Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Health Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 19 January 2021 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Democratic Services Officer made reference to a document entitled ‘the scrutiny perspective on the Government’s health and care White Paper’, as produced by the Deputy Chief Executive of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) on 19 February 2021.

The document summarised a number of key points in respect of the governments recently published Heath and Care White Paper, and those most pertinent to the future role of Health Scrutiny in the new accountability arrangements. It was highlighted that in the White Paper a proposal had been forward to place Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) on a statutory footing, as well as to make a range of structural, and other changes, at place and neighbourhood level. In the future significant power and responsibility would rest at the system level – the level at which statutory integrated care systems (ICSs) would operate.

The most significant proposal in respect of changes to local scrutiny arrangements was the removal of the power of referral the Secretary of State – a vital longstop which was central to local accountability of health services.

The Democratic Services Officer advised that if the Secretary of State did consider that the proposals for enhanced intervention should be taken forward, the CfGS had made the point that these should be complemented by evidence-gathering and scrutiny arrangements at a local level – and that it should not be a case of either/or. The CfGS did not consider that national and local systems of accountability were in tension. In fact there were a number of areas where local accountability, through health scrutiny, could sit in support of national accountability with the Secretary of State.

It was noted that the North East Regional Scrutiny Network, was scheduled to meet on 26 March 2021 and a representative from the CfGS would be in attendance at that meeting to discuss the White Paper and the future of health scrutiny. Members expressed the view that it was imperative representatives from the Panel were in attendance to provide details on the importance that the role of the referral route had played locally in safeguarding service provision.   

AGREED that representatives from the panel attend the forthcoming Regional Scrutiny Network meeting to ensure Middlesbrough’s comments on the proposals in the White Paper were included in any representation put forward by the CfPS nationally.

The panel is requested to consider the findings of the Northern Health Science Alliance’s report ‘Health for Wealth’ when establishing its terms of reference for its current review on this topic.

The Democratic Services Officer advised that following on from the February meeting of the panel, at which the Council’s Public Health and Business Programme Manager had provided a setting the scene presentation on the topic of Inclusive growth – alignment of town regeneration and health goals – ‘Health for Wealth’ a draft scrutiny issues that had been raised by Members during discussed.

The document was presented to the panel and contained draft proposals in respect of the purpose of scrutiny panel investigation, desired outcomes, suggested terms of reference, information and sources, possible witnesses and key research and consultation documents in relation to the topic. Numerous suggestions were put forward for incorporation into the proposal including:-

·         In terms of gathering evidence of best practice Ayreshire, Preston and Plymouth were regarded as exemplars in this field.

·         Chris Thomas / Anna Round at the Institute for Public Research had recently produced a research paper on Economic Prosperity and how it linked to Public Health and may be prepared to act as expert witnesses in respect of this topic. 

·         Dr Peter Haywood (PCN Clinical Lead) at Holgate Primary Care Network (PCN) was referenced as a further key point of contact for this review. 

·         The importance of involving the Director of Education and Partnership, the Director of Regeneration and the Community Learning and Employability Manager in the review was emphasised. 

AGREED that the further suggestions put forward by the panel be incorporated within the investigation outline document and the following terms of reference for the topic of Inclusive Growth – alignment of town regeneration and health goals ‘Health for Wealth’ be approved:-

a)    To develop a thorough understanding of local issues and the challenges and levers to inclusive economic growth

b)    To examine how the local authority can work in partnership with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to design a local economy that is good for people’s health including rebuilding an economy that takes stock of the lessons learnt from COVID-19

c)    To examine how the local authority can capitalise on key assets including anchor institutions to shape economic conditions

d)    To ensure services are delivered that meet people’s economic and health needs together.

The panel is requested to consider an update on the work recently undertaken by the following regional Joint Health Scrutiny Committee:-

A verbal update was provided in relation to the business conducted at the Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee held on 19 March 2021, as follows:-

· Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust: Our Big Conversation – Draft Strategic Framework – Discussion with Brent Kilmurray (Chief Executive)

· Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust: Community Mental Health Service Framework & Developments in Mental Health Urgent Care Services - Maxine Crutwell (Programme Lead)

· Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust: Quality Accounts Update – Presentation from Dr Chris Lanigan (Head of Planning & Business Development)

· Work Programme and Future Meetings

AGREED that the update provided be noted.

The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 11 March 2021.

A verbal update was provided in relation to the business conducted at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 11 March 2021, as follows:-

· Executive Forward Work Programme.

· Middlesbrough Council’s Response to Covid-19 Response – Chief Executive & Director of Public Health.

· Executive Member update – The Mayor

· Final Report – Economic Development & Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel – Pest Control

· Final Report – Health Scrutiny Panel – Opioid Dependency: What happens next?

· OSB Call-in outcome – Nunthorpe Grange Farm Disposal

· Scrutiny Panel Chairs’ Updates.

AGREED that the information provided be noted.