Agenda item

(1) Motion by Councillor M A Whittington

It was moved and seconded:

It is now nearly four years since Grantham Hospital A&E was closed overnight as a temporary measure. Councillors, campaign groups and residents across Lincolnshire have marched on several rallies, delivered petitions to Downing Street and, have attended board meetings to call on ULHT and the South West Lincolnshire CCG to re-open Grantham Hospital 24/7 for emergency treatment.  

On Thursday 11^th June the Trust board of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) approved a plan to turn the A&E department into a 24 hour walk in urgent treatment centre from June 22 as a temporary measure in order to create a “green site” that is Covid-19 free to deal with elective cases.  Whilst this Council understands the potential operational and infection prevention control benefits of attempting to provide a clean 'green' site for the care of patients without coronavirus, we have significant concerns about a potential future downgrading of the site and stopping all unplanned admissions meaning that residents of Grantham and the surrounding area  will have to travel to access in patient care 

In addition, in August 2019, Pilgrim Hospital received news of a funding boost of £21.5 million by the  Prime Minister Boris Johnson to upgrade Accident and Emergency  and improve the Urgent treatment facilities 

This funding was intended to improve patient wait times and the flow of patients in and out of the department, allowing patients needing emergency treatment to be seen and treated quicker. This investment is welcomed and whilst we recognise the challenges facing the Trust due to Covid 19, Council would oppose any downgrading of emergency and urgent facilities at Pilgrim Hospital in light of this investment.

This Council therefore calls on the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Martin Hill OBE to write to John Turner, Accountable Officer Lincolnshire CCG and Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust to:

1.    Express disappointment that residents of Grantham and the surrounding area will need to travel excessive distances to access unplanned in patient care and asks for written assurance on what transport support will be available for patients and their families.

2.    Seek written assurance that the closure of the medical beds is a temporary change and asks when the medical inpatient beds will be re-instated with the required medical cover as is currently provided.

3.    Seek written assurance that the investment at Pilgrim Hospital will not result in any down grading of facilities for emergency or urgent care.

4.    Seek written assurance that consultation to achieve substantial changes in line with the Healthy Conversation is undertaken as soon as possible"

(Note: Councillor C L Perraton-Williams left the meeting at 2.48pm and did not rejoin)

Upon being put to the vote, this was carried unanimously.

(2) Motion by Councillor R B Parker

It was moved and seconded:

PREAMBLE

As a result of COVID 19 there is an even greater concern for children and young people and families who have not been able to access services. This may be due to lack of available services  because of lockdown or that families may be reluctant to use available services for other reasons such as fear of contracting the virus. Educationally stimulating resources are not always available at home.  Children from disadvantaged backgrounds when at home often have problems accessing IT equipment, having their own physical space and do not always have parental support. It is therefore essential that this Council makes every effort to reduce the impact of the disruption of education because of Covid 19 to Lincolnshire children and young people by enhancing both educational and social provision

By creating a fund of £5,807,200 to be met from transferring funds from the Financial Volatility Reserve the Council could fund the following activities.

Summer Holiday Provision

Provision of 15,000 sessional places over 6 weeks during the Summer vacation at a cost £2,250,000

Out of School Provision

Provision of out of school places from 3.30pm to 6pm for up to three days a week to 2,000 children for 38 weeks at a cost of £2,280,000.

Provide access to maternity services in more of our  Children Centres in order to combat disadvantage

Increase maternity offer provided currently from eight centres to ten additional centres. Ten centres would need to be prioritised to ensure the focus was on the areas most in need of these services locally

This proposal would involve both capital funding and revenue costs

Each centre would have different requirements and works to take place to undertake. Internal work to ensure facilities are in line with the relevant guidance alterations required on average has been approx. £25,000 each. This would result in a capital investment of £250,000.

Some on-going revenue would be needed to support the centres to accommodate these additional services for additional cleaning, reception and admin with other facilities costs. An estimate of the ongoing costs for ten centres would be in the region of £150,000 per annum. A pilot of a three-year period would have a total revenue cost of £450,000.

Provide delivery of more children centres outreach services to support families in rural communities as a pilot.

Target rural communities that do not have access locally to children centre services. Develop and deliver a regular programme of support to support local engagement.

Increase services offered through our commissioned provider

Five additional sessions for 48 weeks per year as outreach in each of the four localities  Staff per locality £18,250; Venue costs £7,200; Resources £2,400 Total for county £111,400 per annum. A pilot of a three-year period would have a total revenue cost of £334,200.

Provide 1-1 direct advice and support for families not willing to actively engage in services that have a focus on increasing the engagement of parents in their child's early learning as a pilot for 18 months.

Target families that do not access services. Develop and deliver a regular programme of support 1 to 1 with a focus on engaging them in universal services. One Early years practitioners per locality

Resources  Total funding required of £162,000 per annum and £243,000 over the 18-month pilot programme.

The total known cost for the first year of this proposal would be £250,000 capital costs and £4,953,400 of revenue costs.  Much of these costs would fall in the 2020/21 financial year, but will also partly fall into the following year in line with the academic year calendar.  These costs could be met from transferring funds from the Financial Volatility Reserve, which can be drawn down in the relevant financial year as required.

The additional revenue cost to undertake the pilot schemes for the period set out in the proposals would be £603,800 and would also need to be drawn down from reserve in future financial years.

MOTION

This council therefore agrees in the special circumstances faced by the Covid 19 pandemic:-.

1. To create a fund or funds totalling £5,807,200 to meet a mix of revenue and capital expenditure dedicated to reducing the impact of the disruption of education because of Covid 19 to Lincolnshire children and young people by enhancing both educational and social provision by transferring the funds from the Financial Volatility Reserve
2. Calls on the Executive to utilise the fund(s) for the following purposes:-

(Note: Councillor R J Kendrick left the meeting at 3.10pm and did not rejoin the meeting; Councillor M A Griggs left the meeting at 3.24pm and did not rejoin; Councillor B Young left the meeting at 3.31pm and did not rejoin the meeting)

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.