Agenda, decisions and minutes

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2013 be signed as an accurate record of the meeting.

1.1       RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2013 be signed as an accurate record of the meeting.

Councillor Muldoon declared a non-prejudicial interest as an elected member of the South London and Maudsley Trust (SLaM) Members’ Council.

2.1       Councillor Muldoon declared an interest as an elected Governor of the Council of Governors of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

RESOLVED: That the report and presentation be noted; and the following be provided to the Committee: (a) information on the parking allowance at the Heathside and Lethbridge development; and (b) the plans for the Sydenham development (Featherstone Lodge).

3.1          Genevieve Macklin gave a powerpoint presentation on the Council’s Older People’s Housing Strategy and plans for extra care housing. In response to questions from the Committee, the following points were noted:

·           Older people were able to access shared ownership housing designated for older people without the need for a mortgage if, for example, they owned their current property and could release equity.

·           Housing and adult Social Care worked in a very joined up fashion and shared the costs of certain services such as the handypersons service.

·           The housing preferences of older people varied: some older people wished to be integrated into the wider community and have designated housing alongside housing for other sections of the community, whilst others preferred to be in blocks exclusively designated for older people.

·           Housing worked very closely with Planning on the details of each scheme to make sure, for example, that the schemes were near to transport hubs and had adequate parking for visitors.

·           Some schemes would mean an increase in rent, but officers were working to keep rents at the Council’s target social rent level and whilst rents might be higher than current levels they would still be affordable.

·           People over the age of 62 were exempt from many of the new welfare reforms such as under-occupancy (the ‘bedroom tax’).

·           Planning permission for the Hazlehurst Court scheme being developed by Phoenix was expected in Spring and the scheme needed to be completed by March 2017. Officers were currently working to ensure suitable facilities would be available on-site.

·           The Featherstone Lodge development in Sydenham would consist of 1 and 2 bed units.

·           The name of the Lewisham Park scheme – Chiddingstone – would be reconsidered in light of the concerns raised by the Vice Chair of the Committee.

·           The Older People’s Housing Strategy was nearing completion and a draft would be ready for consultation within the next few months.

·           Consideration would be given in all schemes to community spaces and the possibility of communal broadband access.

·           The demand for almshouses had reduced, as that type of accommodation was often expensive and many were considered out of date.

3.2          RESOLVED: That the report and presentation be noted; and the following be provided to the Committee: (a) information on the parking allowance at the Heathside and Lethbridge development; and (b) the plans for the Sydenham development (Featherstone Lodge).

RESOLVED: That (a) the round-up of developments at SLaM be noted; and (b) the proposed restructure of the community mental health teams provided by SLaM be welcomed as an enhancement of current services, in line with national policy, and not considered a substantial variation in the provision of services.

4.1       The Chair declared a prejudicial interest in this item as an elected Governor of the Council of Governors of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and left the room. The Vice Chair assumed the Chair.           

4.2       Zoe Reed introduced the round-up of recent developments at SLaM before Fran Bristow introduced the proposed restructure of the community mental health teams.

4.3       In response to questions from the Committee, the following points were noted:

·           The proposals would see an increase in staff numbers.

·           SLaM met with the CCG monthly and the proposals had been developed in partnership with the CCG.

·           SLaM offered training on mental health issues to the Police and Community Liaison Officers.

4.4       Dr Entwistle reported that the restructed teams would result in better out of hours access for patients, improved intensive treatment at home and a better integration of mental health with physical health.

4.5       The Committee discussed whether the restructure constituted a substantial variation in the provision of services and heard from Helen Glass, officers from SLaM and other officers present at the meeting, and following a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that the Committee would regard the proposed restructure of the community mental health teams provided by SLaM as an enhancement of current services, in line with national policy, and not a substantial variation in the provision of services.

4.6       It was also agreed that the Committee would be provided with a progress report/update in relation to the Communities Opportunities SLaM restructure that took place two years ago, to include details of any increased uptake of activities and some service user case studies.

4.7       RESOLVED: That (a) the round-up of developments at SLaM be noted; and (b) the proposed restructure of the community mental health teams provided by SLaM be welcomed as an enhancement of current services, in line with national policy, and not considered a substantial variation in the provision of services.

RESOLVED: That the update be noted and information on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital PFI contract costs as a percentage of the new Organisation’s income (and details of any funding received to cover these costs) be provided to the Committee.

5.1       Councillor Muldoon reassumed the Chair.

5.2       Joy Ellery introduced the update and reported that the integration of Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to form Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust had gone very well and that a CQC inspection was expected in the last quarter of the financial year. In relation to this it was noted that community services were likely to be inspected as well as acute services. The following points were also noted during discussion of the update:

·           Amendments to the Care Bill had been proposed which would allow Trust Special Administrators to make recommendations affecting NHS trusts other than the one in administration, if they were deemed necessary for, and consequential on, the actions recommended for the trust in administration.

·           A strategic aim of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust was to be sustainable – it had been decided against including the word ‘financial’ as ‘sustainable’ was felt to convey a broader goal.

5.3       RESOLVED: That the update be noted and information on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital PFI contract costs as a percentage of the new organisation’s income (and details of any funding received to cover these costs) be provided to the Committee

RESOLVED: That the report be noted; and information on what the Council/schools will be doing to encourage the take up of school meals once the free entitlement to school meals for key stage 1 pupils comes into effect, to be provided to the Committee.

6.1       The update was noted and Aileen Buckton agreed to liaise with colleagues in public health and the CYP Directorate with regard to obstacles to increasing the take up of school meals.

6.2       RESOLVED: That the report be noted; and information on what the Council/schools will be doing to encourage the take up of school meals once the free entitlement to school meals for key stage 1 pupils comes into effect, be provided to the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the work programme be noted.

7.1       The Scrutiny Manager reported that the following items were scheduled for the next meeting:

1.         Library and Information Service

2.         Public Health update, including:

·      Public Health 2012/13 annual report

·      Expenditure in 2014/15 (incl. sustainability of community health projects and initiatives)

·      Establishing a SE London urban public health collaborative across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

·      Interim evaluation of the North Lewisham Plan

3.         Lewisham Hospital – Update (standing item)

4.         The Francis Report – progress on recommendations.

7.2       In relation to the Public Health update, Aileen Buckton reported that the Public Health 2012/13 annual report and information on expenditure in 2014/15 might not be available in time for the next meeting.

7.3       RESOLVED: That the work programme be noted.

8.1       None.