Agenda item

to consider the following motions received (if any) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1

 

a.         From Cllr Brown and Cllr Pearce

 

‘That the Council acknowledges the intention of Plymouth City Council to declare a National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound, which could impact areas within the authority of South Hams District Council.

 

South Hams District Council welcomes the appointment of an Interim CEO for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

 

This Council emphasises the importance of existing protected landscape designations within areas that could in future be located within the proposed National Marine Park, including the South Devon AONB, SSSIs and Heritage Coast.

 

That the proposed National Marine Park should aim to complement and enhance the existing landscape designations’.

 

 

b.        From Cllr Bastone and Cllr Hawkins

 

South Devon NHS System

 

(Background: On 17th December Members were invited to a briefing by Chris Knights of the NHS Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust on the Trust’s intention to build a digital infrastructure as part of the Building a Brighter Future programme. The slides to this presentation may be found in the attached appendix

 

In summary, NHS Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust have been allocated £3.7 billion government funding as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. As part of the investment a single integrated electronic patient record will be developed. This will become the foundation of all the digital solutions across all services (adult social care, community services and hospital services). It will replace more than 20 core systems, which currently do not talk to or with one another.  Implementing an EPR is a major undertaking but it is critical to enable the delivery of a fully integrated care across all services and will benefit patients and staff.

 

The attached slides present the need for change and the benefits to the patient that the new system will provide.

 

Community Wellbeing is a key theme in the Councils Corporate Strategy “Better Lives for All”. Improving access to services is a key part of improving health and wellbeing in the District. This single integrated patient record should enable residents to receive a more joined up service between key services that support residents’ health and wellbeing.

 

As part of the Business Case the NHS Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust require the support of key stakeholders such as South Hams District Council. This motion of support is proposed to support the business case.)

 

We therefore propose the motion:

 

“For the benefit to health and wellbeing of our residents, South Hams District Council supports the intention of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to develop an integrated electronic patient record and improve the customer experience across all adult social care, community services and hospital services.”

69/21                   

It was noted that four Motions on Notice had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1:

 

(a)      By Cllrs Brown and Pearce

 

‘That the Council acknowledges the intention of Plymouth City Council to declare a National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound, which could impact areas within the authority of South Hams District Council. South Hams District Council welcomes the appointment of an Interim CEO for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. This Council emphasises the importance of existing protected landscape designations within areas that could in future be located within the proposed National Marine Park, including the South Devon AONB, SSSIs and Heritage Coast. That the proposed National Marine Park should aim to complement and enhance the existing landscape designations’.

 

In his introduction, the proposer made particular reference to:

o    the lack of prior consultation;

o    the designation of a National Marine Park having to compliment the South Devon AONB; SSSIs and Heritage Coast; and

o    the project being an exciting one and that he looked forward to seeing how it progressed.

In the ensuing debate, an amendment to the motion was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

‘That the Director of Place and Enterprise writes to the Interim CEO for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park requesting a meeting with officers and ward Members impacted by the proposal, to ensure the declaration is fully consulted on.’

Members discussed the amendment and, in support, recognised the importance of Member involvement and engagement in the project.

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED.

It was then:

 

RESOLVED

That the Council acknowledges the intention of Plymouth City Council to declare a National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound, which could impact area within the authority of South Hams District Council.

South Hams District Council welcomes the appointment of an Interim CEO for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

This Council emphasises the importance of existing protected landscape designations within areas that could in future be located within the proposed National Marine Park, including the South Devon AONB, SSSIs and Heritage Coast. 

 

That the Director of Place and Enterprise writes to the Interim CEO for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park requesting a meeting with officers and ward members impacted by the proposal, to ensure the declaration is fully consulted on.

That the proposed National Marine Park should aim to complement and enhance the existing landscape designations. 

 

(b)      By Cllrs Bastone and Hawkins

 

“South Devon NHS System

 

(Background: On 17th December Members were invited to a briefing by Chris Knights of the NHS Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust on the Trust’s intention to build a digital infrastructure as part of the Building a Brighter Future programme. The slides to this presentation may be found in the attached appendix.

 

In summary, NHS Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust have been allocated £3.7 billion government funding as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. As part of the investment a single integrated electronic patient record will be developed. This will become the foundation of all the digital solutions across all services (adult social care, community services and hospital services). It will replace more than 20 core systems, which currently do not talk to or with one another.  Implementing an EPR is a major undertaking but it is critical to enable the delivery of a fully integrated care across all services and will benefit patients and staff.

 

The attached slides present the need for change and the benefits to the patient that the new system will provide.

