Agenda item

To consider the urgent report of the Corporate Leadership Team (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the urgent report of the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) seeking Members’ authority to engage with key partners, including Essex County Council (ECC) and the NHS over the provision and possible local of health services, following conclusion of the recent public consultation regarding service provision at St. Peter’s Hospital.

Councillor A S Fluker declared a non-registrable interest in this item of business as he was a frequent user of the hospital.

It was reported that at a recent Maldon Summit hosted by ECC discussions had focused on the work being undertaken by the NHS following its recent public consultation over service provision at St. Peter’s Hospital. A formal response from the NHS on the consultation was due to be published at the end of the month. At the Summit the Leader of ECC had proposed that ECC and Maldon worked together to review land and property holdings.

The Director of Service Delivery presented the report, advising how CLT was seeking to establish if they should re-engage with the NHS and other key partners relating to the possible locations for the delivery of local health services. He explained that no delegation was being requested and no conclusion should be drawn about the future of St. Peters Hospital.

The Chairperson moved the recommendations set out in the report. This was duly seconded.

During the lengthy debate that followed, Members referred to the decision of the Council in March 2024 regarding the Hospital and raised a number of concerns regarding the report. The areas of discussion included:

·                concern that the Council should not be involved in any decision regarding St. Peters Hospital as this was a matter for the NHS. However, some Members felt the Council should attend any related meetings on a listening brief.

·                meeting the needs of residents in light of the recent growth in the District.

·                the reduction in services at St. Peters hospital in comparison to services available in other areas of Essex.

·                the formal results of the NHS consultation which included St. Peters Hospital not yet published.

Officers referred members to paragraph 3.3 of the report which set out the reason this matter was being brought back to the Council at this time.

The Leader of the Council agreed with the sentiments expressed by Members and how the Council needed to ensure that for the future the correct services were provided, working with partners at the correct time. He referred to the recent Maldon Summit that had been arranged by ECC and how it was essential that the correct infrastructure was provided in Maldon and included schools and roads as well as the NHS. He asked Members to consider allowing him to have discussions with partners without agreeing for use of any of the Council’s assets for services, as it was important for the Council to hear any discussions that the NHS might have with ECC.

Councillor W Stamp declared an interest as she had attended the Maldon Summit as an Essex County Councillor but advised she was attending this meeting in her capacity as a District Councillor.

Further lengthy debate ensued following which the Chairperson moved to the recommendations set out in the report. In light of the discussions the Chairperson proposed that recommendation (i) be amended to allow Officers and the Leader to attend on a listening brief and report back to the Council after the end of the Consultation. This proposal was not supported.

Councillor A S Fluker proposed that in respect of recommendation (i) the Leader of the Council and one other Member (he suggested the Deputy Leader of the Opposition) attend. This proposal was not supported.

Councilor A Fittock proposed that recommendation (i) be amended, and that Officers be authorised to engage with key partners including ECC and the NHS to assist in the retention of service at St Peter’s Hospital site or an alternative bespoke community hospital. This proposal was not supported.

The Leader of the Council expressed concern about whether if the Council was minded not to agree the recommendations this could stop the Council having any other discussions with the NHS and suggested that recommendation (i) be amended to allow the Council to still have discussions with the NHS but not about the use of its building and services.

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor J C Stilts requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded.

At this point and following the detailed discussion, the Chairperson advised that he would be moving each recommendation individually. He then moved recommendation (i) as set out in the report and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation: There were none.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, S J Burwood, J Driver, A Fittock, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, J C Hughes, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, W J Laybourn, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, M G Neall, R G Pratt, N G F Shaughnessy, R H Siddall, U G C Siddall-Norman, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, W Stamp, E L Stephens, J C Stilts, N J Swindle and M E Thompson.

Abstention: There were none.

The Chairperson declared that recommendation (i) was therefore not agreed. He then moved recommendation (ii) as set out in the report and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, J C Hughes, K M H Lagan, R H Siddall, W Stamp and E L Stephens.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors S J Burwood, J Driver, A Fittock, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, A M Lay, W J Laybourn, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, M G Neall, R G Pratt, N G F Shaughnessy, U G C Siddall-Norman, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, J C Stilts, N J Swindle and M E Thompson.

Abstention: There were none.

The Chairperson advised that recommendation (ii) was therefore not agreed.

Following advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Chairperson advised that recommendation (iii) did not need to be voted on. He thanked Members for their robust debate, Mr Rogers for his attendance and question and all those members of the ‘Save our medical services’ for the work they did.