Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

64.

Chair's Introduction & Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(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 B Beggs (Substitute: Councillor J Warren), Councillor P Collins, Councillor G Leroy (Substitute: Councillor K Robinson), Councillor C Nevin (Substitute: Councillor A Jones) and Councillor D Richardson (Substitute: Councillor L Hyde).

 

Apologies were also received from T Watts (Co-opted Member, Southend Carers)

 

65.

Declarations of Interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

 

(a)       Councillor K Robinson (all items) – employed by the NHS locally but area of work is not associated with any of the agenda items.

 

(b)       Councillor J Harland – (all items) – son employed at Southend Hospital.

 

(c)       Councillor N Folkard – (all items) – relative works for Broomfield Hospital and part of the fundraising team for Southend Hospital

 

(d)       Councillor A Line – (all items) – member of the ‘Save Southend NHS’ community campaign.

 

(e)       Councillor A Jones – (Minute 70, Community Based Living Procurement ) – knows the author of the report.

 

(f)        O Richards (Co-Opted Member, Healthwatch) – (Minute 73) – had previously undertaken some work around Neonatal Intensive Care at Southend.

66.

Questions from Members of the Public

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public relating to the responsibilities of the Committee.

 

67.

Exclusion of the Public

To agree 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 involves 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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair brought forward for consideration item 9 of the agenda, ‘Transitional Supported Housing’ and the restricted appendix relating to item 10, ‘Community Based Supported Living Procurement Award 2023.’

 

Resolved:-

 

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below, on the grounds that they 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.

68.

Transitional Supported Housing

Please be advised that this item is restricted by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adults and Communities, by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny, which sought approval to extend several contracts in relation to Transitional Supported Housing.

 

Resolved:

 

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

69.

Confidential Appendix - Community Based Supported Living Procurement Award 2023

Minutes:

The Committee had the opportunity to ask any questions relating to the part 2 ‘restricted appendix’ that was exempt from publication by Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as it contained commercially sensitive information.

 

This matter was considered in conjunction with Minute 70 (Community Based Supported Living Procurement Award 2023).

 

Following consideration of this item the meeting moved into public session and the press and public were permitted into the public gallery.

70.

Community Based Supported Living Procurement Award 2023 pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Please be advised that this item contains a confidential appendix that is exempt by virtue of paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adults and Communities, by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny, which set out the results of a tender exercise which was initiated in April 2023 to procure a framework for provision of Supported Living and Supported Living with outreach.

 

Resolved:

 

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

71.

Homecare Services Extension to Contract 2024 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adults and Communities, by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny, which sought agreement to further extend the ‘care and support in home’, homecare contract.

 

Resolved:

 

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

72.

OTHER SCRUTINY MATTERS

Additional documents:

73.

Southend Neonatal Unit designation pdf icon PDF 178 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report from N Abbott (Interim Managing Director, Care Group 5 at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust), which provided an overview of the proposal and rationale to redesignate the status of the neonatal unit at Southend Hospital from a Level 2 Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) to a Level 1 Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

 

The proposal from the MSE NHS Foundation Trust had been through and supported at the relevant MSEFT meetings and Committees. It has also been supported at the Mid and South Essex Local Maternity and Neonatal System Board. The proposal was discussed at the East of England Specialised Services Joint Commissioning Committee on 31 January 2024 where the outcome was for referral to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees (HOSCs).

 

Members of the Committee raised a number of concerns regarding the redesignation of the status of the neonatal unit at Southend Hospital, as summarised below:

 

·         That paediatric care was being conflated with neonatal care.

·         Concern that the proposed redesignation could exacerbate the safety and quality concerns already identified. 

·         That the proposed redesignation could potentially put additional pressure on the ambulance service to transport patients and parents to Basildon, and the safety and stability of care of patients in any such transfer.

·         The impact of the proposed redesignation on the Neptune Ward and Children’s Emergency Department; it was queried whether there was any future reduction in these services planned in the same way as the Local Neonatal Unit (LNU).

·         It was felt that there had been a lack of coproduction, consultation and engagement with local stakeholders before the pilot had been initiated.

·         That the proposed redesignation could negatively impact upon the City and its residents.

·         The longer travelling time for parents to visit their baby at Basildon Hospital, the potential prohibitive costs of this and difficult public transport options.

·         That a public consultation had not been undertaken to accumulate the views of local residents who would be affected by the proposals.

·         That the challenges around the recruitment and retention of staff at Southend Hospital needed to be addressed.


A motion was proposed by Councillor L Hyde to reject the report and suggested an alternative proposal to call upon the MSE NHS Foundation Trust:

a)    To pause the proposal to redesignate the status of the neonatal unit at Southend Hospital from a Level 2 Neonatal Unit (LNU) to a Level 1 Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU); and,

b)    To instead secure the investment required to address the safety issues as soon as possible.

c)    To develop a recruitment drive focussed on Southend and once all options had been exhausted to look at whether the right balance had been achieved.

 

The motion proposed by Councillor L Hyde was seconded by Councillor D Jones.

 

The Chair explained that she understood that the report provided would be considered as part of the consultation process, but observed that the Committee was only being asked to note the contents of the report and consider the recommendation set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

 

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