Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record and the attendance matrix be noted.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Director of Place Based Activity, North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and the Tees Valley Cancer Delivery Manager provided a presentation relating to targeted lung health checks and the Redcar Primary Care Hospital ‘spoke’ site of the Tees Valley Community Diagnostic Centre.

The following comments and questions were noted:

·       Committee was advised that potential locations for mobile CT scanners included Asda Skelton and Asda Redcar. Members were invited to suggest locations for consideration.

·       A Member asked for further information relating to lung cancer rates amongst non-smokers. Members were advised that this information would be shared in due course.

·       A Member asked if baseline data existed in terms of cancer incidents in Redcar & Cleveland, and if services were prioritised on this basis. Members were advised that services were prioritised where smoking was more prevalent. Further to this, North Tees Hospital was able to mobilise quickly.

·       Members were advised that smoking cessation services were commissioned via public health and were still a focus for health services. Northern Cancer Alliance will be working on smoking cessation issues later this year.

·       In relation to Redcar Primary Care Hospital proposed diagnostic facilities, Members welcomed measures that would reduce the pressure on access to James Cook University Hospital but asked that consideration of how the site is promoted is considered, with emphasis on the fact that it is not a ‘drop in’ centre.

·       Members were advised that additional funding to cover staffing and consumables costs would be provided. It was also noted that all new kit would be covered by a maintenance agreement and warranty. Specs for new equipment had been created alongside practitioners and  a team of medical engineers were available to maintain kit across the whole of the Tees Valley; NOTED.

The Independent Chair of Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board (TSAB) referred Members to the TSAB Annual Report for 2022/23, which provided an overview of safeguarding activity undertaken during this period. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to establish and participate in the running of a Safeguarding Adults Board, and the Teeswide board was unique in bringing together four different authorities in partnership.

Members noted that all four performance indicators for 2022/23 had been achieved, with identified strengths including robust partnership working, a successful training and engagement strategy and strong links to the Safeguarding Childrens Partnership. Challenges for the Board related to Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARS) and the growing complexity and volume of referrals.

The Independent Chair further referred to difficulties with data interpretation, particularly relating to what the trend of increased reporting of safeguarding issues. The following comments and questions were noted:

·       A Member asked about attendance and involvement of the partners, and Members were advised that there is excellent attendance for statutory partners, with other organisations more sporadic. Partnership working on Teesside was described as ‘strong’.

·       A member asked if there had been a national response to the “Molly” SAR, and Members were advised that issues of significance were raised via the SAR Escalation Protocol. Although significant change was not anticipated, a ‘marker’ had been placed for future national reference; NOTED.

Would Members please bring their copy of the Cabinet Workbook with them to the meeting (these papers will follow)

Eston Swimming Pool

The Executive Director, Adults and Communities, referred Members to the report regarding the development of an outline business case for a replacement 25-metre, six lane swimming pool in Eston. In October 2023, Cabinet agreed to extend the project to incorporate a separate learner pool, and Borough Council, at a meeting in November 2023, agreed to allocated additional prudential borrowing to finance the enhanced scheme.

Cllr Kay requested that the Scrutiny Committee formally recommend that Cabinet do not progress the double pool project, but instead revert to the original single pool scheme on the basis of the following:

·       Spending an extra £8m on the project is unwise in the current financial circumstances. This money will be sourced from borrowing, which will eventually impact on the capital and revenue budgets and potentially on Council tax levels.

·       Consultation was undertaken with the swimming club, who had proposed an alternative solution, which involved railing off the shallow end of the main pool to accommodate learners. A previously available learner pool was underutilised and there is no further evidence to suggest that this pool will be well used.

·       Other authorities are closing swimming pools, and, given that the Borough have four already, a fifth is not necessarily needed.

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Hannaway.

In response to the proposal, the following comments were noted:

·       The above approach is outdated, and the pool will provide much needed inclusiveness and opportunities for neurodiverse visitors.

