Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lakhmana (Councillor Sweeting attended in her place).

RESOLVED: That all items of business be considered in public.

Councillor Riley thanked Councillor Denys for chairing the meeting on 10 July 2018.  It was thought that there was no doubt that residents would want a hospice provision within the north of the Borough and, whilst a new provision at Brunel would be good, this would not address the immediate need.  Concern was expressed that patients had been moved from the hospice onto cancer wards in Mount Vernon Hospital following the closure of MSH.  Members requested that a single meeting be set up to review progress being made following the closure of Michael Sobell House (MSH) and to establish why the closure took place so quickly and with limited warning. 

Members were advised that East and North Herts had been contacted on three occasions since the last meeting with a request for information but no response had yet been received.  A structural survey of the existing MSH building to identify the extent and cost of remedial work was due in the week commencing 3 September 2018.  The cost of the work would determine the scope of funding options and the feasibility of repairs to the existing MSH building.  It was noted that the intention was to maintain the provision of hospice beds in the north of the Borough and that, by the end of the month, it would be clearer how this could be achieved.  Although an update on the situation would be included on the agenda for the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 25 September 2018, Members were advised that it was the Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group’s (HCCG’s) intention to undertaken consultation with partners and residents on the longer-term service model. 

The Democratic Services Manager would ask The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (THH) to provide a copy of the human resources strategy regarding the expansion of A&E at Hillingdon Hospital before the next Committee meeting. 

HCCG would be asked to provide an update in relation to the provision of GP services from the Nestles development at its meeting on 13 November 2018.

RESOLVED:  That:

1.    following the closure of Michael Sobell House, an additional meeting be scheduled to review action taken to ensure provision of hospice beds in the north of the Borough;

2.    the human resources strategy be forwarded to Committee Members before the next meeting on 10 October 2018;

3.    HCCG be asked to provide an update in relation to the provision of GP services from the Nestles development at its meeting on 13 November 2018; and

4.    the minutes of the meeting on 10 July 2018 be agreed as a correct record. 

Mr Dan Kennedy, the Council’s Deputy Director, Housing, Environment, Education, Health and Wellbeing, advised that the Community Safety Partnership (known locally as the Safer Hillingdon Partnership (SHP)) was a statutory body with the partners prescribed in legislation.  SHP meetings were chaired jointly by the Council’s Chief Executive and the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS’s) West Area Basic Command Unit (BCU) Commander.  Other partners included representatives from the Probation Service, London Fire Brigade, Public Health and the Community Rehabilitation Company (who had attended the last SHP meeting) as well as the relevant Cabinet Member and the Chairman of Hillingdon’s Domestic Abuse Steering Executive.  The SHP’s role was to provide oversight, champion and steer community safety and reduce the fear of crime using clear communication and the appropriate use of resources.  The SHP reviewed its priorities and set targets annually. 

Mr Kennedy stated that there had been real progress to reduce burglaries in the Borough which were deemed to be a high impact crime in that it impinged on residents’ personal space.  This reduction had been supported by the provision of Council-funded police officers and through the MetTrace project where covert operations were undertaken by proactive neighbourhood teams and cocooning which was a reactive strategy to protect against the reoccurrence of residential burglary.  Burglary would remain a priority for 2018/2019.  The longer winter nights could mean an increase in the number of burglaries, so prevention was equally important.  As such, Autumn Nights would see police patrols being placed in key areas around the Borough. 

Challenges had been faced in the Borough in relation to violent crime and knife crime in particular as these offences were often linked to drugs and alcohol.  It was noted that the target for “Reduce violence with injury by 5% per annum for the next three years” had not only been missed in 2017/2018 but had also been higher than the baseline for 2016/2017.  Members were assured that the use of corrosive liquids had not been a significant issue in the Borough and that processes were in place to respond accordingly. 

Superintendent Ricky Kandohla advised that, although there had been no incidents in the last 3-4 weeks, there had been an increase in knife crime in the Borough, particularly round West Drayton and Hayes.  Whilst Hillingdon compared well with other boroughs, any small increase in the number of incidents resulted in a disproportionately large percentage increase.  Operation Honeybadger had been put in place by the BCU to tackle knife crime and it was likely that this issue would remain a priority for at least 3-5 years.  MOPAC had asked that the local authority and BCU provide an action plan to tackle knife crime and youth violence.  The key themes of this action plan were:

·         Diversion - at school as well as outside of the school gates.  As well as school officers, Youth Engagement Officers now played a big role in diversionary activities with young people;

·         Prevention - it was anticipated that police visibility would act as a deterrent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Chairman explained the context of each of the reviews that had been undertaken. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

It was noted that, since the Committee’s last meeting on 10 July 2018, information had come to light which had shown that measures had been put in place resulting in significant improvements in the Borough’s cancer screening and diagnostics performance.  As such, it was agreed that, rather than hold a full scrutiny review of the issue, it be considered as a single meeting review on 15 January 2019. 

Members were advised that a Working Group had previously been set up to look at GP pressures but that the final report had not been considered by Cabinet.  Pressures on GPs continued with an increasing workload which had impacted on appointment waiting times in some areas and the requirement for GP extended hours.  Other issues included deprivation and GP recruitment.  It was recognised that the issues faced by GPs were complex and exacerbated by the number of appointment non-attendances.  It was agreed that Ms Caroline Morison, Chief Operating Officer at Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group, be asked to provide information about the number of GP appointments in Hillingdon where patients did not attend (DNA).

It was noted that, with regard to new building developments, it was important that the infrastructure was in place beforehand to ensure that there was adequate provision of services such as GP practices, schools, etc, before the development went ahead.  Whilst the provision of a surgery within a new development would be ideal, there were not enough GPs to be able to staff new practices or manage the current level of demand.  Successive London Mayors had championed the need for additional housing but had not properly considered the provision of supportive infrastructure.  Whilst CIL payments could be seen to address this infrastructure issue, this did not work in practice.  It was agreed that a Select Panel be set up to revisit the GP pressures review. 

It was suggested that transport provision within the Borough be considered as a future review topic.  This topic could look at Transport for London (TfL), Crossrail, bus route changes and Dial-a-Ride. 

RESOLVED:  That:

1.    a single meeting review of cancer screening and diagnostics be held on 15 January 2019.

2.    Ms Caroline Morison be asked to provide information about the number of GP appointments in Hillingdon where patients did not attend (DNA);

3.    a Select Panel be set up to revisit the GP pressures review;

4.    transport provision within the Borough be considered as a future review topic; and

5.    the report be noted.