Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence submitted or substitutions.

There were no declarations of interest submitted at the meeting or dispensations.

Minutes Attached.

The Minutes of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 31^st October 2018 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Resolved        -            That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

Verbal update to be provided at the meeting by Inspector Steve Rides.

Inspector Rides and Sergeant Kennedy gave a presentation on Police and Crime in Hyndburn and reported on performance data.  

Inspector Rides reported on changes in neighbourhood policing and informed the Committee that there had been a reduction in Community Beat Managers from fourteen to seven.  He reported on the number of Officers linked to an area and that they would be returning to a previous style of policing of patrolling and being visible in communities as they had been 10 years ago and referred to the importance of community intelligence in resolving crime.  He informed the Committee that for policing purposes Hyndburn was split into three areas Hyndburn North, South and Central and gave details of reported crime in the following areas: environmental crime, domestic violence, violent crime, serious and organised crime, acquisitive crime.  He gave details of statistical data for each area of crime. 

Attendees at the meeting asked if:

-       Lists of PCSOs for each ward could be distributed to all Members.

-       If there were plans to reintroduce Officers to PACT meetings.

-       For further information about the burning taking place at a scrap yard in Great Harwood. 

Inspector Rides indicated that he would distribute lists of ward PCSOs to all Members and that Officers would be reintroduced to PACT meetings.  He also informed the Committee that the Police used many different forms of media to communicate with the public and whilst PACT meetings were useful for reaching some residents he also referred to the importance of social media in reaching residents to communicate with people.  Inspector Rides reported that the burning in Great Harwood was being dealt with by a number of agencies.

He gave details of how domestic violence, violent crime, serious and organised crime and acquisitive crime was dealt with by the Police and how they worked with other agencies

Attendees at the meeting asked:

-       How domestic violence cases were brought to the attention of the authorities. 

-       The impact of the new stalking laws

-       What restrictions could be placed on an offender?

-       If the Police could use stop and search more regularly?

-       What actions were being taken by the Police to reduce knife crime?

-       What action had been taken against the market seller selling knives?

-       A request for knife crime data.

-       What actions were being taken to prevent drug problems in areas?

-       How problematic was human trafficking in Hyndburn?

-       Reference was made to the problem of brothels in Belthorn. 

-       How was the increase in council tax for the PCC being spent?

-       Reference was made to an incidents of scamming in Knuzden and if Police were aware of the issue.

-       A request for updates on incidents which have happened in Baxenden including the violent burglary of an elderly lady.

-       How CCTV was monitored in Hyndburn?

-       How Police Cadets were recruited?

Inspector Rides responded that domestic violence cases were usually reported by someone in that household and the first priority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 370.

A report to be submitted by the CCG to update Members on the closure of the Walk In Centre at Accrington Victoria Hospital.

Alex Walker and Lisa Cunliffe, Community Care Group, gave a presentation on the impact of the closure of the Walk-In Centre, Accrington Victoria Hospital. 

Lisa Cunliffe, Primary Care Development Manager reported on the transition from the Walk-In Centre to a GP Extended Service and Care Navigation after the closure of the Walk-In Centre.  

She referred to the background to the decision to close the Walk-In Centre and the amount of work carried out by the CCG in 2015/16 in engaging with the local population to ask for their views.  She reported that groups across East Lancashire had supported the closure and that services throughout East Lancashire had not been consistent.  She referred to ways in which people had wanted to improve services including the ability to pre-book appointments, the continuity of care, access to medical records away from the GP surgery and access to better information and services.  She outlined the principle of the new model of health care provision and reported that running alongside the new model were the national requirements of GP extended access.  She also referred to analysis of the impact on other local health services once the Walk In Centre had been closed.  Alex Walker provided details of this and pointed out that their predictions had been relatively accurate with provision in place to meet demand.

Lisa Cunliffe referred to Care Navigation and the provision that had been put in place to provide this service.

Members asked for the following information:

·         How people would be able to attend appointments away from their normal GP surgeries, especially as there was a lack of bus service.

·         How many GP Practices in Hyndburn offer Out-of-Hour services?

·         If frontline healthcare staff had been adequately trained to provide the services being offered?

·         Had there been an increase in the number of GPs appointed to deal with the additional services?

·         Did the new system provide adequate accessibility to health care services?

·         Had the impact been measured on the Royal Blackburn Hospital Urgent Care service?

·         How was the former Walk-in Centre being used now?

·         Had job roles changed since the introduction of the new health care model?

·         Concern about accepting appointment from doctors outside the current area.

·         Concerns about some items on repeat prescription not being available.

·         A request for the personnel breakdown of the CCG membership.

·         Had the staff from the Walk-In Centre been redeployed?

·         Booking out of hours appointments was still difficult to do and some patients had never been offered the opportunity to do this.  There was also no access to medical records.

·         Concern that the figures provided with regards to the success of the new healthcare model did not accurately reflect the actual service provided and that the provision of services was limited.

·         An increase in housing provision in the borough would have an impact on the amount of healthcare required. 

·         An increase in digital services could mean that some patients may feel that services could be out of their reach.

·         There was a variance in access to prescription  ...  view the full minutes text for item 371.