Agenda item

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council meeting held on 7^th November 2024 (attached).

The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 7^th November 2024 were provided.

In respect of Minute 224 – Question Time (Taxis), Councillor Walsh reported that she had met with the team at Lancashire County Council to discuss the provision of electric vehicle (EV) charging points in the Borough.  There was some focus on improving the current provision.  The Council’s Net Zero Working Group had some remaining concerns, but an open dialogue was underway.  The infrastructure was not currently in place to merit offering financial incentives to taxi operators to switch to EVs, but this would be looked at again in the future.

In connection with Minute 228(3) – Accrington Victoria Hospital, Councillor Paul Cox, noted the response of ELHT, as announced by Leader above, but was disappointed that the Trust had only now offered to talk to the Council, after the hospital closure decision had already been taken.  He expressed the view that the closure must have been planned a long time in advance.  Furthermore, he was not satisfied with the reasons for closure as stated in the letter.  He remained extremely disappointed by the outcome.

On a related point, Councillor Clare Pritchard reported that the Council had fought to retain health services in Accrington for a long time.  However, as a consequence of the relocation of services from Victoria Hospital to the Acorn Primary Care Centre, the Holly House Child Development Centre at that location, which provided services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), had been fragmented and relocated to other children’s centres.  Councillor Anderson spoke about her personal experience of using services at Holly House, when it had been based in Rishton.  She commented that travelling on public transport with children with SEND was often difficult and that a change to a new environment was not easy for the children involved.

Councillor Melissa Fisher commented that the Council would continue to exert pressure on the NHS Trust at the Steering Group meeting on 26^th February 2025.  However, it appeared that there was little urgency on the part of the Trust to address the concerns raised in connection with Accrington Victoria Hospital.  Nevertheless, the Council would continue to engage with the Trust.

Councillor Dave Parkins added that the residents of Huncoat had no local GP practice.  As such, Accrington Victoria Hospital had been a useful access point for health services.  He hoped that NHS services could be provided in Huncoat directly in the future.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Steven Smithson, the Leader of the Council indicated that there had been no reply to date from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, about the hospital closure.

Councillor Clegg expressed concern that Government funding for the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria was being diverted to fund new hospitals to replace Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary.  As a result Hyndburn appeared to be losing out.  The A&E at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital was potentially at breaking point.  Whereas, investment into Accrington Victoria Hospital could help to relieve this pressure.

Resolved                                    -    That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 7^th November 2024 be approved as a correct record.