Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Mrs D Seward.

In accordance with the Sub-Committee’s Terms of Reference to appoint a Chair who shall be a County Councillor representative for the ensuing year.  The Chair shall be appointed by the County Council representatives serving on the Committee.

The County Council representatives elected a Chair of the Sub?Committee from amongst their members.

RESOLVED,    that Mr M Wilson be elected Chair of the Sub?Committee for the ensuing year.

In accordance with the Sub-Committee’s Terms of Reference to appoint a Vice?Chair who shall be a District Councillor representative for the ensuing year.  The Vice?Chair shall be appointed by the District Council representatives serving on the Committee.

The District Council representatives elected a Vice-Chair of the Sub?Committee from amongst their members.

RESOLVED,    that Ms C McCarron-Holmes be elected Vice-Chair of the Sub?Committee for the ensuing year.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1.         Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

2.         Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3.         Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority.

            (a)       Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

            (b)       Which has not been fully discharged.

4.         Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority.

5.         Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer.

6.         Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge).

            (a)       The landlord is the authority; and

            (b)       The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial interest.

7.         Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

            (a)       That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the authority; and

            (b)       Either –

(i)                 The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

                        (ii)        If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

There were no disclosures of interest on this occasion.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED,    that the press and public be not excluded from the meeting for any items of business.

To note the draft Terms of Reference for the Sub-Committee (copy enclosed).

The Terms of Reference for the Sub?Committee were noted.

To consider a report from the Chief Executive (copy enclosed).

The Sub?Committee received a report from the Chief Executive regarding the proposed relocation of Aspatria Dental Practice.

The report contained a submission from NHS England with a proposal to relocate the services at Steele and McBride Dental Practice, Aspatria, to Steele and McBride Dental Practice, Maryport, and to merge the two contracts.

Members were informed that a proposal had been submitted to relocate the services at Steele and McBride Dental Practice, 5 King Street, Aspatria, Wigton to Steele and McBride Dental Practice, 9 Curzon Street, Maryport and to merge the two contracts.  The proposal had been considered by NHS England’s Primary Care Operational Group where the view was that this was not a substantial variation, however, a final decision was deferred pending consultation with the Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Sub?Committee were informed that the Maryport practice was six miles from Aspatria and on the main bus route with regular trains running between the two towns.  The practice was opened in 1995 with the aim of creating a full?time practice with a full?time associate but unfortunately, due to problems with sourcing and retaining associates in West Cumbria, the Practice had run on a part?time basis of 15 hours per week since the advent of the General Dental Services Contract in 2006. 

Members were informed that the proposed merger would increase the clinical availability from a current combined total of 39 to 69 hours per week.  The current provider had confirmed that should the merger request be approved, the Practice opening hours would be reviewed to potentially include further extended opening hours due to the fact that there would be no wasted travel time between the two practices. 

The Sub-Committee were informed that, taking into consideration the above, NHS England Cumbria and the North East were supportive of the merger and relocation proposals.

The Sub-Committee discussed the proposals and concerns were raised regarding DDA compliance at the Maryport site.  Members were informed that issues around DDA compliance due to the building being located in a conservation area also applied to the site at Aspatria but measures had been taken at both sites to allow access.

On being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED,    that the proposals do not constitute a substantial variation service change.