Minutes for Council meeting, Nov 3 2009, 6.00PM official page

To receive announcements by the Chairman of the Council, if any, and any communication she may desire to lay before the Council.

The Chairman reported on recent functions and events attended on behalf of the Council and highlighted a meeting at Dorney Rowing Lake to hear of the arrangements being put in place for the 2012 Olympics, the visit of the Lord Mayor to Burnham Beeches on 13 October, and a tree planting ceremony at Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens and Stoke Park on 2 November.

The Chairman also extended the best wishes of the Council to Cllr Simon Bullock who had married on 31 October.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 September 2009.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 September were confirmed and signed by the Council.

To receive a presentation from Mr Ed Macalister-Smith, Chief Executive, Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust.

The Council received a presentation from Mr Ed Macalister-Smith, Chief Executive of the Buckinghamshire NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The PCT was responsible for commissioning or providing all healthcare across the County, with a current annual spend of £670m, funded by the Department of Health.  About half of the expenditure was on acute services while the remainder was divided between the provision of primary care through GP surgeries (including prescribing) and dental services, and Community and Mental Health services.

Mr Macalister-Smith explained the financial challenges facing the PCT, including the expected standstill on budgets following the end of the next financial year.  The PCT was viewing the challenge as an opportunity for positive change to aim for:

• better quality and health outcomes,
• better patient experience,
• lower cost,

with the focus on services and care, not buildings.

The presentation confirmed that Buckinghamshire benefited from being one of the healthiest populations in the UK, but this also meant that it received one of the lowest levels of funding.  Other notable features of the health profile of residents and the pattern of healthcare were outlined.  The PCT had a strategic vision which placed emphasis on health prevention, patients taking personal responsibility for their health and accessing community resources to assist, and turning to primary or secondary healthcare services only when necessary.

Mr Macalister-Smith detailed a range of emerging issues the PCT was facing, the major issues being:

• the balance between care in acute hospital and the community
• the new GP Out of Hours contract, and urgent care
• prevention – ill health, obesity, exercise, smoking, immunisation
• end of life care, to meet patients wishes

The presentation concluded by reference to the importance of the NHS and local government Leaders working together, and the PCT working ever more closely with patients and the public on a comprehensive engagement and communications approach to develop longer term and detailed solutions.

Members put a number of questions to Mr Macalister-Smith who answered points on the following matters:

• For access to and appointments with GPs, most surgeries in the County were now offering some service outside normal hours.  There were clear standards to be met on appointments.  A new out of hours contract began on 2 November 2009, with which 57 of the 60 GP surgeries in the county were engaged, which should improve the service for patients outside core GP surgery opening hours.
• The South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) response times continued to be poor for Bucks (as well as other Counties with rural areas) although the cost of the service was high.  Mr Macalister-Smith was the lead Chief Executive from PCTs in the South Central Area discussing these issues with SCAS.
• Access to dental services was being improved – some money had been made available and new NHS dental services were in the process of being established.
• The PCT spent a significant amount on transport notwithstanding transport to hospitals and other healthcare services remained a problem for some.  The PCT was contributing to a Bucks CC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

Part I of the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 October 2009.

(Note: Reports referred to in recommendations in the Cabinet minutes were circulated to all members with the agenda for the Cabinet meeting and have not been re-printed/re-circulated).

The Leader, Mr Busby, presented Part I of the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 October 2009.  Each minute of the Cabinet was introduced by the relevant Portfolio Holder respectively. 

With reference to minute 40 [Budget 2010/11 and Later Years] the Council noted the initial proposed savings to be included in the draft Portfolio budgets presented to Policy Advisory Groups in the coming cycle of meetings.  It was explained that the proposed saving on ‘restructure’ of the Capswood lease referred to a treatment of this cost in a different way (under new international financial accounting standards being introduced).

