7
The Chairman ruled that the two Motions ‘Health’ and ‘NHS in Essex’ should be taken as one debate.
Councillors Abbott and Louis, having declared Code interests left the meeting during the consideration of the two motions.
Councillor Lodge declared a Code interest as a Governor of Cambridgeshire University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Health
It was moved by Councillor Butland and seconded by Councillor Naylor that:
‘This Council re-affirms its commitment to the next phase of integration of health and social care. It recognises the role Sustainability & Transformation Plans (STPs) could play in this.
The Council believes that STPs must be a genuine joint commitment between the NHS and local government. For this reason the County Council is disappointed that the geographical integrity of the County has been ignored by NHS England in establishing its national ‘footprints’. The unilateral decision of NHS England to include Essex in three STPs is regrettable and places an unreasonable burden on the authority.
Nevertheless, to protect the interests of its residents, the Council will work constructively with health partners providing that any proposals brought forward in the emerging STPs:
- are based on high quality care and improved clinical outcomes for patients and not merely financial expediency;
- address the issues of accessibility for patients and their families;
- take full account of the impact on both community and social care services;
- give an equal importance and parity of esteem to Mental Health services; and
- contain a genuine commitment to focus on preventive health services.
The Council will also press for there to be genuine consultation on any proposals and that patient need is put first, that decisions are taken in public and that appropriate joint governance arrangements are established.’
NHS in England
It was moved by Councillor Mackrory and seconded by Councillor Whitehouse that:
‘This Council notes with concern current pressures and challenges facing the NHS in Essex including:
- The "Success Regime" being implemented across most of Essex.
- The Care Quality Commission's assessments of hospitals serving Essex residents which identify three major hospitals serving Essex as ‘Inadequate’, one in ‘Special Measures’, six as ‘Requires Improvement’ and only two as ‘Good’.
- The decision of some Clinical Commissioning Groups to withdraw treatments/services previously available through the NHS.
- Increasing concern from residents about access to services including waiting times for GP appointments.
- Increasing demand for social care and the impact on the NHS when timely care is not available.
The Council notes the three Sustainable Transformation Plans covering Essex. Whilst welcoming the intention for greater collaboration across the NHS and Public Health, Council expresses it concerns about:
- The lack of public debate and consultation to inform the preparation of the STPs.
- The proposed downgrading of Accident and Emergency at Broomfield Hospital despite the proposed construction of thousands of dwellings within a ten mile radius of the hospital which will create extra demand and the additional distance ambulances will have to travel to Basildon carrying patients with life threatening conditions.
- The failure of Government to adequately fund the increasing demands on the NHS and Public Health.
Council therefore resolves to ask the Cabinet Member for Health to:
- Oppose the downgrading of Broomfield Hospital Accident and Emergency.
- Continue to play a full part in discussions about the health and social care system in Essex including through the Health and Wellbeing Board and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
- Ensure local members are briefed on the implications of the STPs for residents in their areas.
- Request the Leader of the Council to express these concerns formally to the Secretary of State for Health.’
The Motion moved by Councillor Butland and seconded by Councillor Naylor was put to the meeting and declared to be carried.
Prior to the Motion moved by Councillor Mackrory and seconded by Councillor Whitehouse being put, ten Members demanded a division by name by standing in their places.
The Motion having been put to the meeting it was declared to be lost by 24 votes for, 39 against and 1 abstention.
Those voting for the Motion were Councillors:
B Aspinell
|
F Ferguson
|
N Le Gresley
|
A Bayley
|
M Fisher
|
J Lodge
|
D Blackwell
|
D Harris
|
M Mackrory
|
K Bobbin
|
I Henderson
|
S Robinson
|
K Clempner
|
T Higgins
|
K Smith
|
M Danvers
|
M Hoy
|
A Turrell
|
J Deakin
|
J Huntman
|
J Whitehouse
|
T Durcan
|
D J Kendall
|
J Young
|
Those voting against the Motion were Councillors:
J F Aldridge
|
D Finch
|
J G Jowers
|
S Barker
|
R Gadsby
|
J Knapman
|
R L Bass
|
A Goggin
|
S Lissimore
|
K Bentley
|
R J Gooding
|
R A Madden
|
R G Boyce
|
I Grundy
|
M McEwen
|
A Brown
|
C Guglielmi
|
V Metcalfe
|
M Buckley
|
A M Hedley
|
A Naylor
|
G Butland
|
R Hirst
|
J M Reeves
|
S Canning
|
P Honeywood
|
C Seagers
|
J Chandler
|
R C Howard
|
K Twitchen
|
P Channer
|
N Hume
|
S Walsh
|
T Cutmore
|
A Jackson
|
R G Walters
|
A Erskine
|
E C Johnson
|
A Wood
|
Councillor C Pond abstained.
