Meeting documents

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 01 February 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1 February 2016 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

Oral update by Head of Sustainable Development

The Committee received an update on the progress being made on (1) producing a Joint Local Plan with Chiltern District Council and (2) HS2.

(1)  Joint Local Plan

Presentations had been made to District Councillors at both Councils, parish councils, MPs and Stakeholders. Public consultation had ended today 14 March 2016 and over 5000 responses had been received.

Other authorities were being engaged in the process in accordance with the Duty to Co-operate. A work programme would be submitted to the next meeting of the Joint Planning Policy Member Reference Group on 19 April setting out key dates including the intention to consult with the O and S Committee at each Council sometime in late September/early October 2016.

During the discussion the Chairman expressed regret that the Green Belt assessment had not been completed and made available before the consultation as without this the HELAA and HEDNA did not make sense exposing the consultation to criticism and complaint. 

In addition he expressed the view that the HEDNA and HEELA, though considered benchmark documents, lacked scientific rigour since both rely upon gross extrapolation of crude statistics that do not reflect local sensitivities and, in the case of the latter, interpret heresay as fact  with regard to the needs of local businesses.

In response, the Committee was advised of the process that had been followed by ARUP to produce the Green Belt assessment which had subsequently been used to create a range of options and scenarios upon which to consult. Although Arup's final report had not been completed prior to the start of the consultation, the assessments of individual Green Belt parcels and Arup's main conclusions had been available at an early stage It was also emphasised that housing need and housing demand figures were estimates only at this stage and would be refined as the Joint Local Plan was developed.

The Chairman.in summing up the views of members, felt that the outcome the Committee would like to see is  a considerable reduction in the number of houses ‘needed’ once the impact of green belt and infrastructural surveys are factored in as is allowed for in the production of a Local Plan. If this outcome is not achieved then consideration should be given to the use of an

independent consultant to review the calculations as was the case with the previous Local Plan wherein considerably fewer houses were determined to be ‘needed’.

(2)  HS2

The Committee received a summary of The Select Committee Final report published on 22^nd February. The Final report covered many of the issues affecting South Bucks as summarised below.

• Heathrow Spur – In view of the risk of blight that continues the Select Committee (SC) directs the Promoter (HS2) not to use the Bill powers to implement passive provision for a Heathrow Spur.  The Promoter should take immediate steps to ensure that relevant landowners and communities are fully informed of the change.
• Heathrow Express Depot relocation – the report summarises the main concerns including alternative regeneration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Oral update by Director of Resources.

At the meeting on 11 November 2015 the Committee had submitted comments to the Cabinet on savings options and the Committee now received an oral update on the progress being made on those options categorised as green or yellow.

The Committee was pleased to note that a majority of the options were on track. There was some slippage in respect of Capswood Offices and the proposals for the Evreham Centre would need to be revisited in the light of BCC’s decision to withdraw from the dual use agreement from 2017.  Whilst the proposed way forward for Beaconsfield Car Park had been supported by the Resources PAG, the proposal in respect of Gerrards Cross Car Park was felt to need more work in looking at options.

To note the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2015.

The Committee noted the minutes of the Select Committee held on 2 February 2016

Presentation by Sir Andrew Morris, Chief Executive, Frimley NHS Trust followed by question and answer session.

Sir Andrew Morris, Chief Executive, Frimley NHS Trust, attended for this item to provide a presentation on the progress made by the Trust since his last presentation on 23 March 2015 during which time the Trust had received top marks from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following their inspection of the hospitals including Wexham Park.

The Trust had taken over responsibility for the hospitals in October 2014 at a time when the results of a CQC inspection showed a number of areas being inadequate or requiring improvement as indicated in a slide. A further slide on the results of the CQC inspections in February 2016 showed all areas being graded either good or outstanding. Sir Andrew’s presentation focussed on how the improvements had been achieved and recognised by the CQQ.

Sir Andrew emphasised that the change process had not started with addressing the financial deficit – the process had been driven by changing values and patterns of behaviour of staff by concentrating on the following objectives:

·         Getting the culture right by concentrating on customer care,  treating patients with respect and meeting their  needs as individuals

·         Improving governance, quality and safety

·         Raising and sustaining performance

·         Improving the infrastructure

·         Recovering financially

With regard to improving the infrastructure, Sir Andrew referred to the following projects:

·         Redevelopment of maternity

·         New emergency department

·         Ambulatory care assessment unit

·         Re -development of car park to provide 500 spaces

·         Expanding IT provision

During the discussion a number of issues were discussed/clarified including the following:

·         Vacancy rate

·         Bed blocking

·         Emergency Cover

·         Progress being made  to create better coordination by developing Multi-Disciplinary Teams

·         Proposals for Heatherwood including the provision of a 50 bed Elective Unit.

·         Proposals for bridging the budget deficit

Sir Andrew concluded his presentation by emphasising that the change process had been driven not by concentrating on financial recovery but by focussing on changing values and behaviours.

The Committee thanked Sir Andrew for his presentation and congratulated the Trust for the progress and improvements they had achieved in such a short period of time.

To note the work programme timetable and the South Bucks District Council Forward Plan.

The Committee received the work programme.