Meeting Details

There were none.

Councillor A Wood declared an interest as a Governor of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

Maldon District Councillor N Pudney declared an interest as a semi-retired Nurse and elected representative on the Members Board at Broomfield Hospital.

Councillor A Brown declared an interest as the ECC representative on the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

Councillor J Beavis declared an interest as the ECC representative on the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Committee noted the new membership of the Committee as set out in the report (HOSC/20/2017), and welcomed Tony Durcan, Neil Pudney and Vic Ranger as the new co-opted non-voting District Councillors.

Members noted that a nominated representative from Brentwood Borough Council was still being sought.

The Committee acknowledged that Councillor Anne Brown would be replacing Councillor Jeff Henry on the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee once the Council procedural formalities had been completed.

At the invitation of the Chairman, nominations for the two Vice-Chairman posts were received.

Having been nominated by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Chandler, Councillor Jo Beavis was appointed as a Vice-Chairman for the 2017-18 municipal year.

Having been nominated by Councillor Sargeant and seconded by Councillor Wood, Councillor Dave Harris was appointed as a Vice-Chairman for the 2017-18 municipal year.

Members received a report (HOSC/21/17) setting out the Terms of Reference and Membership as approved at the meeting of the Full Council on 16 May 2017.

Members noted the report.

The Committee received a report (HOSC/22/17) which provided an update on Essex HOSC appointments from its membership to other bodies.

The Committee noted that Councillors Erskine (representing People and Families Scrutiny Committee), Harris, Sargeant and Wood were the nominated representatives on the Essex and Suffolk Joint Health and Scrutiny Committee for the Suffolk and North East Essex Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP).  The Chairman asked Members to notify Christine Sharland, Scrutiny Officer, if they were interested in being a substitute as two were needed, and Councillor Anne Brown's expression of interest was welcomed.

In response to a question regarding the Committee's relationship with West Essex/Herts, Graham Hughes, former Scrutiny Officer to the HOSC, reported that there was no joint HOSC in the West, Mid or South of the County as there had been very little appetite to engage.  As a result of particular concerns expressed regarding West Essex, the Committee agreed that the Chairman would write to the Herts HOSC to encourage them to work jointly.

The Committee also noted that Councillor A Wood would continue as the HOSC representative on the Harlow Princess Alexandra Hospital Oversight Group.

Ms Jan Plummer indicated that she had two questions in relation to Sustainability Transformation Plans (STPs), and although this was not a topic for consideration at the meeting she was invited to ask these by the Chairman.  The questions were as follows:

"1.  I live in Colchester, how will ECC provide adequate opportunities for members, as well as the public, to scrutinise the NE Essex/Suffolk STPs?

2.  In view of how the STPs will radically transform the NHS itself as an institution, as well as most individual services to the public, what public consultation will there be on the STP as a whole item - rather than piece by piece?"

The Chairman thanked Ms Plummer and indicated that she would receive a written response to her questions.

The Committee received a report (HOSC/23/17) which listed the scheduled HOSC activity dates for the 2017-18 municipal year.  Members were reminded to block out whole days in their diaries.

The report was noted.

The Committee noted that the next activity day would take place at 9.30 am on Wednesday 26 July 2017, in Committee Room 1 at County Hall.  The Chairman confirmed that there would not be a formal meeting open to the public that day.

Councillors Chandler, Egan and Wood indicated that they would not be able to attend the next activity day on 26 July.