Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells

Contact: Eileen Graham 01835 826585  Email:  eegraham@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Introductions

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and introductions were made.

SCRUTINY BUSINESS

2.

The Introduction of Speed Bumps in Langlee Drive, Galashiels pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

2.1       There had been circulated copies of an extract from the Audit and Scrutiny Committee Petitions procedure. The Chairman gave a reminder of the Petitions procedure to be followed at the meeting, highlighting the options available to the Committee.  The Chairman welcomed Mrs Elspeth Johnston, Lead Petitioner, who was in attendance to present a petition on the introduction of speed bumps in Langlee Drive and who was accompanied by Mr Albert Cruikshank.  Mrs Johnson gave further information in support of the supporting statement in the Petition, advising that 260 children attended Langlee Primary School, including her 2 grandchildren, and they were intimidated by speeding cars using Langlee Drive, which was the main access road to the Primary School.  While the SBC survey showed an average speed of 18mph, this did mean that some cars were driving in excess of this.  Braking distances increased exponentially with increased speed and it was felt that the only thing that would work would be the installation of speed bumps as accident prevention measures.  The proposed speed bumps would help curtail the speeding of cars along this narrow residential area.  Mrs Johnston made reference to the development of children’s perceptual ability and judgement of distances, commenting that there should be no price on a child’s life.  Mr Cruikshank added that this had been an ongoing issue and he had been in communication with Scottish Borders Council for 4 years and he had also communicated with MP John Lamont, who had campaigned on their behalf and the issue had been reported in the local press and on local radio.  The 20’s plenty and cardboard pop up police officer were frequently ignored and were no longer effective on this one-way street.  He further explained that young drivers were rushing to get to school along this one-way road, which had a straight stretch for 300 yards.  Cars were parked diagonally so there were also issues with cars reversing out of spaces into oncoming traffic.   Mr Cruickshank then passed round a photograph of the type of speed bump the petitioners wished to have installed, which were rubber and bolted to the road surface.   The Chairman assured the petitioners that the Committee and the Council took child safety very seriously and he summarised the main points put forward by the petitioners: appropriate signage installed; reduced speed limit; installation of speed bumps; enforced speed restrictions on both Langlee Road and Melrose Road; and an increased Police presence in the area at peak times.  Members asked various questions of the petitioners to gain further clarification on the points raised.

 

2.2       There had been circulated copies of a presentation by the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure, Mr Joyce, and the Team Leader for Traffic and Road Safety, Ms Philippa Gilhooly.  Ms Gilhooly explained that the road had been surveyed a number of years ago with the involvement of parents.  The Safer Schools Team had worked with Langlee Primary School to encourage more walking to school over a period of many years and most  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Health and Social Care Integration Update

Verbal update by the Chief Officer, Health & Social Care Integration.

Minutes:

3.1       With reference to paragraph 11 of the Minute of 14 May 2018, the Chairman welcomed Mr Robert McCulloch-Graham, Chief Officer Health and Social Care Integration, to the meeting who was in attendance to provide Members with a greater understanding on how the Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board (IJB) was delivering its Strategic Plan to improve the lives of Borderers and meet the growing demands in the care sector.  Mr McCulloch-Graham began by informing the Committee that the Interim Chair of NHS Borders Board was Non-Executive Director Karen Hamilton, and the new Chief Executive of NHS Borders was Ralph Roberts who was due to take up the post on Monday 22 April 2019.  Mr McCulloch-Graham updated Members on the identified challenges facing the Health and Social Care Partnership which included an increase in the population in the Borders, an increase in the complexity of cases being presented, and the reduction in available resources, with difficulties in balancing the budget.  More people were accessing Primary Care (GPs) and presenting at hospital; admissions were more complex and therefore patients were remaining in hospital for longer; more care at home was required; and more care home places were also required.  Mr McCulloch-Graham explained the governance of the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) and how funding under Delegated Funds and Set Aside Fund was allocated differently at a local level in the Scottish Borders and nationally, an example being that Palliative Care may or may not be included in this Set Aside Fund.  The process for the Discharge to Home Service was now across the five localities and numbers had increased with the STEP down facilities at Garden View (Craw Wood) and Waverley improved.  Work was ongoing to put savings in place to close the budget gap.  There had been challenges during the previous winter period through significant delays and cancellations although due to the partnership working this year this had substantially improved and the joint winter plan had worked well.  Mr McCulloch-Graham went on to explain how integrated services were provided and funded under the headings of Community Health Services, Acute Health Services provided in a hospital and Adult Social Care Services.  Mr McCulloch-Graham reported that SB Cares and the NHS were working closely within the partnership with a consultation firm called Meridian now in place to look at improvements in processes.  There had been a particular challenge around nursing care and the Council had helped to purchase beds at Queens House in Kelso.  The question was how to make the best use of health care services in communities.  A new system had been trialled at The Knoll, using a consultant from the BGH and nurse practitioners, with the rest of the Community Hospitals supported by GPs.  The whole essence of the Health and Social Care partnership was to shift from acute to community based services, and there was a need to have a fundamental look at how health was managed in the Borders.   The Primary Care Improvement Plan, led by GPs,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Private Business

Minutes:

AGREED that under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.

 

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

 

5.

Delivery of the Council's IT Strategy and Plan within Scottish Borders Council

Minutes:

The Committee noted the presentation by the Chief Financial Officer and Interim ICT Programme Manager regarding delivery of the Council’s IT strategy.

 

AUDIT & SCRUTINY BUSINESS

 

6.

Minute. pdf icon PDF 118 KB

Minute of Meeting of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 March 2019 to be approved and signed by the Chairman. (Copy attached).

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of Meeting of the Audit & Scrutiny Committee held on 11 March 2019.

 

DECISION

APPROVED for signature by the Chairman.

 

7.

Action Tracker pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To note progress made on the Action Tracker.  (Copy attached)

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 11 March 2019, there had been circulated copies of the Action Tracker for the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

 

DECISION

NOTED the Action Tracker

 

 

CONTACT US

Scottish Borders Council

Council Headquarters Newtown St. Boswells Melrose TD6 0SA

Tel: 0300 100 1800

Email:

For more Contact Details