Agenda item

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Jeff Osborn and Helen Osborn worded as follows:

“Council remains concerned with the overall manner in which the decision to cease funding the RUH Hopper has been handled. A decision was made without consulting other agencies, such as Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the RUH and the local Link schemes.

Council notes growing public unease regarding this matter as evidenced by the increasing numbers supporting the relevant petition.

Council urges the Administration to do everything possible to ensure this invaluable service continues and that members and the public are regularly updated on progress towards this objective.”

The Chairman drew Council’s attention to the briefing note circulated to assist Council in its consideration of the motion and to the earlier presentation of two related petitions.

In speaking to his motion, Councillor  Jeff Osborn  referred to a letter which accompanied a petition from a user of the service which highlighted the difficulties typically faced by members of the public trying to attend RUH appointments. He expressed his hope that a solution could be reached and expressed concern that negotiations with the relevant parties could be so protracted. Ultimately he  looked to the Health & Wellbeing Board to bring the matter to a resolution.

In response Councillor Phillip Whitehead, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, explained that he would be happy to support the motion with some amendments to the wording as follows:

“Council remains concerned with the overall manner in which the decision to cease funding the RUH Hopper has been handled. A decision was made without consulting other agencies, such as Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the RUH and the local Link schemes.

Council notes growing public unease regarding this matter as evidenced by the increasing numbers supporting the relevant petition.

Council urges the Administration to do everything possible to ensure this invaluable service continues and that members and the public are regularly updated on progress towards this objective.”

Councillor Jeff Osborn accept the amendments to his motion and agreed by his seconder. He also sought an assurance that efforts would be doubled to reach a positive resolution on this matter.

Councillor Whitehead went on to thank the petitioners, and emphasised that their views should also be referred to the CCG and the RUH. He provided some background regarding the service and the meeting he had had with health partners. He emphasised his view that Wiltshire Council had no statutory duty to fund this service and that it should be funded by the Health Service.

Councillor Jane Scott stated that it was never the Council’s intention to stop this service without a suitable replacement being in place and asked that the resolution be amend include reference to referring the petition to the Health & Wellbeing Board to ensure that health partners, who attended that meeting, would be made aware of the issues raised.

Councillor Jon Hubbard acknowledged the efforts being made to address this issue of public concern and he welcomed the suggestion that the petition be presented to the Health & Wellbeing Board.

Councillor Ricky Rogers expressed his support for the growing consensus on this issue.

Councillor John Thomson, who had been the Lead Member when this issue was last debated at Council, stated that Health partners had been consulted but a resolution had not been possible at that time. He stated that he hoped that there would be more  constructive dialogue now that a firmer decision by the Council had been proposed.

On being put to the vote, it was

Resolved

1.    That Council notes public unease regarding this matter as evidenced by the numbers supporting the relevant petition.

2.    That Council urges the Administration to do everything possible to ensure this invaluable service continues and that members and the public are regularly updated on progress towards this objective.

3.    That the petition be referred to the Health & Wellbeing Board.