Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.  However, Councillor Mrs Gale advised that, in respect of the item on Key Voluntary Sector Bodies – Grant Support, she served on the committee of the Maidstone Mediation Service while Councillor Mrs Murray advised that she was a Trustee of Tonbridge and Malling CAB.  

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Communities and Health Advisory Board held on 17 November 2015

RESOLVED:  That the notes of the meeting of the Communities and Health Advisory Board held on 17 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

-        Presentation by Kent Community Health Trust

The Chairman advised that the presentation by Jane Reynolds of the Kent Community Health Trust regarding the Expert Patients Programme had been withdrawn from the agenda as the Trust had advised that the programme would not be available in the west of Kent after April 2015. 

Decision Notice D150028MEM

The report of the Chief Executive set out details of the formal public consultation on the future of library, registration and archive services being undertaken by Kent County Council between 12 January and 8 April 2015.  The report advised that the consultation focused on the options for service transformation and the County Council’s preferred option of establishing an independent charitable trust.  Concern was raised about the position of mobile libraries and the future provision of existing services.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          greater clarification should be provided of any future costs or charges associated with using the library, registration and archive services; and

(2)          reassurances should be provided that, if the service is transferred to a charitable trust or another provider, there will be an obligation to maintain the existing stock of libraries. 

Decision Notice D150029MEM

The report reviewed the work of voluntary sector bodies which received grant support from the Borough Council and set out details of the proposed grants for 2015/16.  Annex 1 to the report contained a brief written review of each of the applicant organisation’s activities over the last year.  Annexes 2-7 set out details of the proposed one year Service Level Agreements to be undertaken with each organisation. 

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          the one year Service Level Agreements, as set out at Annexes 2-7 of the report, be approved; and

(2)          grants to the following organisations be confirmed for 2015/16:

Tonbridge and Malling CAB - £111,000

Voluntary Action within Kent - £5,000

Voluntary Action Maidstone - £5,000

Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge - £10,000

Age Concern Malling - £10,000

Maidstone and West Kent Mediation Services - £6,000

Decision Notice D150030MEM

The report set out details of the key findings of an inspection of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust undertaken by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October 2014.  A copy of the Quality Report, published in February 2015, was attached at Annex 1 to the report and it was noted that the Trust had 28 days following the publication of the inspection results to publish an improvement plan to address the recommendations of the CQC. 

RECOMMENDED:  That the findings of the Care Quality Commission report in respect of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust be noted and the Trust be invited to attend a future meeting of the Communities and Health Advisory Board to review progress with its improvement plans. 

The minutes of the meeting of the West Kent Health and Wellbeing Board held on 18 November 2014 were presented for Members’ information.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.