 

Community Wellbeing is a key theme in the Councils Corporate Strategy “Better Lives for All”. Improving access to services is a key part of improving health and wellbeing in the District. This single integrated patient record should enable residents to receive a more joined up service between key services that support residents’ health and wellbeing.

 

As part of the Business Case the NHS Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust require the support of key stakeholders such as South Hams District Council. This motion of support is proposed to support the business case.)

 

We therefore propose the motion:

 

“For the benefit to health and wellbeing of our residents, South Hams District Council supports the intention of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to develop an integrated electronic patient record and improve the customer experience across all adult social care, community services and hospital services.”

 

In his introduction, the proposer advised that the proposals presented a real opportunity for the Trust to take advantage of both new technology and advancements in health and social care.  In asking for our support, the Trust had advised that the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) would replace more than 20 core systems and significantly reduce bureaucracy.

 

During the ensuing debate, particular reference was made to:

 

(a)       the improvements that would be realised were recognised.  In so doing, Members felt that the improvements were long overdue and the potential wellbeing implications to residents were noted;

 

(b)      previous IT systems within the NHS.  As a word of caution, some Members highlighted the previous mistakes that had been incurred in relation to IT systems within the NHS and advised that they would reserve their judgement until they knew more information;

 

(c)       contrasts with the equivalent Governance Board for the Plymouth NHS area.  Members asked that the Head of Paid Service ascertain as to why the Council did not appoint a representative to serve on the equivalent Governance Board for the Plymouth NHS area.  In expanding upon the point, some Members felt that the Council placed too great an emphasis on the Torbay and South Devon Trust area in comparison to the Plymouth NHS area;

 

(d)      an amendment to the motion was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

 

‘subject to the Council receiving regular reports on the progress of this ambitious programme via invitations to future O+S Committee meetings.’

 

In support of the amendment, Members felt it to be important for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to closely monitor how this project was progressing.

 

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED.

 

It was then:

 

RESOLVED

For the benefit to health and wellbeing of our residents, South Hams District Council supports the intention of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to develop an integrated electronic patient record and improve the customer experience across all adult social care, community services and hospital services, subject to the Council receiving regular reports on the progress of this ambitious programme via invitations to future O+S Committee meetings.

(NOTE. in accordance with Meeting Procedure Rule 17.7 ‘Right to Require Individual Vote to be Recorded’, Cllrs K Baldry and D Thomas asked that their respective votes to abstain on this motion be formally recorded).

 

(c)       By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose

(Minute 62/21 above refers)

‘‘In preparation for the forthcoming review of the Joint Local Plan, this Council will invite Town and Parish Councils to propose potential hamlets and similar locations for new Conservation Area Assessments to ensure the future protection of some special heritage and historic locations in the district that are currently vulnerable to inappropriate new development.’

In her introduction, the proposer emphasised the importance of the motion and urged the support of the wider membership.

In discussion, the following points were raised:

 

(i)      It was noted that an agreed action within the Council’s adopted ‘Better Lives for All’ Corporate Strategy was to employ a new Heritage Officer.  In terms of recruitment timescales, the post would be advertised in the upcoming weeks and it was hoped that the post would be filled soon.  It was also confirmed that this postholder would present an opportunity to support local Community Groups and town and parish councils to meet the objectives of this motion;

(ii)    In reply to the Joint Local Plan review process being set out, some Members made the point that the motion was simply asking that town and parish councils be fully consulted and engaged as part of this forthcoming review.

 

When put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST.

 

(d)      By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose

“‘In light of the current difficulties with the collection of green waste and the likelihood that this will remain a problem for some areas of the district, and in the spirit of COP 26 to reduce the carbon footprint of waste recycling, this Council will encourage and support community composting initiatives that are supported by parish councils in the South Hams.’

 

In her introduction, the proposer emphasised her hope that Community Composting initiatives could be progressed as soon as was practically possible.

In discussion, with the agreement of the meeting, the proposer and seconder of the motion accepted the following amendment (in red font) to their motion:

In light of the current difficulties with the collection of green waste and the likelihood that this may remain a problem for some areas of the district, and in the spirit of COP 26 to reduce the carbon footprint of waste recycling, this Council will encourage and support community composting initiatives that are supported by parish councils in the South Hams.

Moreover, some Members emphasised the importance that the Council preserved and supported the existing Community Composting sites that were in operation in the South Hams.

 

It was then:

 

RESOLVED

In light of the current difficulties with the collection of green waste and the likelihood that this may remain a problem for some areas of the district, and in the spirit of COP 26 to reduce the carbon footprint of waste recycling, this Council will encourage and support community composting initiatives that are supported by parish councils in the South Hams.