Councillor Shaw to move:
The County Council regrets the failure of the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee on 25 July 2017 to be seen to scrutinise the decision of NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group to close community hospital beds in Honiton, Okehampton, Seaton and Whipton, especially in the light of the subsequent urgent recommendation by the head of the NHS in England, Simon Stevens, which is supported by evidence from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the King’s Fund, that more beds need be made available for the coming winter.
Noting also the Standards Committee’s conclusion that events at the Scrutiny Committee meeting ‘may not reflect well on individual members of the Council or upon the Council as a whole’, its recommendations for the Committee’s Chair and its general recommendations to both members and chairs of Scrutiny Committees, the County Council therefore;
1. requests the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise those issues identified by the County Solicitor in her paper for 25 July which were not directly and fully addressed at the Scrutiny Committee in that meeting;
2. consistent with the Council’s ‘community champion’ role, alerts the Secretary of State to the strength of feeling in the locality at the overall STP process throughout the County and the significant numbers of objections made by the public to the CCG's proposals and that in the interests of democracy and democratic accountability he might wish to satisfy himself that all relevant process were properly undertaken and assessed and that the CCGs subsequent decisions are supported by the evidence; and
3. welcomes the agreement of the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee to examine, subject to the advice of the County Solicitor, means of safeguarding community hospital buildings throughout Devon as facilities for the provision of place-based health services.
Minutes:
The Chair of the Council MOVED and the Vice-Chair SECONDED that in accordance with Standing Order 6(6), the following Notice of Motion be considered at this meeting.
The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
Councillor Shaw then MOVED and Councillor Wright SECONDED
The County Council regrets the failure of the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee on 25 July 2017 to be seen to scrutinise the decision of NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group to close community hospital beds in Honiton, Okehampton, Seaton and Whipton, especially in the light of the subsequent urgent recommendation by the head of the NHS in England, Simon Stevens, which is supported by evidence from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the King’s Fund, that more beds need be made available for the coming winter.
Noting also the Standards Committee’s conclusion that events at the Scrutiny Committee meeting ‘may not reflect well on individual members of the Council or upon the Council as a whole’, its recommendations for the Committee’s Chair and its general recommendations to both members and chairs of Scrutiny Committees, the County Council therefore;
1. requests the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise those issues identified by the County Solicitor in her paper for 25 July which were not directly and fully addressed at the Scrutiny Committee in that meeting;
2. consistent with the Council’s ‘community champion’ role, alerts the Secretary of State to the strength of feeling in the locality at the overall STP process throughout the County and the significant numbers of objections made by the public to the CCG's proposals and that in the interests of democracy and democratic accountability he might wish to satisfy himself that all relevant process were properly undertaken and assessed and that the CCGs subsequent decisions are supported by the evidence; and
3. welcomes the agreement of the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee to examine, subject to the advice of the County Solicitor, means of safeguarding community hospital buildings throughout Devon as facilities for the provision of place-based health services.
Councillor Hart then MOVED and Councillor Twiss SECONDED that the Motion be amended by the insertion of words and deletion of words as detailed below and the subsequent renumbering of paragraphs 1 – 3 (italics denoting additional text).
Thatthe County Council notes that the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee heldon the 25th of July 2017, within its clearly defined role as a ‘critical friend’, has extensively considered the issues and concerns from members of the public, elected members and others, including medical professionals, all matters relating to the closure of some community hospital beds in Honiton, Okehampton, Seaton and Whipton.
The Council recognises, and fully welcomes the cross-party and Independent persons standards committee report, which concluded unanimously that there was no breach in the members code of conduct.
1. The County Council therefore, consistent with the councils ‘community champion’ role, sends a letter to the Secretary of State for Health, (together with copies to all Devon M.P.s), seeking reassurance that appropriate funding is provided by government to deliver the necessary health and social care services in Devon, recognising that this must be within a clear and proven, evidencebased and tested Sustainable Transformation Plan, and due regard is taken that many parts of Devon are ‘truly rural’, with an ageing population needing more services, more often and sometimes for longer.
2. That the County Council also welcomes the resolution of the health and adult care scrutiny committee, held on the 21st of September 2017, thatadvicebe sought in terms of the legal position, in securing the interest ofbuildings,contributions or legacies left to community groups, and other benefactors.
Councillor Twiss MOVED and Councillor Hart SECONDED that, in accordance with Standing Order 32, the vote on the Amendment in the name of Councillor Hart shall be by a roll call vote.
The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
The Amendment was then put to the vote and there being:
For the amendment - Councillors Ball, Barker, Berry, Bloxham, Brook, Channon, Chubb, Chugg, Clatworthy, Colthorpe, Croad, Davis, Eastman, Edgell, Gilbert, Gribble, Hart, Hawkins, Hellyer, Hosking, Hughes, Inch, Leadbetter, Mathews, McInnes, Parsons, Peart, Prowse, Randall-Johnson, Radford, Russell, Sanders, Saywell, Scott, Sellis, Slade, Squires, Trail, Twiss and Yabsley (Total 40);
Against the amendment - Councillors Asvachin, Aves, Biederman, Brazil, Brennan, Brodie, Connett, Dewhirst, Greenslade, Hall, Hannaford, Hodgson, Shaw, Way, Whitton and Wright (Total: 16);
The Amendment in the name of Hart was declared CARRIED.
Councillor Wright then MOVED and Councillor Hodgson SECONDED that the Motion be amended by the insertion of words and deletion of words as follows;
Deletion of the words ‘seeking reassurance’ in paragraph 1 and then the addition of the words ‘requesting a review by the independent reconfiguration panel of the evidence and process associated with the bed closures at Seaton, Whipton, Honiton and Okehampton hospitals. Also, (and then the continuation of paragraph 1)
Councillor Biederman MOVED and Councillor Connett SECONDED that, in accordance with Standing Order 32, the vote on the Amendment in the name of Councillor Wright shall be by a roll call vote.
The Motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.
The Amendment in the name of Councillor Wright was put to the vote and declared LOST.
The Motion in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.