Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Matthews and Farr.  Cllr Salmon attended remotely.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Cllr Moore substituted for Cllr Matthews on this occasion.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

Cllr Sharon Carr-Brown declared a personal interest as her husband was a non-executive director on Integrated Care Board for the Dorset area and as a support worker for an autistic man who was in receipt of direct payments from BCP Council, Cllr Joe Salmon declared a personal interest as an employee of Dorset Healthcare and a member of Unison and Cllr Lesley Dedman declared an interest as a Board Member of Age Concern Christchurch UK and a Board Member of Christchurch Housing Association.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2024 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

For the Committee to consider any outstanding actions.

The action sheet was noted.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link under Part 4D, Paragraph 13:-

BCP Council Constitution - Part 4 - Procedure Rules

The deadline for the submission of public questions is midday, 3 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

The following statements and questions were received:

Statement from People First Forum:

You have signed up to our Bill of Rights.

This says we have:

- The right to say no

- The right to have our voices heard

Our members with learning disabilities

have spoken up about your proposals –

1) Keep 3 centres 2) lose all 8.

We did not know about proposal 2

People with profound and multiple

learning disabilities use the centres.

They are a very vulnerable group.

We think everyone should have their say

“Nothing about Us, Without Us.”

Our members are upset, fearful and

angry. They say you should not close the

centres.

People need centres that are:

- Accessible and give us enough

space to move freely

- Safe

- Have staff with specialist skills who

know us well

“It is terrible, shouldn’t shut them down.

They should stay open.”

“Where will I go to be with my friends?”

“Respect us, listen and keep our centre!”

Question from Jan Ryland:

Prior to Covid my daughter attended 3 different day services including Christchurch Connect. 2 of the day services both run by Livability have since closed permanently so now Christchurch Connect is her only service. Also after reading that the proposal said that community halls could be used I have briefly researched hiring public venues. I found that the availability was very limited.  My problem is picturing what a future without Christchurch Connect would look like. 

My question is can anyone outline what my daughter's day would look like regarding transport, venues, safety, activities and staff, is there a clear vision of an alternative?

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing provided the following answer:

We recognise the value of day service buildings and are therefore proposing that, following consultation feedback, Christchurch Connect remains open.

There is also recognition that the community-based day opportunities market requires development and investment to provide alternative options for people to access. We already have a small but thriving provision of community-based day opportunities which include smaller organisations who run services by paid staff and for some, provide their own transport to and from their service.

These services access community resources such as church halls, libraries, community centres and Council owned buildings and we intend to ensure that any capacity of remaining Tricuro Day Services allows rental of space for community groups.

We acknowledge that for some people a community-based option may not be an appropriate provision depending on their needs. Therefore, the day opportunities strategy promotes a mixed model of buildings-based services and the development of community-based day opportunities.

It is intended that this will lead to a greater range and choice for people to access services that meet their needs and wishes.

Statement from Neil Drury:

Our adult son Peter has Downs Syndrome and Autism. His care needs are challenging and complex and his vulnerability demands high levels of professional and expert care. Apart from providing a safe and secure environment, the staff and management of existing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

The day opportunities strategy has been co-produced over the past eighteen months with a range of stakeholders and achieved project milestones to inform the final draft for Cabinet approval. This supports a mixed model of day opportunities and the continued need to retain availability of traditional building-based day services alongside further development of community-based options.

The draft strategy and two proposals regarding Tricuro day services were submitted for recent public consultation. The consultation feedback and necessary review of the day opportunities budget in line with Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) considerations have led to the recommended options.

The Commissioning Manager – Disabilities presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The day opportunities strategy had been co-produced over the past eighteen months with a range of stakeholders and achieved project milestones to inform the final draft for Cabinet approval. This supported a mixed model of day opportunities and the continued need to retain availability of traditional building-based day services alongside further development of community-based options.

The draft strategy and two proposals regarding Tricuro day services were submitted for recent public consultation. The consultation feedback and necessary review of the day opportunities budget in line with Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) considerations have led to the recommended options.

The Committee discussed the report including:

