Agenda and minutes

To note any changes to the membership.

1.1      There were no changes to the membership.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

2.1      There were no declarations of interest.

To sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023.

3.1      RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023 be signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.

4.1      The Committee received a report setting out proposals to establish a dedicated, time limited Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) between Westminster City Council (WCC) and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC).

4.2      It was explained that this proposal had been brought to the Committee as a consequence of the Central and Northwest London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) proposing a substantial development and variation to the services provided at the Gordon Hospital in Westminster and St Charles Hospital Mental Health Unit in Kensington and Chelsea.

4.3      Members noted that the report sought WCC approval to set up a JHOSC between WCC and RBKC to specifically scrutinise the proposal, approve the terms of reference for the JHOSC and approve the delegation of power as a local authority to the Secretary of State in the circumstances described in the report.

           RESOLVED:

           That

1)       The establishment of a JHOSC between WCC and RBKC specifically for the purpose of scrutiny of the Proposal be approved;

2)        The terms of reference for the JHOSC set out at Appendix A of the report be approved;

3)        It be approved that three Councillors who were not members of the Council’s executive may be appointed to the JHOSC from WCC and that such appointments be made in line with the principles of political proportionality. Individual Members would be appointed to the JHOSC by the Chief Executive on the advice of Group Whips in line with existing procedures for Committee appointments;

4)        It be agreed that WCC delegate its power of referral to the Secretary of State under s23(9) of the Local Authority (Public Health, Health, and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013 to the newly formed JHOSC subject to all members of that JHOSC being in agreement on any referral and if they were not the power would then revert to each individual Council; and

5)        It be agreed to delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to make any amendments needed to the Constitution or Terms of Reference as may be required.

5.1      The Committee received a report and following discussions agreed the proposed programme of meetings.

RESOLVED:

1)              That the Council be recommended to approve the dates of full Council Meetings, as follows: 19 June 2024, 18 September 2024, 13 November 2024, 22 January 2025, 5 March 2025, 14 May 2025 (Annual); and

2)              That the Programme of other formal Meetings set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.