Tynedale District Council Meeting of Tynedale District Council Held In
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TYNEDALE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING OF TYNEDALE DISTRICT COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, PROSPECT HOUSE, HEXHAM, ON TUESDAY 7 MARCH 2006, AT 6.00 PM Present: Councillor JM Lambert (Chairman) Councillors: WR Adamson, NJ Appleby, Mrs DM Bradbury, NJ Bradbury, PRB Brooks, Mrs E Burt, G Caldwell, MR Collins, BH Corbett, Mrs PAM Dale, Mrs EM Drew, AN Fearon, Mrs JB Fearon, T Flaws, H Forster, W Garrett, Mrs VA Gibson, WC Grigg, D Hardy, HJC Herron, TE Heslop, Mrs FMC Hewitson, CW Horncastle, Mrs FM Hunter, JI Hutchinson, D Kennedy, AC Kerr, PR Latham, PD Macdonald, FT Mattinson, SB Mitchell, AW Reid, T Robson, A Sharp, D Shaw, GW Simpson, DC Smith, Mrs JK Somerville, Mrs M Stonehouse, MH Walton, K Warwick, ED Watson, and Ms JC Wrigley. In attendance: Mr RJ Robson, Chief Executive Mr M Ryan, Deputy Chief Executive Mr JC Copping, Director of Finance Mr D Robinson, Director of Health and Public Protection Ms E Sinnamon, Assistant Solicitor Ms M Parkinson, Senior Committee Administrator Ms R Granger, Executive Director, Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority Ms J Remnant, Head of Patient Care and Public Involvement, Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority 1 APOLOGIES AND WELCOME 1.1 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors MFC Donnelly, Mrs LA Garrett, JVR Hare, BW Massey, B Pickering, Mrs JC Soulsby, JT Watson and Mrs IC Whale. 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 2.1 Councillor MH Walton disclosed personal and prejudicial interests prior to consideration of Agenda Item 7 relating to the Report on the Local Development Framework as he owned land and was the Director of a company that owned land that might be affected by the proposals. Councillor MH Walton left the Chamber during discussion on this item. 2.2 Councillor AC Kerr disclosed personal and prejudicial interests prior to consideration of Item 4 relating to the Local Health Service proposals as he was a non executive Director of the Northumberland Care Trust. Councillor AC Kerr left the Chamber during discussion on this item. 2.3 Councillor T Flaws disclosed personal and prejudicial interests prior to consideration of Item 4 relating to the Local Health Service proposals as he was a non-executive Director of the Northumberland Care Trust. Councillor T Flaws left the Chamber during discussion on this item. 2 2.4 Councillor Mrs DM Bradbury disclosed a personal interest prior to consideration of Item 4 relating to the local Health service proposals as Northumberland Care Trust were the host employing organisation for her employer, the Northern Cancer Network. 2.5 Councillor Mrs M Stonehouse disclosed a personal interest prior to consideration of Item 4 relating to the local Health service proposals as the Executive Director of the Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority was a friend. 2.6 Councillor W Garrett disclosed a personal interest prior to consideration of Item 4 relating to Health service proposals as his wife was a non executive Director of the Northumberland Care Trust. Councillor W Garrett did not take any part in the vote on Item 4 relating to the Health service proposals. 2.7 Councillor AC Kerr disclosed a personal interest prior to consideration of Item 7 relating to the report of the Local Development Framework Working Group as he was Chairman of the Tynedale Rugby Club. 3 MINUTES Minutes of meetings held on 10 and 31 January 2006. The minutes of the meetings having been circulated, were confirmed as a correct record. 4 PROPOSALS TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF SOME LOCAL HEALTH ORGANISATIONS Councillor JM Lambert welcomed to the meeting Rosemary Granger, Executive Director and Jill Remnant, Head of Patient Care and Public Involvement of the Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority. Copies of the following four Consultation Documents had been previously circulated: 1 Consultation on new Strategic Health Authority arrangements in North East England 2 Consultation on new Primary Care Trust arrangements in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear 3 Consultation on new Primary Care Trust arrangements in County Durham and Tees Valley 4 Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England The Council considered a presentation on the proposals: - One Strategic Health Authority for the North East - Two options for Primary Care Trusts in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear: - Two Primary Care Trusts:one for North of Tyne and Northumberland and one for South of Tyne and Sunderland - Six Primary care trusts: to retain the existing five unitary authority Primary Care Trusts and Northumberland Care Trust - To create