Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Dear (Substitute: Councillor M Flewitt).

The following councillors declared interests as indicated:

(a)        Councillors T Harp, A Jones and M Terry (Cabinet Members) - Interest in the called-in items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19 July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b)        Councillor L Salter - Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Husband is consultant surgeon at Southend Hospital; daughter is a consultant at Basildon Hospital; son-in-law is GP in the borough - Non-pecuniary interest:

(c)        Councillor C Nevin - Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Employed at external NHS Trust; family members employed at Mid and South-Essex Trust hospitals - Non-pecuniary interest:

(d)        Councillor K Mitchell - Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Family friend is employed as a Finance Officer by the Council - Non-pecuniary interest;

(e)        Councillor T Harp - Minute 272 (Questions from Members of the Public)) - Friend and future relative employed by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Wife is employed in hospital discharge capacity and Minute 276 (Annual Safeguarding Report (Adults & Children)) - Wife is an employee of Southend Association of Voluntary Services - Non-pecuniary interests;

(f)         Councillor M Flewitt - Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Family member employed at an NHS Trust outside the borough - Non-pecuniary interest:

(g)        Councillor M Borton - Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Daughter employed in mental health unit at Basildon Hospital - Non-pecuniary interest:

(h)        Councillor N Folkard - Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Ambassador for Fund Raising Team at Southend Hospital; relative works at Broomfield Hospital; on the Reading Panel at Southend Hospital - Non-pecuniary interest; and

(i)          Councillor M Kelly - Minute 275 (Care Act Easement) - Employed by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust - Non-pecuniary interest.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care responded to a question presented by Ms. T. Cowdrey.

The Committee noted the responses of the relevant cabinet members to questions submitted by Ms. M. Cleary, Mr. P. Marrable and Mr. D. Webb, which would be sent to the questioners as they were not present at the meeting.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the special meeting of the Committee held on 16 June 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 July 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Minute 210 (Agenda Item No. 12 refers)

Called-in by Councillors Cox and Davidson

The Committee considered Minute 210 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 28 July 2020, which had been called in to the People Scrutiny Committee, together with a report of the Executive Director (Adults and Communities) that presented a framework setting out how the Council would implement the provisions contained within the new Care Act Easements created under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

At the request of the Committee, the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care agreed to develop an ‘easy-read’ statement of use for any implementation of the Care Act Easements and to ensure that any such implementation was undertaken with the agreement of the Chief Executive, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the People Scrutiny Committee.

In response to a question concerning current levels of assessments and carer assessments, the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care agreed to circulate details to the Committee after the meeting.

Resolved:

That the following decisions of the Cabinet be noted:

“1. That the Care Act Easements framework that sets out how the Council would

implement the provision set out within the new Care Act easements, created

under the Coronavirus Act 2020, be approved.

2. That, following engagement with the Chief Executive, the Leader of the Council

and the Chair of People Scrutiny Committee, authority be delegated to the

Executive Director (Adults and Communities), in consultation with the Cabinet

Member for Adult Social Care and Health, to implement the Care Act Easements

framework. This would be in line with Government guidance and as referenced in

the framework and powers provided by the Care Act Easements under the

Coronavirus Act 2020.”

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: T. Harp

Minute No. 214 (Agenda Item No. 16 refers)

Called-in by Councillors Cox and Davidson

The Committee considered Minute 214 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 28 July 2020, which had been called in to the People Scrutiny Committee, together with a joint report of the Executive Director (Adults and Communities) and the Executive Director (Children and Public Health), that provided an annual assurance assessment for the Chief Executive and elected members of their responsibilities for safeguarding children and adults in Southend.

At the request of the Committee, the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care agreed to seek the design and appropriate delivery as soon as possible, of a comprehensive training programme for councillors with regard to their safeguarding responsibilities.

Resolved:

That the following decision of the Cabinet be noted:

“That the submitted report be noted and the actions detailed in Section 6 of the report, be approved.”

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr T. Harp

Director of Public Health to report.

The Committee received a presentation form the Director of Public Health with regard to the current COVID-19 situation across the Borough.

In response to a question concerning the impact of COVID-19 on the sexual health of local residents, the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care agreed to circulate any relevant data that was currently available, to the Committee after the meeting.

Resolved:

That the presentation be noted.

To receive an update on the progress of the in-depth scrutiny project for 2019/20.

The Democratic Services Officer reported that the Working Party leading the current in-depth scrutiny project for the Committee had recently met and that a draft report for the project was being prepared. Councillors were advised that it was hoped that the report would be available for consideration by the Committee at its meeting in either October or November 2020.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function