Agenda item

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to questions. 

Council noted that Councillor Jordan had replaced Councillor Lewzey as Lead Member for Children’s Social Care and revised portfolio responsibilities were made available.

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1.

1.   Skateboarders in Guildhall Square

Question from Councillor Moulton to Councillor Kaur

Following the Council debate some months ago regarding skateboarders in Guildhall Square, what steps have been taken by the Council to provide new or improved facilities in the city centre away from Guildhall Square? What meetings have taken place with skateboarders, between officers and what funds have been earmarked for skateboarding?

Answer

Officers and members have met with skateboarders on many occasions. A Southampton Skating Association has been formed to represent views, through whom a code of conduct has been signed as a means of promoting improved community engagement and on the 10^th September hundreds of people attended Skatefest hosted in the Cultural Quarter in a positive display of support for skating.

We are working with Southampton Skating Association on investigating options for new as well as improved facilities around the city, including the inner city area. With skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport, Southampton City Council are keen to work with national skating organisations and other partners who have expressed interest in working with us and Southampton Skating Association to help secure the necessary resources needed to make Southampton a skater friendly City.

2.  Council blocks procurement costs

Question from Councillor Moulton to Councillor Payne

Leaseholder residents in council blocks have recently received section 20 paperwork concerning procurement costs associated with structural works to balconies. The letters quote sums of c£5000 and ?c£10000, depending on the numbers of flats and balconies. These letters provide no details of when residents might have to pay these sums and what the payment options are. Is it acceptable that residents, many of whom are elderly, are left not knowing and worrying about when such huge sums of money might be due? What is the Cabinet Member doing to resolve the situation?

Answer

Following the completion of the design for the support of the balconies, Leaseholders were sent an initial Stage 1 Letter on 10 April 2017 advising of the Council’s intention to seek tenders for the remedial works. Following on from receipt of tenders and the assessment process, the Stage 2 letter was issued on 23 August 2017 confirming details of the accepted tender for the works. A number of documents were appended setting out the tender report and the estimated cost of the works which varied depending on which Lot and the number of affected flats. These letters are required to be in a set format to meet the requirements of the Act and are based on templates drawn up for us by specialist lawyers. We will review the template with lawyers and see if we can use more ‘plain English’ in some areas

The letter stated that the works would carried out over a period of 5 years. At this stage it was not possible to provide a more detailed indication of when work to specific blocks would be undertaken as the programme of works now needs to be agreed with the Contractor following completion of the Stage 2 Consultation Period. We will update leaseholders on a block by block basis as the programme develops. Leaseholders are aware that they do not have to pay for works until they are completed and the final costs ascertained, at which time invoices are sent out.

At this stage we will make it clear that leaseholders have the opportunity to discuss payment options with the Leasehold Services Team, dependent on their circumstances. Providing a payment plan option at the Stage 2 Consultation was considered, but because of differing circumstances with leaseholders and the difficulty in finding one solution that fits all, it was thought that this was better dealt with at the billing stage when Leasehold Services could discuss this on an individual basis.

As the Stage 2 Letter sets out, leaseholders can make comments through the Section 20 Mailbox and a number have been received and responded to.

At the most recent Leaseholder Forum the question of ‘sinking funds’ to help leaseholders budget for future works was raised. This will be discussed in more detail at the next meeting.

3.  Kentish Road Respite Centre

Question from Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Payne

Considering the huge amount of concern and distress your inept handling of the Kentish Road Respite Centre has caused, how do you wish you had handled the situation differently?

Answer

At the time of submitting a reply, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee was poised to discuss this matter in detail, which could lead to any written response provided beforehand being overtaken by events.

4.  Availability of Medicines on Prescription

Question from Councillor P Baillie to Councillor Shields

What is your administration's view on the current consultation by Southampton CCG regarding the availability of medicines on prescription, and whether some of the cheaper ones should not be prescribed since they are able to be purchased from shops or Pharmacies?

Answer

This administration welcomes the opportunity to participate in the local public consultation exercise being conducted by our local NHS partners, Southampton City CCG in collaboration with NHS England. I will ensure that I am fully appraised at my next Cabinet Member Briefing on the implications of what is being currently proposed prior to producing a formal Cabinet response. In undertaking this I would be pleased to receive views of other key local consultees including the Council’s Health Overview & Scrutiny Panel and Healthwatch Southampton.

NHS England is working with CCGs to ensure that prescribing resources are used effectively and deliver best patient outcomes.  Last year 1.1 billion prescription items were dispensed in primary care at a cost of £9.2billion. In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight this figure is £299.4m on 34,300 items.

Across England there is a lot of variation in what is being prescribed and to whom.  Often patients are receiving medicines which have been proven to be ineffective or in some cases dangerous, and for which there are other more effective, safer and cheaper alternatives.

CCGs have asked for a nationally co-ordinated approach to the development of commissioning guidance in this area to ensure consistency and address unwanted variation.  Therefore NHS England has launched issued a national consultation on 18 items that should not be prescribed in primary care and could be considered to be of low priority for NHS funding.

Following the consultation, NHS England will issue commissioning guidance and CCGs will need to have regard for the guidance when formulating policies.

As a consultee, Southampton City CCG is engaging with local clinicians and patients, asking for their views, to help inform its response to the nationwide consultation. 

To enable NHS Southampton City CCG to prepare a response, the consultation locally will end on 12 October 2017. People will still be able to respond individually to the national consultation until 21 October.