a new North East Ambulance Service Trust to include Teesside 3 Following the presentation the following points were noted during the discussion: - Councillor SB Mitchell commented that the proposed changes emphasised a product rather than care. Ms Granger replied that the consultation related to the reconfiguration of the health organisations but expectations were about improving care. - Councillor MR Collins asked if the proposals would change in the light of the resignation of Sir Nigel Crisp, Chief Executive at the Department of Health. Ms Granger confirmed that the proposals were endorsed by the Health Service. - Councillor Mrs PAM Dale hoped that the ambulance response times would improve in the Stocksfield ward. Councillor Mrs PAM Dale expressed concern at the size of the proposed single Strategic Health Authority for the North east and commented that in November 2004, people in the north east had voted against the establishment of an elected regional assembly and in Northumberland the creation of a large unitary authority. Councillor Mrs PAM Dale asked if the responses to the consultation would be available for viewing. Ms Granger stated that all NHS services would be expected to improve and confirmed that Jill Remnant would record the comments from Tynedale which would be fed into the consultation. Public meetings had been scheduled around the region until 22 March 2006. The reports following consultation would be available on the Strategic Health Authority website and would be forwarded to Tynedale Council. By 12 April 2006, the Strategic Health Authorities would have to send the results of the consultation with a recommendation to the Secretary of State. - Councillor D Kennedy commented that in relation to patient choice people wanted to be seen quickly and at a local hospital. Ms Granger stated that the aim was to bring waiting times down and although some people would choose to be treated locally it was important that they were given a choice. - In reply to a question from Councillor Mrs FM Hunter asking if the proposed £8m savings in management would go into patient care, Ms Granger stated that there would be a clear audit process for the Primary Care Trust to agree how finance would be redirected into patient care. - Councillor PD Macdonald was of the opinion that a single strategic health authority would mean that the urban area rather than the rural areas would be the focal point and remote from patients in Tynedale. Ms Granger commented that GP’s identified the needs for the practice population and would ensure that the needs of rural communities were met. - Councillor NJ Bradbury noted the bias of the presentation to reduce to two Primary Care Trusts and stated that this was far too soon after the last restructure in 2001/02. He was of the opinion that local Primary Care Trusts would understand better the needs of their communities and provide local guidance and governance and that the proposed amalgamation would focus on areas other than Tynedale. He questioned the savings comparison of the proposed restructures. 4 It was proposed by Councillor JM Lambert, seconded by Councillor Mrs PAM Dale and IT WAS AGREED that The Council support the six Primary Care Trust option for Northumberland and Tyne and Wear which involves retaining the boundaries of the existing five Primary Care Trusts serving Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland and Northumberland Care Trust. It was proposed by Councillor Mrs PAM Dale, seconded by Councillor SB Mitchell and IT WAS AGREED that The Council do not support the proposal to merge the County Durham and Tees Valley and Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authorities into a single Strategic Health Authority. Councillor JM Lambert thanked Ms Granger and Ms Remnant for attending the meeting. 5 REVENUE BUDGET The Council considered a report on the Council’s level of contribution from balances for the 2006/07 revenue budget, following the announcement of the final revenue support grant figures. It was proposed by Councillor HJC Herron, seconded by Councillor Mrs PAM Dale and IT WAS AGREED That the additional £2,990 revenue support grant be used to reduce the contribution from balances in 2006/07 from £98,117 to £95.127. 6 COUNCIL TAX RESOLUTION The Director of Finance presented the Report. It was proposed by Councillor HJC Herron, seconded by Councillor Mrs PAM Dale and IT WAS AGREED 1. That the following, as submitted in the Budget Book, be approved:- (a) the revenue estimates for 2006/07 5 2. That it be noted that at its meeting on 10 January 2006 the Council calculated the following amounts for the year 2006/07 in accordance with regulations made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:- (a) £22,267.48 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as its Council Tax base for the year. (b) Part of the Council's