Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Family & People Services Policy & Scrutiny Committee.

1.1       Nominations for the post of Chairman were invited. One nomination was received and seconded. There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Jonathan Glanz be appointed Chairman of the Family and People Services Policy and Scrutiny Committee.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of any personal or prejudicial interests in matters on this agenda.

2.1       Councillor Butler-Thalassis declared that she worked for an organisation, which was partly funded by the NHS Central London CCG.

2.2      Councillor Dean declared that she worked for the City of Westminster College as a teaching assistant to young people and adults with learning difficulties.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Adults & Health Policy & Scrutiny Committee on 9 April 2018.  

RESOLVED:

3.1      That the Minutes of the Adults and Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 9 April 2018 be approved, subject to the following revisions:

            i)          Cabinet Member Update

Minute 4.3: That the paragraph be amended to read: “..the City Council had been working with schools, hospitals and businesses to reduce sales and availability of high sugar soft drinks.”

ii)         Soho Square GP Practice

Minute 6.4: That the number of GP practices in Westminster be amended to read 54.

Minute 6.6: That the first sentence be amended to read “…despite invitations from the Committee…”

iii)        Committee Work Programme

Minute 9.2: That the first sentence be amended to read “…the next meeting in June should focus on a report by the Cabinet Member on key issues within the service area and Cabinet Member portfolio…”

3.2       Matters Arising

Councillor McAllister requested an update on the methods of ordering repeat prescriptions in order to try and reduce waste. Councillor Acton advised that the situation had improved due to a new, more proactive, NHS policy regarding repeat prescriptions, which was currently being implemented by the CCG. A leaflet distributed by the CCG to GP practices regarding the new protocols around repeat prescriptions would be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.

To receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Family & People Services on the following:

1)    A summary of the service areas

2)    Cabinet Member priorities for the year ahead; and

3)    Any key service updates/issues

4.1      As this was the first meeting of the Family and People Services Policy and Scrutiny Committee, the Members and Officers provided a brief overview of their roles at the Council and any particular areas of interest they had within the Committee’s remit. The Chairman requested that a paper be circulated to all Members confirming the Committee’s terms of reference along with a list detailing the acronyms most regularly used within the Family and People Services portfolio.

4.1      Councillor Heather Acton (Cabinet Member for Family Services and Public Health), provided a briefing on key issues within her portfolio and advised of the significant work that had been undertaken with schools and dentists in regards to improving oral healthcare within Westminster. The Committee also heard from Melissa Caslake (Bi-Borough Executive Director of Childrens Services), Bernie Flaherty (Bi-Borough Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Health), Mike Robinson (Director of Public Health), Chris Greenway (Bi-Borough Director of Integrated Commissioning), Senel Arkut (Director of Health Partnerships), Annabelle Saunders (Assistant Director for Commissioning and Innovation) and Miranda Gittos (Director of Family Services).

4.2      The Committee was interested to learn about the implementation of the Genito Urinary Medicine service and its new e-based operating system. It was pleased to note that the model ensured that those needing an appointment could be seen more promptly but queried how it had impacted on the service overall. Councillor Acton explained that it was likely that there would some resistance from patients to the new method of working; however, the new model would be phased in over the next nine months and was expected to have a positive effect on the service. Numbers of patients using the new e-based system had significantly increased and rates of sexually transmitted diseases throughout Westminster had reduced, although it was acknowledged that as yet it was unknown if this was due to the new system.

4.3      The Committee requested further information on the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children within Westminster. The Committee was informed that the Council was currently supporting a total of 67 which was 39 over its threshold. One of the main reasons for this large number was that Westminster had various transport hubs located within it, for example Victoria Coach Station, and these areas were where many of the children arrived. The Committee noted that the number had recently remained steady with the introduction of a pan-London based system for placing the children and discussions with the Home Office regarding ways forward were ongoing. The Committee welcomed the suggestion to receive a more specific update on the issues involving unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

4.4      Members noted that the meals on wheels service would cease in April 2019 and were interested to learn what future delivery options were being considered. Councillor Acton explained that the service was currently being utilised by 200 people and the potential future service provision for these customers was being investigated. This included exploring alternative means of addressing loneliness amongst service users.

4.4      The Committee also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme for the 2018-19 municipal year, and to nominate representatives for the North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

9.1      Aaron Hardy (Policy and Scrutiny Manager) and Artemis Kassi (Policy & Scrutiny Officer) presented a report suggesting topics for the Committee to consider when deciding its 2018/19 work programme.

9.2      The Committee discussed the following potential future topics for inclusion on the 2018/19 work programme:

·                     Health Devolution;

·                     Governance in the North West London Health Service;

·                     Youth Violence (in conjunction with the City Management and Public Protection Committee);

·                     Community Independence Service;

·                     Adolescent Mental Health in the 21^st Century

·                     Review of WCC’s Dementia Policy;

·                     Care Home Improvement Plan;

·                     Childhood Obesity;

·                     Technology in Care; and

·                     Support for Addicts – with a focus on rough sleepers.

9.3      The Policy and Scrutiny Manager proposed to develop a draft work programme and scope out the areas of interest identified by the Committee. This would be circulated to members and officers shortly.

9.4      The Chairman informed the Committee that Scrutiny Members had previously undertaken visits to the London Ambulance Service and St Mary’s Hospital. If Members were interested in attending a visit the Scrutiny and Policy Officers would help assist in organising these.

9.5      A function of the Committee was to nominate one voting Member to sit on the North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (NWL JHOSC) of which Westminster City Council had been a member since its creation. As such, the Committee noted the NWL JOHSC’s proposed terms of reference and nominated Councillor Dean to be the Committee’s one voting member with Councillor Butler-Thalassis nominated as substitute member.

9.6       RESOLVED:

1)    That the proposed terms of reference for the North West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted; and

2)    Councillor Lorraine Dean be appointed Westminster City Council’s one voting Member on the North West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee with Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis appointed as substitute Member.

To consider any other business which the Chairman considers urgent.

10.1    Members wished to record their thanks to Andrew Palmer, who was retiring from the Council, for his contributions and work carried out in support of the Committee.