• In response to a query regarding the closures of the Plus centres during Covid detailed in the report, the Committee was advised of the feedback gained from users which included that the majority were happy with the alternative provision, however it was acknowledged that some were struggling to adjust and that there had been requests for refurbishments and adaptations.  Some of the proposed adjustments were detailed and it was noted that once the strategy had been approved, these could be progressed.
• In response to a query regarding the improvements needed to be made to Parkstone Connect to accommodate the users being relocated from Poole Plus and their feelings regarding the move, the Committee was advised of the work ongoing through engagement and the potential refurbishment work which could be undertaken.
• In response to a concern regarding how the data had been gathered and collated, the Committee was advised that when the proposals were sent out to consultation two options were detailed, following criticism of the limited consultation and the options provided, the Committee was advised that this would be feedback to the consultation team.  ACTION.
• In response to a concern regarding the adaptations detailed and whether, if they were necessary, when would they be undertaken, the Committee was reassured that Poole Plus users could be relocated to Parkstone Connect without any adaptations however there were some enhancements which could be made which would require capital funding, subject to approval. 
• In response to a query regarding the day centre buildings which were no longer being used or required, the Committee was advised that they would be considered either for an alternative use within the Council or they could be sold, and any monies could then be deployed within the Council.
• In response to a concern that the strategy detailed it would improve services for users, which would not be the case for users of the Highcliffe Day Centre before its closure during the pandemic, the Committee was advised that the strategy had taken a long time to develop and it was felt that the mixed model of day opportunity buildings together with enhanced community based provision would be beneficial to the majority of users.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee is asked to review three papers and use it to inform their discussions about work priorities.  The papers are:

-       The updated Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)

-       Health and Wellbeing Board paper ‘strategy into action’

-       Briefing on integrated neighbourhood teams

The Corporate Director for Wellbeing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to review three papers and use them to inform their discussions about work priorities.  The papers were:

·       The updated Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)

·       Health and Wellbeing Board paper ‘strategy into action’

·       Briefing on integrated neighbourhood teams

The Committee discussed the report including:

• The Chair highlighted the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) work and the Committee was advised that this was a joint piece of work and consideration was now being given to aligning resources and implementation.  It was highlighted that it could come back at a future date for scrutiny by the Committee.  ADD TO FORWARD PLAN.
• In response to a concern regarding residents being moved to different doctors’ surgeries and then struggling to get appointments, the Committee was advised of the challenges faced which included difficulties in recruiting workforce and in delivering against contracts.  It was hoped that the introduction of INTs would help maximise resources to meet the health needs of the local population and also support and assist general practices.
• A Committee Member highlighted the Dorset Care Record and requested an update on its work be provided to the Committee.  ADD TO THE FORWARD PLAN.
• In response to a query regarding whether the Boards and partnerships detailed were doing similar, duplicative work, the Committee was advised of the governance of the Integrated Care System and the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board was clarified.  It was acknowledged that there could be a risk of duplicative work across the system however the reluctance for this in terms of wasted time resulted in focused governance.
• The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing stressed that the focus of the ICB and HWB was to start delivering and progressing actions to see positive outcomes for residents.
• In response to a concern regarding higher than average hip fractures detailed within the report, the Chair advised that this was very much on Public Health’s agenda due to the impact it had on residents and services.

RECOMMENDED that these papers can provide background information to inform the Committee’s work.

For the Committee to receive for information the presentation shared, notes from the last working group and a verbal update from the Chair

The Chair of the Data Working Group gave an update to the Committee and detailed the documents circulated.  The Chair advised of another meeting which had since taken place focusing on data available from health partners. He advised of the plan to bring a full report to the next Committee in May which would include a toolkit which could be used as a reference point for considering data to assist the Committee with its work programming.

The following items are for information only with no Committee presentation or discussion planned:

·       Dorset Community Pharmacy Briefing

·       Merger of the Quarterjack Surgery and the Old Dispensary, Wimborne

·       Closure of Christchurch Medical Centre Branch Practices in Burton and Bransgore

The following items were circulated for information only with no presentations:

·       Dorset Community Pharmacy Briefing

·       Merger of the Quarterjack Surgery and the Old Dispensary, Wimborne

·       Closure of Christchurch Medical Centre Branch Practices in Burton and Bransgore.

A Committee Member highlighted the need to consider the environmental impact of travel and accessibility when closing general practices and relocating patients to new surgeries further away.

To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing provided a verbal update which included:

• Budget setting for 2024/25 was now complete
• Work regarding the Day Opportunities Strategy
• Work of the Health and Wellbeing Board
• Consideration to the Council’s vision and priority planning arising from the budget setting.
• Highlighted that its Social Care week starting on Monday 18 March 2024.

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee is asked to consider and identify work priorities for publication in a Forward Plan.

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee was asked to consider and identify work priorities for publication in a Forward Plan.

The Chair highlighted the proposed items currently scheduled for the next meeting and requested the addition of further information regarding the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and advised of the inclusion of the outcome of the data working group.

A Committee Member requested further information regarding micro providers and the community catalysts discussed at the meeting be added to the Forward Plan.

A Committee Member requested an update from Healthwatch regarding their work on dentistry provision.

To note the dates of the 2024/25 Municipal year as follows:

·       Monday 20 May at 6pm

·       Monday 15 July at 6pm

·       Tuesday 24 September at 6pm

·       Monday 2 December at 6pm

·       Monday 3 March at 6pm

Venues to be confirmed.

The dates for the 24/25 Municipal year were noted.