Issue - meetings

Cabinet considered the report which contained amended terms of reference for the QEQM Hospital Cabinet Advisory Group.

Councillor Game spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Wells proposed, Councillor L Fairbrass seconded and Cabinet agreed the amended terms of reference as set out in paragraph 2.2 to the report, namely:

‘1.  Consider or shadow the proposed re-organisation of East Kent health services through the work of the East Kent Strategy Board;

2.  In the event of a public consultation relating to the provision of health services at QEQM Hospital in Margate, prepare a draft Thanet District Council response to the consultation;

3.  Prepare a final report for consideration by Cabinet.’

Madeline Homer introduced the item for discussion and referred members to the draft terms of reference in Annex 1 to the sub group report. The Leader said that it was important to get timing for the intervention by Council right to influence the decision. This would call for getting the information from the Thanet CCG at the appropriate time.

Councillor Wells proposed, Councillor Matterface seconded and Members agreed that the following be the amended terms of reference of the QEQM Hospital Cabinet Advisory Group:

1.  Consider or shadow the proposed re-organisation of East Kent health services through the work of the East Kent Strategy Board;

2.  In the event of a public consultation relating to the provision of health services at QEQM Hospital in Margate, prepare a draft Thanet District Council response to the consultation;

3.  Prepare a final report for consideration by Cabinet.

The amended terms of reference will need to be approved by Cabinet.

Madeline Homer said that there was need to clarify how the public consultation process will be conducted and the role of the Thanet Health & Wellbeing Board in this process. In response to a suggestion to increase the membership size of the advisory group, Councillor Wells indicated that the size was appropriate for the time being and any Members who wanted to take part in the discussions of the sub group could attend meetings and speak under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Members considered a petition that had been referred to Cabinet by Full Council. Council recommended that a cabinet advisory group be set up to advise Cabinet on the response to the proposed review of A&E services at QEQM Hospital by the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust (EKHUFT).

Councillor Bayford spoke under Council Procedure 24.1.

Councillor Wells proposed, Councillor Brimm seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  That as per the recommendation of Full Council; establish the QEQM Hospital Cabinet Advisory Group;

2.  To set the membership at 8 Councillors;

3  That Representation on the CAG to be made up of 4 UKIP; 2 Conservative; 1 Labour; 1 Democratic Independent Group (DIG);

4.  The draft terms of reference as set out in Annex 2 of the Cabinet report.

Mrs Symonds presented a petition containing 1502 valid signatures as follows:

“We the undersigned, call upon Thanet District Council to vigorously oppose any plans by the East Kent Hospital Trust to downsize or end the provision of high quality Accident and Emergency services at the QEQM hospital at Margate.”

Members debated the petition.

Members agreed that the Council refer the petition to Cabinet and recommend that Cabinet set up a Cabinet Advisory Group which would consider the petition in tandem with other emerging proposals from the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust.