To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 10 November 2016.

The Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 10 November 2016 were approved as a correct record.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Chair agreed to a matter arising concerning Domiciliary Care to be presented. Roger Harris, Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health, stated that an external service provider of domiciliary care had been identified as being in a fragile state and was being closely monitored. To ensure the sustainability of the service, intervention action may need to be undertaken by the Council.

Cabinet agreed on the 21 January 2017 to the new service model for domiciliary care in Thurrock and the procurement of the new service had commenced.

Roger Harris agreed to provide regular updates to Members.

The Chair thanked Roger Harris and appreciated the feedback given.

Councillor Fish declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Item 6 – Fees and Charges Pricing Strategy 2017-18 as he was a holder of a Blue Badge.

No items were raised by Healthwatch.

Carl Tomlinson, Finance Manager, presented the report that set out the charges in relation to the services within the remit of the Children’s Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee from the 1 April 2017. This report would be presented to Cabinet in February 2017.

Carl Tomlinson referred Members to the appendix to the report that highlighted the proposed fees and charges in detail.

Councillor Fish asked whether the increase in charges had affected the attendance numbers at the Day Centres. Roger Harris stated that there had been no significant impact on attendance levels following the reduction from 6 to 3 day centres. There were now more sessions available and the services offered had increased. The charges were means tested and that few residents paid the full amount.

Councillor Collins asked the Officers to clarify what the community development charge entailed. Carl Tomlinson stated that this was the hire charges for the South Ockendon Centre.

Ian Evans stated that the Acts quoted in the Diversity and Equality Implications section of the report were incorrect as those Acts were replaced by The Equality Act 2010. The Chair requested that the Democratic Services Officer updated the author of these implications.

RESOLVED

1.         That the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the revised fees and charges proposals.

2.         That the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee comment on the proposals currently being considered within the remit of this committee.

Carl Tomlinson left the committee room at 7.15 pm.

Les Billingham, Head of Adult Services, presented the report and stated that Thurrock had historically responded well to the challenges faced but it was becoming increasingly difficult to manage demand and the increasing complexity of that demand.  The Building Positive Futures programme was launched in 2012 to respond to the “ageing well” agenda. The new programme Living Well in Thurrock took stock of what was achieved as part of the Building Positive Futures and refreshed the vision for the future. The new programme presented an integrated vision alongside Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group and aimed to support people to achieve fulfilled lives. The vision and supporting programme recognised the need for a system wide approach and the importance of focusing on preventing reducing and delaying the need for health and care services.

The new programme focused on the following three inter-dependent elements:

•           Stronger communities

•           Housing and the Built Environment

•           A “whole system” approach to Health and Social Care

Les Billingham briefly summarised the challenges faced by Adult Social Care nationally, the success stories and the steps being taken to develop and deliver Living Well in Thurrock.

Councillor Collins referred to the black alert at Basildon Hospital over the Christmas period and asked if this was due to more people living in Thurrock. Les Billingham stated that there was no single factor responsible for the increase but there was a massive demand for acute services which was also related to primary care and under-doctoring in Thurrock. Les Billingham briefly explained the complex picture of the demand going up but stated that Thurrock was currently holding the line in coping with the increases.

Councillor Collins asked for specific details on the complexity of cases. Les Billingham stated that each complexity had its own challenges but could include people living longer with disabilities and living longer with common conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetics, mental health and loneliness.

Members and Officers had a brief discussion on using the Dutch Buurtzorg model to create a sustainable model for the future of domiciliary care in Thurrock.

Councillor Fish thanked Les Billingham for the report and was pleased with progress but asked what could be done to influence changes in culture. Less Billingham stated that changes would include working with communities on the stronger communities agenda.

Councillor Watkins asked the Officers for clarification on what Time Banking was. Les Billingham explained that this was a scheme run by the Voluntary Sector that enabled people to share their time with others – for example carryout out gardening for someone who required it. The hours given would then be banked and could be drawn upon by those who had earned them. Compared to other local authorities, Thurrock was excelling with over 13,000 hours banked.

Councillor Watkins asked Officers for an update on Shared Lives. Les Billingham stated that a provider had only just been appointed and that the recruitment of a local manager was underway and was pleased that two national leading organisations had put in submissions.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Roger Harris, Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health, presented the same report that was presented to Cabinet on the 11 January 2017 and explained to members that due to the urgent nature of this item it was not possible to bring to the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee prior to the Cabinet meeting.

Roger Harris explained that a serious situation had arisen in October last year which could have resulted in the closure of the East Tilbury Medical Centre. This potential closure would have had a massive impact on already under doctored areas such as East Tilbury, Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope. Roger Harris further explained that following pressure from the Council, the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Healthwatch and the Patients Participation Group at the surgery, NHS England (NHSE) withdrew its decision to disperse the list to allow for further time to consider the future of the practice and in particular ownership of the building. The Council played a leading role in trying to resolve the situation and following discussions with the receiver and NHS England over the future for the practice it is proposed that the Council enter into discussions with the receiver with a view to purchasing the property to secure essential primary care services in this part of Thurrock.

The Appendix 2 to the report was Exempt and would be discussed separately from this report.

The Chair thanked Roger Harris for the report on such an important issue. No Members had any comments or questions on this report.

RESOLVED

That the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee commented on the recommendations below that were submitted to Cabinet on the 11 January 2017:

1.         The purchase of the freehold interest of the East Tilbury Medical Centre at 85 Coronation Avenue, East Tilbury on the terms and conditions as outlined in the confidential Appendix and with the final terms and conditions being delegated for agreement by the Corporate Director of Environment and Place and the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder.

2.         That the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to complete any legal documentation to give effect thereto.

3.         That the property be leased to an appropriate primary care provider on terms to be agreed.

The Chair asked Members if there were any items to be added or discussed for the work programme for the remainder of the municipal year:

RESOLVED

1.         It was noted that the item Success Regime be removed from the work programme and be added for items for the 2017-18 municipal year work programme.

2.         It was noted that the item Update on Collins House be added to the work programme for March 2017 committee.

3.         It was noted that the item Learning Disability Health Checks be added to the work programme for March 2017 committee.

There were no Member comments on this Exempt paper.