To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 January 2018 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 January 2018 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest and of any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

Cllr Mark Versallion declared an interest at item 11 and Item 13 in his role as a Non-Executive Director of the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

Cllr Paul Duckett declared at interest in his role as a pat time domiciliary care worker.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman advised the Committee of recent news and events that included:-

·         An fundraising campaign initiative launched by Ampthill Pubs to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer.

·         A Member Briefing on Friday 23 March on Planning for an ageing population.

·         The next Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 26 March 2018 would look at access to GP surgeries and Mental Health Services across the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Sustainable and Transformation Partnership (STP).

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

None.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

None.

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to this Committee for review in accordance with Part 4D of the Constitution. 

None.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member in accordance with Part 4D of the Constitution.

None.

To receive a brief verbal update from the Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Housing Operations (HRA).

The Committee also requested an updated from the new Executive Member for Assets and Housing Development on his vision for the future of housing development.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Housing Operations (HRA) advised the Committee that the Community Health contract process had been completed and ELFT would run the service.

There was a growing concern that those residents registering themselves as homeless were perceived to be rough sleepers.  The Executive Member explained the number of rough sleepers in Central Bedfordshire was low.  The mounting numbers of homeless households included families and single people who had been evicted by private landlords or victims of unfortunate circumstances. 

In response a Member raised his concern on the distinction between the intentional and unintentional homelessness categories that had disappeared under  the new Homelessness Reduction Act.  The Director advised this view was not correct and would reissue the Member Briefing explaining the new rules. 

The Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery advised Members of his new role that included property and asset management and the delivery of new homes including independent living accommodation, accommodation for those with learning disabilities and the vulnerable amongst others. The struggle to provide sufficient new and affordable new homes is well documented and the new Executive Member advised of the number of initiatives to increase them.  Members would receive a regular Executive Member update at future meetings.

A Member, in his role as Corporate Parent, congratulated the Executive Member, on the provision of accommodation for vulnerable groups and particularly the young. The Committee supported the proposal that pressure be brought to bear on developers to bring sites with planning permission forward for development.  The Committee were advised that proposed new legislation would help the Council to enforce this proposal.

To receive a verbal update on the performance of the East of England Ambulance Services Trust.

The Chairman welcomed Simon King and Liz McEwan from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust who delivered a presentation on the performance of the Ambulances Service (EEAST).  Bedfordshire continued to be the best performing area in the East of England, however, the Trust was not complacent and had undertaken a number of initiatives to improve performance including the handover of patients at A&E.  Bedfordshire hospitals were the best performing hospitals in the region.

The EEAST had recently been awarded the contract for the Non-Emergency Passenger Transport Service (NEPT) on 1 January 2018.  The Trust had undertaken the service  temporarily from September 2017 when the previous provider was unable to fulfil its contract.  Staff TUPED over to the Trust had undertaken a programme of training and development.

The pressure experienced by NEPT centred around the delay in discharges from hospitals.  A Transport Coordinator had been appointed to help the flow of patients out of hospitals.

A Member had received many positive comments from residents regarding the new arrangements and looked forward to an update in six months on the development of the NEPT contract by EEAST.

Members congratulated the Ambulance service on its continued excellent performance in Central Bedfordshire.

RECOMMENDED the Committee:-

1.    Welcomed the positive presentation.

2.    Welcomed good hospital turnaround times at Bedford Hospital and the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, amongst the best in the region.

3.    While recognising the inter relationship between the service and hospitals, looks to see a reduction in the number of hours lost in excess handover time.

4.    Following the changes in the Non-Emergency Transport Service, looks to see how well the service is performing with a report back for its September meeting.

To receive an update on:-

·         The Sustainable and Transformation Partnership and

·         The proposed merger of Bedford and the Luton and Dunstable Hospitals

The Director of Social Care Health and Housing introduced a report that brought together all initiatives and activities connected to the Sustainable and Transformation Partnership (STP) in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) and the Better Care Fund (BCF).

The report set out the five priorities of the STP and the key initiatives in each priority.  The delays in the merger of Bedford and the Luton and Dunstable Hospitals were noted and the Committee would be advised of any developments.

The Director identified key projects within the Central Bedfordshire area to be monitored by the Central Bedfordshire Transformation Board that included:-

·         The development of an Integrated Care System (formerly Accountable Care System) for STP BLMK for which BLMK was a national leader.

