Council and councillors

To receive reports about and receive questions and answers on the business of any joint arrangements or external organisations.

i.      Mr Bool - Combined Fire Authority

Mr Bool confirmed that they were operating in line with financial targets and were looking at ways of saving costs.  The fire authority were also looking at ways of taking on apprentices. 

In response to a question from Mr Wilby, Mr Bool confirmed that following the Grenfell Tower fire there had been a full investigation to ensure there was no risk due to defective cladding.  There was also an evaluation of the availability of higher ladders and advice was also provided to various establishments including those in high rise building and hotels.  The Chief Executive, Mrs Briggs, also confirmed that following a request from the Local Government Association, information has been provided for all properties in our local authority area and there is ongoing support that can be given to private organisations. Confirmation had also been provided to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that there are no high rise buildings in Rutland;

ii.    Miss Waller - Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Joint Health Scrutiny Panel

There was a meeting on 4 September 2018.  The meetings are clerked by Leicester City and the minutes can be found on their website.  A summary of the items considered included:

1.    Presentation from East Midlands Ambulance Service.  They had received significant additional funding and as such were expecting to meet their targets in future.  Their presentation on the way forward referred to managing expectations.  Miss Waller hoped that Rutland’s Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel would consider EMAS’ plan and its implications for Rutland.

2.    Hospital Patient Transport report was provided by Thames Ambulance Service, the Joint Panel requested a further more detailed report.

3.    Planned Care Policies Report on services the CCG commission.  CCG’s currently consulting on which services to continue/start to commission and which to cease.

4.    Better Care Together (Sustainability and Transformation Partnership - STP) Initial consultation of the STP in 2016 had led nowhere and although local work has been undertaken, and with some success in Rutland, there has not been further public consultation on the direction of travel until now.  The CCG have produced a document “Next Steps to Better Care in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland” which still leaves many questions unanswered.  Miss Waller hoped the consultation paper would be considered by the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel.

5.    University Hospitals Leicester (UHL) proposals to amalgamate all intensive care support to one site.  Consultation began in 2015, but it came to RCC Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel in April 2018.  UHL had had not made clear to the Rutland Panel that they were proposing to go ahead when they received the necessary funding without public consultation.  They were legally required to consult with the public unless the matter is urgent.  They had told Leicestershire and Leicester City Scrutiny Panels in 2015 that the matter was urgent and they told the same to the Rutland Scrutiny Panel earlier this year, but they had not planned a consultation process over this 3 years.  The meeting was adjourned due to lack of time, to be reconvened later this month.

iii.   Mr Foster - Trustees of Carlton Hayes Charity

Mr Foster reminded members that this Trust had been established to provide grants for organisations/groups in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and should they know of any groups that may fulfil the criteria to talk to him.