·       The pool is needed as it will be based in an area of deprivation, thus offering opportunities for greater health equality.

Members were reminded that the decision to approve the project had been taken by Cabinet and Borough Council in 2023.

Following a vote, the proposed recommendation to Cabinet was not agreed, although it was decided that the Chair of Adults, Wellbeing & health Scrutiny & Improvement Committee should provide feedback to Cabinet outlining details of the discussion and presenting the differing views; NOTED.

South Tees Clean Air Strategy

The Principal Officer (Environmental Protection) referred Members to the report and the following comments were noted:

·       It was suggested that the title of the report (As Clean As It Can Be) did not reflect the aspirations of the Borough. A Member asked if there could be more reflection of data rather than a nebulous achievable position.

·       A Member asked what contributed most to pollution across the Borough, and Members were advised that, in areas where levels were highest, road traffic pollution was a factor. Industry was well-regulated and not a significant factor.

·       A member suggested that there should be more work done on the Local Plan to ‘design out’ pollution across the Borough; NOTED.

Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports

The Executive Director for Adults & Communities presented the report and explained that it fulfilled a statutory responsibility of the Council. A member commented that the strategy gives the Council leverage and an evidence base in the pursuance of future grant funding. The Committee welcomed the report; NOTED.

The Executive Director for Adults and Communities provided an update on the Adult Social Care Use of Resources report. The following comments and questions were noted:

·       Members were advised of the difficulties faced by care facilities in co-ordinating home visits.

·       A member expressed concerns about potential deficits of skills and knowledge amongst carers relating to dementia friendly practices. Members were advised that Parent Assessment Manual (PAMS) assessment information would be shared with Committee at a future meeting.

·       Further to a question regarding services available to carers, Members were advised that services are tailored to individual carers, and that the Council has a duty to undertake an Assessment of Need for anyone who requests it; NOTED.

The Assistant Director, Adult Social Care (Service Development and Integration) provided Members with a presentation relating to the LGA Adult Social Care Peer Challenge, which was taking place to support preparation for CQC inspection. The following comments and questions were noted:

·       A member asked how the Council had self-assessd in relation the ‘what we do well’ and ‘what we think we need to improve’. Members were advised that triangulation of evidence had allowed for robust and comprehensive evaluation of the service.

·       A discussion took place relating to the extent to which Elected Members might contribute towards any strategy aimed at improving the employment prospects of adults with learning disabilities; NOTED.

The Assistant Director, Adult Social Care (Service Development and Integration) provided a presentation to update Members on progress relating to the scrutiny review of Home Care services. The following questions and comments were noted:

·       A Member stressed the importance of continuity in relation to carers, and the benefits of clients where they build relationships with people caring for them. Members were advised that, given the challenges related to recruitment and retention, this was potentially problematic. Restricting the number of care companies awarded contracts might be one of a number of strategies implemented to address the concern.

·       Members were advised that care companies were ranked by a panel, attended by representatives from Adult Social Care Commissioning representatives, a representative from Procurement and an officer from the Legal team. Members suggested that the authority should be proactive about providing feedback to companies that have tendered for a contract.

·       A discussion took place relating to potential benefits and drawbacks of a ‘zoning’ approach, although the lack of flexibility offered by this approach made it challenging. Informal zoning without restrictions was being considered; NOTED.

A representative of the Crustacean Deaths Collaborative Working Group provided an update on work undertaken to date, and a timeline in relation to completion of the report; NOTED.

The Governance Manager referred members to the update report outlining work undertaken by the Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee. Members were also provided with an update relating to changes to Health Scrutiny Regulations, particularly regarding powers of referral to the Secretary of State; NOTED.

The Chair directed Members to the work programme for the Committee and invited comments. A Member requested the work relating to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) be included; NOTED.

Cllr Ovens provided an update on work undertaken by Cleveland Fire Authority; NOTED.

The Chair referred Members to the Action Update; NOTED.