·         System reengineering that would deliver joint commissioning of Health and Social Care services.

·         Out of hospital care and research into non-elective admissions.

·         Support in care homes and digitalisation of care records.

·         The development of the Village Care Schemes and social prescribing.

A Member acknowledged the good work being undertaken within Priority 3, Sustainable Secondary Care, but had been disappointed by the news of the delays in the Hospitals merger.  It was proposed that pressure be brought to bear on the Government to expedite the merger.

It was further proposed that work and additional funding provided to Houghton Regis to improve health inequalities to help the community care for themselves and this be communicated to other Town and Parishes Councils.  The Assistant Director for Public Health welcomed the approach taken in Houghton Regis and would investigate how best to inform Town and Parish Councils.

RECOMMENDED the Committee:-

·         Looks forward to learning about the further emerging benefits to Central Bedfordshire through the integrated care system and STP.

·         Expressed its disappointment on the news that the business plan to merge Bedford and Luton and Dunstable Hospitals, which serve many residents of Central Bedfordshire, had been put back.

·         Expects concerned parties to bring the necessary pressure on Central Government to be able to provide a positive update to the Committee.

To consider and comment on the outcome of the consultation into the future of Westlands Older Persons Home in Leighton Buzzard and make recommendations to a future meeting of the Executive.

The Head of Service for MANOP introduced a report that set out the consultation process that had been undertaken into the future of Westlands Older Persons Home, including the options proposed, the replies received and the Council’s response to these.  The Council’s preferred option stated in the consultation was to re-provide the capacity at a new purpose-built facility nearby.  The Council had acquired land in Hockliffe Road, Leighton Buzzard for this purpose and was approaching the market to deliver a new home on the site.  The report also contained an update on this process and how the outcome of the consultation and the outcomes of the procurement would be connected.

Because of this, the proposal for residents of Westlands Older Persons Home differed from previous proposals as decisions on the future of the home would be made over a year before a replacement home was ready.

There had been consideration of the suggestions made by some residents, families and staff to refurbish or rebuild the current facility, however, it was considered this was not a viable option because of the significant investment required and disruptive effect on residents.  When a new home is nearing completion, staff would be consulted on the options available to them.  The MANOP Team had used all its learning from previous care re-provisions in the current process.  A ‘You Tube’ video featuring the support, commitment to residents and life for residents in a new facility had been well received.

A Member considered the new site lacked the outlook over the park and closeness to the amenities of the town centre that the Westlands Home site enjoyed and supported the redevelopment of this facility. The MANOP Head of Service advised that few residents were able to leave the home and make use of the surrounding amenities and that the modern facilities and daytime activites on the new site would be of more benefit.

The consensus was to support the proposal that would see better facilities for residents and new day facilities.

RECOMMENDED the Committee:-

1.    Recognised the comments of residents and relatives and the Committee is also aware of the need to modernise our care homes.  It also had regard to the management of the re-provision process including the way in which close contract and communication was made with residents, relatives and staff and the lessons learnt from past closures.

2.    Is of the opinion that the Council should move ahead with the proposal to build a new modern home being the best option taking account of professional advice.

3.    Notes the day facilities to be integrated into a new home.

4.    Expects the Council to keep in close contact with residents, relatives and staff as the process develops.

To receive and comment on the Enquiry Report into the Integration of Health and Social Care in Central Bedfordshire and support the recommendations to Executive.

The Chairman of Social Care Health and Housing introduced the Integration of Health and Social Care Enquiry Report Phase II that further evidenced the areas of good practice and new models of care around the country that had led to the original recommendations provided to the Executive.

It was evident that no one area matched the proposals put forward for Central Bedfordshire but there had been considerable evidence towards the development of Community hubs,

The Chairman and Members of the Enquiry Team welcomed the opportunity of  live learning connected to the Enquiry and the Chairman thanked Members for their involvement.

A Member requested that a new name be found for the report before it was submitted to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED the Enquiry Report, with a new title, be submitted to the Executive for adoption.

The report provides Memebrs with details of the currently drafted Committee work programme and the latest Executive Forward Plan.

RECOMMENDED that the work programme be agreed subject to the inclusion of an update on the Non-Emergency Passenger Transport Service in September 2018.