Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Allen and Rooney.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2015.

It was

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

Urgent No interests were declared at this stage.

Andrea Clark, Senior Engagement and Consultation Lead from Arden and Gem CSU and Jane Green, Assistant Contract Manager, Dental and Optometry for NHS England (Central Midlands), attended the meeting at the request of the Chairman to outline the current public consultation in relation to urgent dental care in the region. The consultation was due to end at midnight on 1 November 2015. During discussion which followed the presentation, the following points were made:

·         The current lack of capacity in urgent care dentistry, contributing to the need for this review along with the forthcoming end of contract

·         The reduction in use of the out-of-hours service, perhaps due to lack of awareness

·         Poor public transport links to rural areas

·         Co-ordinating services with neighbouring areas

·         Some practices provided their own out-of-hours services, but this wasn’t a requirement.

Members generally felt that, whilst it wasn’t an option under the consultation, the public would prefer that their own dentists provided appointments at times convenient for those who worked ‘office hours’. The Chairman asked members to complete the consultation questionnaire and to encourage others to do so. It was also requested that the Health & Well Being Board be asked to look at the consultation and co-ordinate a response.

Notes of the work programming session on 13 July are attached. Members are asked to prioritise these to inform the work programme for the ensuing two years.

In addition to the larger reviews, there are also regular items that will be inserted into the work programme before the final version comes to the next meeting of the Commission for approval.

During discussion on the work programme, the following suggestions were made:

·         Refuse & recycling should be considered earlier in the work programme

·         Half a dozen priorities should be highlighted

·         The importance of housing repairs and considering future housing stock

·         The Finance, Audit & Performance Committee could be requested to undertake some of the work

·         Consideration was needed in relation to the reduction in rents proposed by the Government due to the impact on the authority.

It was agreed that the work programme items as suggested at the workshop on 13 July be taken back to groups for consideration and prioritisation for discussion by the Chair and Vice-Chairs.

The Scrutiny Environment Group is a standing working group of the Scrutiny Commission to which the Commission appoints members annually.

Members are asked to express an interest in joining the group (all members of Council except Executive members are eligible).

Members agreed to seek nominations for appointment to the Scrutiny Environment Group from their groups.