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1. Summary and purpose of report

1.1. Members have recognised that many issues related to health span across organisational and administrative boundaries : one of the principal benefits which should flow from health scrutiny is that issues can be considered from the viewpoint of the community regardless of organisational boundaries.

1.2 Other authorities with the same health scrutiny powers as the County Council are exploring how they may use those powers. This report sets out steps to inform this Committee on emerging arrangements in other authorities and the recognition that overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) will need to establish arrangements for working together.

1 Contact with other authorities

2.1 The 3 unitary authorities in the strategic health authority's area have the same power of health scrutiny as the County Council. All have set up Member arrangements and are considering how to exercise that power. The Isle of Wight Council is particularly focused on participation in the `Healthfit' exercise. It is understood that Southampton City Council may be adopting a somewhat different approach to health scrutiny - identifying and monitoring a set of performance measures.

2.2 Officers from a group of authorities east of Hampshire have met. That group includes West Sussex and Surrey County Councils. Kent County Council already has experience of undertaking reviews, one of which resulted from a major `significant change' consultation for reconfiguration of hospital services in East Kent. Other authorities are at varying stages in consulting on and formalising arrangements. All have, or are proposing, a Member body with specific responsibility for health scrutiny. All are including district council Member representation in those Member bodies.

2.3 The conclusion from the meeting was that regular contact should be maintained but that detailed agreements about joint working were inappropriate at this stage. For the time being, authorities would keep adjoining authorities informed of evolving arrangements and issues likely to be the focus for reviews. Agreements on arrangements should follow after experience has been gained in early reviews. Each authority would be likely to develop a similar approach to ours of setting up review working groups. If the issues under review seemed to span administrative boundaries then there was acceptance that membership of the review working group should extend to include a representative appointed by the OSC for that area.

Recommendations

1. That the Committee keeps adjoining authorities informed of its progress in developing arrangements and identifying topics for review.

2. That Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils be asked to arrange for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of this Committee to meet with the Chairman of the Member body in each City Council which is developing arrangements and undertaking health scrutiny and review.

Background Information

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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