Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting to consider the call in for the dissolution of the Council’s partnership with Northumbria Healthcare and explained that members should only consider the recommendations (1) to (9) in the report to Cabinet dated 3 August 2021.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Children’s Services: ‘Dissolution of the Council’s partnership with Northumbria Healthcare’ on 3 August 2021. 

The Head of Democratic Services and Electoral Services subsequently received a request to “call in” the decision of Cabinet.   

The report provide information about the planning taking place for adult social care and public health services affected by the decision of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to terminate the partnership between the Trust and the Council which has been in place since 2011, and about the proposed future model for these services.? 

The call in notice, call in form setting out that decision and the reasons for the call in, Cabinet report and the draft Cabinet Minute extract are attached. 

The Chair explained the meeting procedure for the call in. 

Councillor Jackson explained the concerns surrounding the dissolution of the partnership and the effect on the health and care to residents across the county.  The relationship with the Health Care Trust was valued and hoped it would continue into the future.  There had been a formal partnership with Northumbria Healthcare Trust for 10 years and the relationship had been excellent throughout that time. 

He continued that the purpose of scrutiny was to examine Cabinet decisions and reasons and ensure the Council were open and transparent and acted in the best interests of the Council and residents in Northumberland. 

He outlined the main considerations: 

• Seamless care for residents 
• Single assessment system with residents not being passed from one health care system to another 
• Concentrate on care in the home, seen across the country as a lead in that area with Vanguard status 

• He referred to a Council report of 2020, which stated that service levels of health and social care was likely to be beneficial to those with a long term disabling health condition, with coherent services from a range of support service over an extended period which Northumberland had excelled at 
• Financial issues and the financial effect on the Council 
• Governance issues which need to be explored 
• Transfer of staff numbers  
• Public reports were scant in detail and more details had been requested and not answered 

Councillor Jackson continued that Corporate Service Scrutiny and the Chair of Northumbria Trust, Mr Alan Richardson, had made an open offer to have a discussion and now considered dissolution would be detrimental to services.  He also referred to a statement from Northumbria Healthcare about extra costs, extra TUPE risks, and pension scheme and governance concerns that were very serious. 

Regular meetings between Council and Trust had been cancelled regularly and not taken place since 2017.  Board reporting had been reduced and infrequent with members being unable to explain reports and regular changes to management. 

There had been no detail about risk and financial implications not been fully reported to Cabinet.  Governance issues raised by NHCT had not been identified, and asked what confidence was there with other future partnerships. 

He referred to the consultation taking place about the proposed partnership with Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) regarding the 0-19 public health services being transferred.  His colleagues who had signed the report were not aware that there was another offer on the table. 

He requested that Cabinet reconsider the decision in the best interests of the county. 

The Chair sought clarification of which part of the recommendation was to be reconsidered and specifically to recommendation 9 in the Cabinet report of 3 August 2021. 

Councillor Jackson clarified that a request was being sought to reconsider the decision report and the reasoning behind it. 

Councillor Taylor stated that she had signed the call-i  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.