The two motions in which they had declared a Code Interest having been dealt with, Councillors Abbott and Louis re-joined the meeting.
Central Government Funding
It was moved by Councillor Danvers and seconded by Councillor Durcan that:
‘This Council is reminded of the words of the Leader, Councillor David Finch, when he remarked that local government is ‘not a reservoir that Whitehall can keep tapping’. This Council strongly supports and endorses these remarks, and further challenges the narrative that Essex County Council has been able to absorb excessive cuts without damaging the quality and reach of essential services delivered to residents across Essex.
This Council also notes with concern, evidence which suggests that it is the most vulnerable who have been the hardest hit, with those least able to cope bearing the brunt of cuts in Government funding. This continued strain on the Council’s limited finances is unsustainable, and raises questions about the scale and scope of future spending reductions. Essex County Council faces significant challenges moving forward, and will simply be left unable to provide for residents unless this authority receives reasonable support from Central Government - acknowledging the task ahead.
This Council therefore seeks cross-party endorsement, calling upon the administration to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on behalf of Essex residents, outlining concerns with the anticipated level of cuts and demand that greater financial provision be put in place to ensure that services meet the needs of residents, with the capacity to grow to meet future demand.’
It was moved by Councillor Finch and seconded by Councillor Buckley that the Motion be amended to read as follows:
‘This Council is reminded of the words of the Leader, Councillor David Finch, when he remarked that local government is “not a reservoir that Whitehall can keep tapping”. This Council strongly supports and endorses these remarks, and further recognises that Essex County Council has been able to absorb financial challenges without damaging the quality and reach of essential services delivered to residents across Essex.
This Council therefore seeks cross-party endorsement, calling upon the Leader to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on behalf of Essex residents, outlining concerns with the anticipated level of future budget reductions as an ongoing consequence of the Labour legacy, and urges that financial provision be put in place to ensure that services meet the needs of residents, with the capacity to grow to meet future demand.’
Prior to the amendment to the Motion being put, ten Members demanded a division by name by standing in their places.
The amendment to the Motion having been put to the meeting it was declared to be carried by 41 votes for, 18 against and 7 abstentions.
Those voting for the amendment to the Motion were Councillors:
J F Aldridge
|
R Gadsby
|
S Lissimore
|
S Barker
|
A Goggin
|
D Louis
|
R L Bass
|
R J Gooding
|
R A Madden
|
K Bentley
|
I Grundy
|
M McEwen
|
R G Boyce
|
C Guglielmi
|
V Metcalfe
|
A Brown
|
A M Hedley
|
A Naylor
|
M Buckley
|
R Hirst
|
J M Reeves
|
G Butland
|
P Honeywood
|
C Seagers
|
S Canning
|
R C Howard
|
K Smith
|
J Chandler
|
N Hume
|
K Twitchen
|
P Channer
|
A Jackson
|
S Walsh
|
T Cutmore
|
E C Johnson
|
R G Walters
|
A Erskine
|
J G Jowers
|
A Wood
|
D Finch
|
J Knapman
|
|
|
|
|
Those voting against the amendment to the Motion were Councillors:
J Abbott
|
T Durcan
|
D J Kendall
|
B Aspinell
|
M Fisher
|
M Mackrory
|
K Bobbin
|
D Harris
|
S Robinson
|
K Clempner
|
I Henderson
|
A Turrell
|
M Danvers
|
T Higgins
|
J Whitehouse
|
J Deakin
|
M Hoy
|
J Young
|
|
|
|
Those abstaining were Councillors:
A Bayley
|
J Huntman
|
C Pond
|
D Blackwell
|
N Le Gresley
|
|
F Ferguson
|
J Lodge
|
|
The amendment was declared to be carried and became the substantive Motion.
The substantive Motion having been put to the meeting was declared to be carried.