Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs P M Bryant and Miss T G Harper.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel held on 05 March 2019.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 05 March 2019 be signed and confirmed as a correct record.

The Chairman reminded Members that discussion took place at the last meeting in respect of the Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order which was approved by the Executive on 04 March 2019.  Members were invited to bring forth to Officers any other areas across the Borough that would benefit from inclusion within the Order. 

The Chairman also announced that the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has declined the invitation put forward to him to attend a future meeting of the Panel to answer Members’ questions on policing matters.  The invitation has been declined on the basis that scrutiny of the PCC is undertaken by the Police and Crime Panel and as Fareham Borough Council is represented on the Panel by Councillor Cartwright, there is no obligation for him to undertake additional scrutiny.

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.

The Chairman declared a personal, non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 8 – Air Quality Report as he is an employee of the First Bus Company.  He remained in the room and took part in the discussion.

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 fall 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 items of business discharged by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel.

Points for clarification were raised and discussed by Members in respect of this item.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE, addressed the Panel on this item.

Points for clarification were raised and discussed in respect of this item.

There were no points for clarification raised by Members in respect of this item.

There were no points for clarification raised by Members in respect of this item.

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 Health 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

Councillor Cartwright announced that the next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will take place on 5 July 2019 and that Members will raise concern at the meeting that the increase in the number of police officers on the streets has fallen far short of the number that was expected by the Panel when it agreed to the increase in the precept earlier this year.

Members enquired whether there is any evidence to suggest that there has been an increase in crime as a result of the decision by Hampshire County Council to introduce part night lighting operations in some residential areas of the Borough. Councillor Cartwright responded to say that he is not aware of any increase, that the initiative is very new and that statistics will probably be made available in due course.

Councillor Cartwright reported on the special CAT meeting that took place recently in response to concerns raised by residents and local businesses about drug use and rough sleeping in the town centre.  He advised Members that the Partnership Action Group (PAG) meets regularly to discuss how collaborative working between Partnership Agencies can tackle antisocial behaviour and community safety matters. PAG are already aware of, and working on, many of the issues that were raised at the CAT meeting but are often not able to publicise some of the more confidential aspects of their work. 

Local Strategic Health issues

Councillor Cartwright gave an update to Members on the various Health related Panels that he sits on and advised Members that due to concerns about the lack of statutory duties of some of the panels and the relevance of issues they discuss he intends to meet with Officers to discuss which of the Panels he should continue to attend.

Councillor Cartwright went on to report that he attends meetings every three months with Mark Cubban at QA hospital.  Updates on the outcomes of these meetings are given at full Council meetings for Members information. Generally, the hospital is doing well although the issues in A and E still require resolution.  As Members are aware, funding has been secured to significantly extend A & E provision at the hospital and, in time, this will help to resolve many of the outstanding issues. 

Councillor Cartwright advised that he also attends the Fareham Locality Patient Group meetings that are held every 3 months at Fareham Community Hospital. A wide range of partnership agencies attend the meeting where information is discussed and shared on local issues. Issues discussed at the last meeting surrounded the continued under-utilisation of the hospital.  A new working group will be set up to look at how this can be improved.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provides an update on Air Quality Directions received from Central Government in response to the submission of the Air Quality Plan and outlines details of the funding allocated to implement the directives.

The Panel received a presentation and considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health which provided an update on Air Quality Directions received from Central Government in response to the submission of the Air Quality Plan and outlined details of the funding allocated to implement the directives.  A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes as Appendix A.

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel notes the ongoing work in respect of improving air quality in Fareham.

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

The Panel considered the priorities for inclusion in the scoping report that will accompany an invitation to the Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group Community Engagement Committee to attend a future meeting of the Panel.

Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection addressed the Executive on this item.

Mental health issues were considered to be the main priority at present and Members requested that the scoping report be prepared to ask what is being done in Fareham to address mental health provision and to ascertain where enquiries and concerns can be referred in the event that members encounter or identify someone in need of mental health support. 

It was agreed that the scoping report would be drafted and brought to the next meeting for Members approval.

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

The Panel considered the priorities for inclusion in the scoping report that will accompany an invitation to Hampshire Constabulary to attend a future meeting of the Panel.

Response times, attendance at incidents and clarification on which incidents are regarded to be a priority were considered to be the key issues at present. Members requested that these be used to prepare a draft scoping report for approval at the next meeting.

Members enquired whether information regarding crime rates across the wards is available. It was agreed that Officers would source and provide this information if it is available.

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.

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

Following discussion, it was felt that issues relating to Community Safety and Enforcement are key priorities for the Panel to address and it was agreed that a scoping report could be brought to the October meeting of the Panel to show what the new Opportunities Plan Team that is led by the Head of Finance and Audit could be covering in connection with Community Safety.