The Chair invited the Chairs of each of the
Select Commissions to provide an update on their work, which has
been detailed below.
Health Select
Commission
Presented by: Councillor Rose Keenan,
Chair
Key Updates:
- Adult Contact Team Referral
Process:
- Members welcomed the information
provided.
- The service returned to update on
the implementation of AI in the referral process.
- Members expressed interest in seeing
how this could be replicated in other areas.
- Health Hub Development
(Pre-Decision Scrutiny):
- A major item scrutinised ahead of
Cabinet on 7 July.
- Members raised concerns about:
- Appropriateness of services to be
housed in the hub.
- Accessibility and public transport
infrastructure.
- Ensuring services reflect areas of
greatest need.
- Despite concerns, members supported
the recommendations to Cabinet.
- An additional recommendation was
submitted that this item be returned to Health
Select at appropriate stages during Phase Two to provide
reassurance that improved health outcomes, tackling health
inequalities and service delivery gaps remained at the heart of
that phase.
- Future Work:
- Upcoming scrutiny of the ADASS
(Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) peer
review.
- Review of the Healthwatch Annual
Report.
- Equality account responses from TRFT
(The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust), RDaSH (Rotherham Doncaster
and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust), and the Ambulance
Service.
- Planning a menopause workshop in
September, open to all members and involving partners including
Rotherham United.
- Work Programme:
- A well-rounded outline work
programme had been agreed, which maintained flexibility to
accommodate emerging issues.
- The Commission’s work was
recently referenced on BBC News, highlighting its impact.
Improving Places
Select Commission
Presented by: Councillor McKiernan,
Chair
Key Updates:
- Muslim Burial Provision
Review:
- An independent review was
presented.
- The reviewer and bereavement
services officers answered questions.
- Several recommendations are expected
to follow.
- Rotherham Employment and Skills
Strategy:
- Discussion slightly overlapped with
education and skills, which was outside the Commission’s core
remit.
- Members engaged in strong
discussions, particularly around apprenticeships.
- Housing Strategy 2022–25
Final Report:
- Reviewed the outcomes of the
three-year strategy.
- Members raised questions about the
updated housing policy, which had now been delayed.
- The Chair expressed frustration at
the delay in considering the Housing Strategy 2025-2028.
- Upcoming Items:
- Tenant scrutiny review on tenancy
health checks.
- Ongoing work on the School Road
Safety Review, led by Councillor Tinsley, Vice Chair.
- A meeting with Cabinet members
clarified that the Commission’s review will proceed
independently, with a different scope than Cabinet’s.
- Work Programme:
- Awaiting further submissions via
email.
- Anticipates several items being
allocated to Places Commission.
Improving Lives
Select Commission
Presented by: Councillor Brent,
Vice-Chair
Key Updates:
- Kinship Care Local Offer:
- Reviewed the draft offer ahead of
Cabinet consideration.
- Recommendations included:
- Adding information on trauma and
relevant resources.
- Developing a short, accessible
booklet for families.
- Ensuring the language is inclusive
and accessible, especially for young people.
- Work Programming Session:
- Members met to agree on statutory,
annual, and outstanding items from the previous year.
- Upcoming Items:
- July meeting would scrutinise:
- Children and Young People’s
Services Performance Report.
- Revised Elective Home Education
Policy (pre-decision scrutiny).
- A training session on child-specific
trauma was being arranged via the Member and Democratic Panel.
- This would support a potential
future review on trauma and children missing education.