulated at the meeting. Mr Cormack provided further information about the policy and responded to questions.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Cormack for attending the meeting and responding to questions.
116Further to Minute 942 of the meeting held on 8th April, 2014, the Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for People. This provided Members with an overview of the activities undertaken by schools with regard to pupil premium funding and the impact of those activities.
117The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for People. This advised Members on measures taken to support, challenge and intervene in schools identified as causing concern and also advised Members of the impact of those measures.
118(The Chairman agreed that this report be considered at this meeting as an urgent additional item).

The Committee considered the report of the Corporate Director for People, concerning the decision made by the Governors of Earls Hall Infant School and Earls Hall Junior School to amalgamate in September 2015, such amalgamation being in line with Council Policy. The report addressed issues which had been raised about the process and included a copy of an SO46 letter signed by the then portfolio holder, following consultation with all Group Leaders.

 

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