Issue - meetings

Dr. John  Radford, Director of Public Health, presented a Government consultation paper on the process local authorities would be asked to use to consult on Water Fluoridation Schemes.

A response had to be submitted by 27^th November, 2012.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 gained Royal Assent on 27^th March, 2012, with the large part of the changes it introduced coming into effect on 1^st April, 2013.  The effect of the Act was that the Secretary of State for Health had powers to make Regulations in  relation to consultation and decision making on new and existing fluoridation proposals.

The 2012 Act also transferred responsibility for proposing Fluoridation Schemes and conducting consultations on such Schemes from Strategic Health Authorities to local authorities.  Local authorities would be required to undertake Joint Strategic Needs Assessments that would determine whether it was appropriate to draw up proposals for all or part of their populations to receive fluoridated water.

Discussion ensued with the following comment discussed/raised;-

-        There would be a framework on how local consultation should be undertaken

-        When a decision was to be made, there should be specialist/professional advice available for Members

-        When consultation was carried out the information needed to be in a format that was much easier to read/understand so all members of the community could engage in a meaningful way

-        Previously, the Primary Care Trusts would have consulted with local authorities and the decision made by the Strategic Health Authority at a Yorkshire and Humber level

-        Once the Government had received all the responses as to how the consultation should be conducted, it would make a decision on the consultation process.  The Local Authority would then have to decide whether it wanted Fluoridation or not

-        A Scrutiny Review was undertaken some time ago where evidence and arguments for and against were considered

-        Concern that neighbouring local authorities may have differing views and reach a ‘deadlock’ situation

-        It would be a decision for full Council

Resolved:-  That a working group consisting of Councillors Beaumont, Roche and Steele and Robert Parkin meet on 2^nd November, 2012, to consider the consultation document.