Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L Davies (no substitute), Councillor S Buckley (no substitute), Councillor A Chalk (no substitute) and Councillor C Walker (no substitute), A Semmence and L Crabb (co-opted members).

In the absence of Councillor Davies, Councillor Borton acted as Vice Chair at the meeting.

The following interests were made at the meeting:-

(a)       Councillor Salter - agenda item relating to Mid and South Essex STP – non-pecuniary interest – husband is Consultant Surgeon at Southend Hospital and holds senior posts at the Hospital; son-in-law is GP; daughter is a doctor at Broomfield Hospital;

(b)       Councillor Nevin - agenda item relating to Mid and South Essex STP - non-pecuniary – 2 children work at MEHT; step sister works at Basildon Hospital; previous association at Southend and MEHT Hospitals; NHS employee in Trust outside area;

(c)       Ms E Lusty - agenda item relating to Mid and South Essex STP – non-pecuniary interest – husband is orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon at Southend Hospital / Wellesley Hospital;

(d)       Councillor Habermel - agenda item relating to Mid and South Essex STP – non-pecuniary interest – sister is a nurse at Southend Hospital;

(e)       Councillor Habermel - agenda item relating to Ambulance Trust – non-pecuniary interest – brother is a paramedic with Thames Ambulance Service.

[Note – as this is a special meeting, questions must relate to the business included in the agenda for the meeting].

There were no questions from members of the public.

Report of Chief Executive (attached)

Representatives from NHS England have been invited to the meeting. They will be providing details on the STP proposals for conducting the consultation under development for Mid and South Essex.

Referring to Minute 303 of the meeting held on 18^th September 2017, the Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive which updated members on the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) and the role of the Scrutiny Committee going forward. On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman also welcomed Mr A Vowles, Programme Director to the meeting. Mr Vowles had been invited to provide an update on the development of the STP and the plans for public consultation, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

Mr Vowles advised the Committee that the proposals are still subject to assurance processes and it is likely that the public consultation will now begin in mid-November and will be a 14 week consultation. A copy of the draft document will be shared with the Committee for comments and input and any recommendations for further action.

The presentation was followed by questions and comments from the Committee covering a number of issues, including - A&E services; capital investment in hospital needed; the role of Ambulance service in ‘treat and transfer’ model; need for the consultation to be meaningful with right design / format and needs to reach people ‘where they are’ and reach as many as possible; need to see wide ranging clinical support to changes (e.g. front line staff); concern about proposals for stroke services; need to see clinical evidence and be reassured about the financial modelling.

Resolved:-

1.     To note the progress report on the development of the STP and the plans for public consultation, as set out in the briefing paper at Appendix 2 and as outlined at the meeting but the Committee still has significant reservations about the proposals and has yet to see the detailed clinical evidence and financial modelling. 

2.     That authority be given to the principle of establishing a Joint Scrutiny Committee with Essex County Council and to support an invitation to Thurrock Council to join.

3.     To approve in principle the draft indicative terms of reference for the Joint Scrutiny Committee, as set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

4.     That Southend should be the lead authority for the Joint Scrutiny Committee.

5.     That the following Members be appointed to sit on the Joint Scrutiny Committee – Councillors C Nevin, A Jones, B Arscott, S Habermel and that Councillors M Borton and H Boyd be appointed as substitutes.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.

Representatives from the East of England Ambulance Service have been invited to the meeting to give a presentation on the developments and changes.

[The briefing on the new ambulance standards which has been circulated previously is attached for information].

Referring to Minute 374 of the meeting held on 10^th October 2017, the Chairman welcomed Gary Baines, Sector Head of Service Development, A&E Operations Mid and South Essex and Karl Edwards, Deputy Director of Service Delivery East of England Ambulance Trust to the meeting.

Mr Edwards presented the Ambulance Response Programme (ARP) and outlined the developments and changes and advised that the ARP had ‘gone live’ in this region the previous evening and is a 3 year programme. Mr Edwards also provided information on the Independent Service Review.

Mr Edwards responded to a number of questions and comments from the Committee, including – visit by members to the control room at Broomfield recently had been very helpful and much appreciated; change in use of rapid response vehicles; staffing; investment issues.

Resolved:-

That Mr Edwards and Mr Baines be thanked for the presentation and wished the Trust success going forward.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.