Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stafford (no substitute), Mr M Rickett, Ms A Clarke and Mr J Aris.

The following interests were declared at the meeting:-

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

(b) Councillor Salter – agenda items relating to – Southend University Hospital Trust and Chairman’s Update report – non-pecuniary interest – husband is Business Unit Director at Southend Hospital for surgical services and daughter works for Broomfield Hospital;

(c) Councillor Nevin - agenda items relating to  Southend Universtiy Hospital Trust and Chairman’s Update– non-pecuniary – previous employee at Southend Hospital; NHS Employee at Barts; 2 children work at MEHT and sister works for the Department of Health;

(d) Councillor Crystall – agenda items relating to relating to - Chairman’s Update; Southend Hospital report – non-pecuniary – partner governor at Southend Hospital;

(e) Councillor Robinson – agenda item relating to in-depth scrutiny project – transition arrangements from children’s to adult services – non-pecuniary interest – his employer was mentioned in the report;

(f) Councillor Folkard – agenda items relating to – Southend University Hospital Trust and Chairman’s Update– ambassador for fundraising team at Southend Hospital; on reading panel at Southend Hospital for information leaflets;

(h) Councillor I Robertson – agenda item relating to Southend University Hospital Trust – non-pecuniary interest – daughter works in Southend Hospital;

(i) Councillor Davidson – agenda item relating to In-depth Scrutiny project – transition arrangements from children’s to adult services – non-pecuniary interest – member of SAFE (Supporting Aspergers Families in Essex);

(j) Councillor Crystall – agenda item relating to Southend University Hospital Trust – non-pecuniary interest – governor at Southend Hospital.

Councillor Jones, the Executive Councillor for Children & Learning responded to a written question from Mr Webb and Councillor Moyies, the Executive Councillor for Health and Adult Social Care responded to written questions from Mr Webb and Mr Thomas.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 26^th January 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for period end February 2016, circulated recently. 

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

The Committee considered Minute 712 of Cabinet held on 15^th March 2016 together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end February 2016, which had been circulated recently.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Report of Director for Public Health

Note – this item will also be considered at the Place Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on Monday 11^th April 2016

(This is a pre-Cabinet scrutiny item.)

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director for Public Health and Corporate Director for Place by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny.  This sought the Committee's views on the contents of the draft Southend-on-Sea Physical Activity Strategy 2016-2021.

The Committee discussed the report in detail, and whilst there was general consensus and support of the content of the draft strategy the Committee made a number of comments and suggestions for inclusion in the strategy.

Resolved:-

That the draft Southend-on-Sea Physical Activity Strategy 2016-2021 be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet at its meeting on 28th June 2016, with the following comments:

·         Inclusion of ways to support people with health conditions and/or disabilities to be physically active;

·         Performance measures/targets and timescales to deliver the strategy should be included.

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillors:- Betson and Moyies

Verbal Report from Councillor Crystall

The Committee received a verbal update from Councillor Crystall which provided a summary of the current situation at Southend University Hospital Trust.

Resolved:

That the summary regarding the current situation with Southend University Hospital Trust, be noted.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.

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 – information set out in section 3 of the report – noted.

(b) South Essex – NHS England and proposals for PET CT scanner – information set out in section 4 of the report and at Appendix 1.

(c) Prescribing of gluten free foods – information set out in section 5 of the report – the Committee noted the update provided at the meeting that the CCG Clinical Executive Committee will be reviewing the feedback from the consultation shortly and would make a recommendation to their governing body on the preferred option.  The Committee requested that the outcome of the CCG Clinical Executive Committee decision was circulated to the Committee for information.

(d) Southend LSCB Scrutiny Panel and Southend Adults Board Scrutiny Panel – information set out in section 6 of the report and at Appendix 2. This proposed extending the remit of the LSCB Scrutiny Panel to scrutinise both the LSCB and Safeguarding Adults Board.

(e) Success Regime – information set out in section 7.1 of the report and at Appendix 3. The Committee noted the update provided at the meeting on the Success Regime. 

(f) Quality Account – information set out in section 7.2 of the report. This advised that the draft Quality Account from SEPT will be circulated to the Committee for comments on or around 22^nd April with a requirement that any comments are received by the Trust by 22^nd May. The draft Quality Account from Southend Hospital will be circulated to the Committee for comments on 20^th April with a requirement that any comments are received by the Trust by 10^th May.

Resolved:-

1. That the report and any actions taken be noted.

2. That the following be appointed to sit on a Joint Committee looking at PET CT scanner in south Essex - Councillor Salter and Councillor Nevin (Councillor Davidson substitute).

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function save that Resolution 3 is a Council Function.

Report (to follow)

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services to seek formal approval to the draft report of the scrutiny project – ‘Transition arrangements from children’s to adult services’.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny project, Councillor Folkard presented the report to the Committee and invited comments.   It was suggested that certificates be presented to the parents who contributed to the project.  He also highlighted to the Committee that the social worker who had provided assistance with the project had been nominated for a Stars award.

Resolved:-

1. That the report and the recommendations from the in depth scrutiny project, attached at Appendix 1 be agreed and the title for the project be changed to ‘Transition arrangements from Children’s to Adult Life.’

2. That the Chairman be authorised to agree any final amendments to the draft report.

3. That in accordance with Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 (Part 4 (e) of the Constitution), to agree that the Chairman of the Project Team present the final report to a future Cabinet meeting.

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 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.

Report of Corporate Director for People

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for People.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Jones

The Chairman thanked the Committee for their contributions and hard work over the last year.