With reference to minute 44 [Community Portfolio Holder Report] the Council was pleased to note the successful bid for Playbuilder Grant of £143,770, which had been allocated in three equal shares for Dorney, Farnham Royal and Stoke Poges to install and equip new playgrounds.  Also arising on this report, Mrs Woolveridge reported with reference to the Community Safety update that she had accompanied a PCSO on patrol in Gerrards Cross and witnessed how a number of offences relating to vehicles were dealt with.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted. 

Report of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 23 September 2009.

The report of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 23 September 2009 was presented.

The Chairman of the Committee also referred to the October Committee (the minutes of which would be presented to the next meeting of the Council) and thanked Members for their contribution to the full consideration of the ‘Project Pinewood’ application before a large number of the public attending.  Members congratulated the Chairman on her conduct of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted. 

Report of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 16 September 2009.

(Note:     Reports referred to in recommendations in the Licensing Committee minutes were circulated with the agenda for that meeting and have not been re-printed/re-circulated.  Copies of the reports, relating to minutes 22 and 23, have been placed in the Members Room and may also be viewed on the appropriate Committee page on the website).

The report of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 16 September 2009 was presented.

A question was raised in relation to loud music and disturbance of local residents arising from licensed premises in Farnham Royal.  It was confirmed that the reporting of incidents and the keeping of a log by local residents would assist Licensing Officers to investigate any complaint and/or possible breach of conditions of the licence.  Matters relating to the highway adjoining the premises should rightfully be reported to the police.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted. 

Report of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 24 September 2009.

The report of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 24 September 2009 was presented.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted. 

Report of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 29 September 2009.

(Note:     The document referred to in minute 9 [Guidance for All Members on Planning Matters] recommended for adoption has not been re-printed/re-circulated.  A copy was sent to all Members with the agenda for the meeting of the Cabinet (item no. 11).  A copy has been placed in the Members Room and may also be viewed on the appropriate Committee page on the website).

The report of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 29 September 2009 was presented.

In accepting the recommendation to adopt new revised ‘Guidance for All Members on Planning Matters’, the Council noted that the Guidance had been separately received and endorsed by both the Cabinet and Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted. 

Part I of the report of the meeting of the Personnel Committee to be held on 2 November 2009.

Part I of the report of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on 2 November 2009 was presented.

The Council noted that the Committee had received a presentation on health and safety matters, that there would further regular reports on health and safety at future meetings of the Committee and that it had been suggested that a fire drill be arranged during a Council meeting at a future point.

With reference to minute 15 [Review of Recruitment and Retention Schemes for Building Control and Development Management] it was noted that consideration of this had been deferred to allow further information to be provided and reported to a future meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted. 

To receive reports from members on Outside Bodies (separately annexed).

The Council received reports from Members as follows:-

(1)       Mr Oxley reported on his attendance at meeting the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee held on 23 September 2009.

(2)       Ms Webber presented a report on attendance at the ACTVaR meeting held on 9 October 2009. 

(3)       Mr Dhillon presented a copy letter from Heathrow Airport Limited sent to residents in Sipson and parts of Harmondsworth about an offer to buy property while work continued on preparation of an application for planning permission for a third runway.  A recent traffic survey in the area taken by BAA referred to the same issue.

(4)       Mr Dhillon also presented an extract from Buckinghamshire Community Foundation papers about resources available and grants made.  It was noted that the Mona Lisa Arts and Media Centre in Burnham had benefited from a recent small grant of £1,000 towards equipment, together with a sum of £4,784 allocated by the Comic Relief charity.

The Chairman to move the following resolution:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.”

Part II report of:

Cabinet – 20 October 2009 (reasons set out in minute 4x)

Personnel Committee – 2 November 2009 (reasons set out in appropriate minute)

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act. 

Cabinet Meeting (Part II) – 20 October 2009 – reasons set out in minute 33;

Personnel Committee (Part II) – 2 November 2009 – reasons set out in minute 20.

Part II of report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 October 2009.

Part II of the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 October 2009 was presented. 

            RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted. 

Part II report of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on 2 November 2009.

Part II of the report of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on 2 November 2009 was presented. 

            RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted.