Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K A Barton and J G Kelly.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel held on 27 June 2019.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 27 June 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made in respect of the agenda.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider any items of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel, that falls under the remit of the Health and Public Protection Portfolio.  This will include any decisions taken by individual Members during the same time period.

The Panel considered the following item of business discharged by the Executive since the last meeting.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor T M Cartwright MBE, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, addressed the Panel on this item.

Several Members of the Panel reported that residents and members of the public have recently commented to them that the multi-agency collaboration to tackle the town centre antisocial behaviour issues is starting to show results and that the situation is improving. 

A concern was raised that whilst there have been improvements in tackling the issues in the Town Centre, some of the anti-social behaviour is now being displaced to other parts of the Borough.

To receive a verbal update from the Executive Member on matters relating to the Health and Public Protection portfolio, e.g the Police and Crime Panel and Local Strategic Issues.

The Panel received a verbal update from Councillor T M Cartwright MBE, the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, on the Police and Crime Panel and Local Strategic Health issues.

Police and Crime Panel

The Police and Crime Panel met at the beginning of October. The Panel received an update from the Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner which highlighted many of the successful achievements of the year such as the increased recruitment of police officers, the low level of PCSO vacancies and the high level of interest in the recently advertised detective role.

The Chief Constable attended the Police and Crime Panel meeting and answered questions put forward. She reported that, overall, rates of crime have reduced, with around 11,000 less crimes this year than last year. 

The Police and Crime Panel received the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Annual Report which, whilst outlining everything that has been achieved, fell short of explaining what the outcomes have been.  The Panel also reviewed the Police and Crime Plan Delivery which has a strong focus on commissioning and funding grants but provides little detail on the issues that are important to residents and members of the public.

The next Police and Crime Panel meeting will take place in January, where the Police Crime Commissioner will need to outline his case for next year’s precept.

Local Strategic Health Issues

Councillor Cartwright reported that he has attended several health-related meetings recently, including two Health and Adult Social Care committees which predominantly focused on North and West Hampshire. Hampshire County Council still needs to make significant cost savings, and this will inevitably result in a reduction in service provision.

Councillor Cartwright also reported that he attended a meeting of the Portsmouth City Council Health Overview & Scrutiny Panel which talked in detail about the various departments of the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Discussion also took place regarding the 24-hour mental health nurse provision in the emergency department, the increased numbers of nurses and mid-wives achieved through the recruitment of international nurses, the closure of Solent Jubilee House and the lack of available dental services in Portsmouth.

Councillor Cartwright reported on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group meeting – a useful meeting that provided an update on mental health services which are now more robust.  Patients can now self-refer to a mental health nurse via the 111 service and this has had a positive impact on the demand for hospital and police emergency services.   The Same Day Access Service is also working well, although there is not yet full surgery participation.  All the Care Homes across the area have now been aligned to provide clarity on which surgery will cover them.

Councillor Cartwright advised Members that he has recently received two letters from Mark Cubbon, the Chief Executive of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust.  The first gave an update on the unannounced Care Quality Commission Inspection that took place to review 5 service areas.  The second gave an update on the plans to transform emergency care at QA Hospital through the provision of a new accident and emergency unit. The cost to build the unit will be £58m. The detailed planning and the strategic outline have been completed and it is hoped that construction will commence in 2021 with patient care being delivered by the end of 2023.

Finally, Councillor Cartwright reported on a local Patient Group meeting that he was invited to attend which provided a good insight into the issues being experienced in surgeries across the local area – particularly the lengthy waiting times to register with a Doctor.  Those surgeries involved in the same day appointment system reported that it is working well, although there are still some complaints around people’s ability to travel.

To receive a presentation by the Director of Leisure and Community which provides Members with an overview of the Opportunities Plan agreed by the Executive in January 2019.

The Panel received a presentation by the Opportunities Plan Project Coordinator which provided members with an overview of the Opportunities Plan agreed by the Executive in January 2019.  A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes as Appendix A.

Members thanked the Project Co-ordinator for the presentation and commented that they would not like to see the level of CCTV coverage reduced across the Borough as residents say that it makes them feel safe.

Members suggested that consideration be given to the feasibility of installing mobile cameras as well as static cameras so that hot spot areas can be tackled quickly and effectively.

To consider a report by the Director of Leisure and Community which provides the Panel with information regarding Corporate Health and Safety performance for 2018/19.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provided members with information regarding Corporate Health and Safety performance for 2018/19.

The Head of Environmental Health presented the report and answered members’ questions thereon.

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel notes:

(a)   the work undertaken by all employees to maintain health and safety standards and, where necessary, improve health and safety performance for the benefit of all concerned during 2018/19; and

(b)  that the Council, as an employer, continues to achieve a standard of health and safety management within its activities that meet statutory requirements and demonstrate competence in health and safety management.

To consider and approve a draft scoping report for inclusion in an invitation to the Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group to attend a future meeting of the Panel.

Councillor Mrs P M Bryant left the meeting during this item.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor T M Cartwright MBE, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, addressed the Panel on this item.

A draft scoping report in respect of scrutiny priorities to be discussed with the Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group was tabled at the meeting for Members approval.  A copy of the draft scoping report is attached to these minutes as Appendix B.

Members discussed and agreed unanimously that mental health service and provision continues to be the priority topic to scrutinise with the Clinical Commissioning Group. 

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel: 

(a)  approves the draft scoping report as tabled at the meeting and attached to these minutes as Appendix B; and

(b)  agrees that the approved scoping report be included in an invitation to the Fareham & Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group to attend a future meeting of the Panel.

To consider and approve a draft scoping report for inclusion in an invitation to Hampshire Police to attend a future meeting of the Panel.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor T M Cartwright MBE, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, addressed the Panel on this item.

A draft scoping report in respect of scrutiny priorities to be discussed with Hampshire Police was tabled at the meeting for Members approval.  A copy of the draft scoping report is attached to these minutes as Appendix C.

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel: 

(a)  approves the draft scoping report as tabled at the meeting and attached to these minutes as Appendix C; and

(b)  agrees that the approved scoping report be included in an invitation to Hampshire Police to attend a future meeting of the Panel.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Health and Public Protection Panel.

Members were invited to re-consider and re-confirm the Scrutiny priorities for the Panel.

Following discussion in respect of the proposed joint meeting for January 2020 with the Streetscene Scrutiny Panel to consider the challenges of dealing with dog fouling, fly tipping and littering issues, the Panel determined that it is for the Streetscene Panel to scrutinise these matters if it considers it necessary to do so and to refer any relevant policy or enforcement matters that arise to the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel for review. It was therefore agreed that this item be removed from the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel’s priorities.

It was noted that some of the CCTV analysis element of the Scrutiny Priority in respect of the approach to Community Safety was covered by the presentation given at item 8 of the agenda.