Agenda and minutes

The Chair of the Council, Councillor Sue Livings, asked that a minute’s silence be held following the tragedies in Las Vegas and New York.

Following the minute’s silence, the Chair welcomed Councillor Edwards to his first Council meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Andrew Johnson, Shona Johnson, Stefan Mullard and Nick Churchill.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

Councillor Waida Forman declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 9 as she is an employee of the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2017.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2017 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair took this opportunity to thank Councillor Souter and the Corporate Governance Support Officer for their help in organising a successful Golf Day.

The Chair advised that she had many functions but the ones that were particularly memorable to her were the ones that involved the young people of Harlow, such as, Passmores Yearly Awards & Army Cadets Awards Ceremony.

The Chair also mentioned that on Monday 30 October 2017 she had hosted an event where Razed Roof was presented with the Queens Award for Voluntary Services for inclusion in the community by the Lord Lieutenant.

She reminded her colleagues of future events arising, such as Bonfire Night on Sunday 5 November 2017, Remembrance Service on Friday 10 November 2017 and the annual Chair’s Quiz which takes place on Thursday 23 November 2017.

Councillor Garnett presented the Chair with the award that he was given on behalf of the Council from the Architectural Awards for the regeneration to the Town Park.

Following recommendations to the Civic Award Panel, Richard Chiassaro and Ryan Lambert should have both been presented with Civic Awards at Annual Council but unfortunately were unable to attend the meeting.

The Chair presented the following Civic Awards to local individuals, who were unable to attend Annual Council, in recognition of their commitment and contribution to the local community.

            Richard Chiassaro

            Ryan Lambert

None.

The questions together with their answers are appended to these minutes.

The questions together with their answers are appended to these minutes.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan):

The Council recognises the conscientious commitment of staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) and notes with extreme concern the current recruitment and physical infrastructure needs at PAH.  

Staff shortages, including a nurse vacancy rate of 25 per cent, have left wards struggling with the amount of patients. The A & E Department struggles to deliver the national four-hour standard. Two other local hospitals have changed into Urgent Care Centres which only deal with minor injuries. This creates an additional demand for services on PAH which deals with major injuries, life threatening chest pains and head injuries as well as minor injuries.

Many parts of the physical infrastructure at PAH is beyond its designed life and is unable to accommodate patients in a manner appropriate for a 21^st Century health facility. Indeed, water ingress and sewage egress in some vital areas presents real risks to the integrity of the hospital.  

The Council believes that urgent investment is required to address the challenges faced by the hospital now and that a commitment needs to be given for the provision of a new hospital. A new hospital, as part of a health and wellbeing campus, that would provide services adequate to ensure that the residents of Harlow and its surrounding areas will benefit from emergency and GP services, physiotherapy units, social care, a new ambulance hub and a training centre for nursing and healthcare.

The Council resolves to urge the Government to:

a)    Ensure that the Princess Alexandra Hospital is treated a priority case for investment to address its current physical infrastructure challenges.  

b)    Support the hospital Trust in working with other public sector and private sector bodies to develop a business case for the investment necessary to achieve a new hospital as part of a health and wellbeing campus.

c)    To instruct NHS England and NHS Improvement to work positively with the health economy and with the Councils of West Essex and East Hertfordshire to deliver a plan to secure financially sustainable, appropriate and sufficient access to health services for the communities served by PAH and the West Essex CCG.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner, seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan it was moved that:

The Council recognises the conscientious commitment of staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) and notes with extreme concern the current recruitment and physical infrastructure needs at PAH. 

Staff shortages, including a nurse vacancy rate of 25 per cent, have left wards struggling with the amount of patients. The A & E Department struggles to deliver the national four-hour standard. Two other local hospitals have changed into Urgent Care Centres which only deal with minor injuries. This creates an additional demand for services on PAH which deals with major injuries, life threatening chest pains and head injuries as well as minor injuries.

Many parts of the physical infrastructure at PAH is beyond its designed life and is unable to accommodate patients in a manner appropriate for a 21st Century health facility. Indeed, water ingress and sewage egress in some vital areas presents real risks to the integrity of the hospital. 

The Council believes that urgent investment is required to address the challenges faced by the hospital now and that a commitment needs to be given for the provision of a new hospital. A new hospital, as part of a health and wellbeing campus, that would provide services adequate to ensure that the residents of Harlow and its surrounding areas will benefit from emergency and GP services, physiotherapy units, social care, a new ambulance hub and a training centre for nursing and healthcare.

The Council resolves to, together with the MP for Harlow, urge the Government to:

a)         Ensure that the Princess Alexandra Hospital is treated a priority case for investment to address its current physical infrastructure challenges. 

b)         Support the hospital Trust in working with other public sector and private sector bodies to develop a business case for the investment necessary to achieve a new hospital as part of a health and wellbeing campus.

c)         To instruct NHS England and NHS Improvement to work positively with the health economy and with the Councils of West Essex and East Hertfordshire to deliver a plan to secure financially sustainable, appropriate and sufficient access to health services for the communities served by PAH and the West Essex CCG.

The motion was carried.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers.

RESOLVED that the recommendations on items a and b are approved.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that:

A     The Annual Treasury Management Report for 2016/17, attached as Appendix A to the report, be approved.

B     The revised Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy, attached as Appendix B to the report, be adopted.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy, attached as Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Waida Forman.

            RESOLVED that:

A     Brian Keane, Head of Governance is designated Returning Officer, and Electoral Registration Officer, and that Jane Greer, Head of Community Wellbeing, is designated Monitoring Officer until a permanent Managing Director is in post.

B    The Head of Governance is appointed in acting up capacity to the role of Acting Managing Director until the permanent position is filled.

To confirm the nomination of Councillor Tony Edwards to the Scrutiny Committee, Call-in Sub-Committee, Cabinet Overview Working Group and as a substitute on the Development Management Committee.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Waida Forman.

            RESOLVED that Councillor Tony Edwards is nominated to stand on

the following committees following his election. Scrutiny Committee, Call-in Sub-Committee, Cabinet Overview Working Group, and as a substitute on the Development Management Committee.

To note the following Cabinet and Committee minutes:

            RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted.

None.