Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy advised that no notice had been received for the appointment of substitute members.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 19 February 2024 (attached) and 11 March 2024 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2024 and 11 March 2024 were approved as a correct record for signing by the Chairman.

To receive the Cabinet decisions in respect of recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

There were none.

To receive any public petitions or issues referred by Council, Cabinet or another Committee.

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy advised that there were no issues referred to the Committee by Council, Cabinet or another Committee.

It is intended that Members should use the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to identify topics within the remit of the Committee for future scrutiny.

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy presented the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to the Committee for its consideration.

It was agreed that the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions be noted.

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy presented the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme to the Committee for its consideration.

Members were informed that NHS Kent and Medway had provided an update on the progress of the tender for phlebotomy services at Deal Hospital. The initial tender process had not resulted in a successful tender being received and that a new revised tender exercise would be undertaken.

In respect of the work programme item on IT Services, Members were advised that the East Kent Audit Partnership were undertaking an audit into recent events and that once that had concluded the item would be scheduled in the work programme. 

Members identified the following items for inclusion within the work programme:

·         SEND Provision in the Dover District. It was stated that representatives from Kent County Council would need to be involved. (Councillor H M Williams)

·         Southern Water – To receive an update on wastewater management and agricultural runoff. It was stated that the Environment Agency would need to be involved.  (Councillor L M Wright)

Councillor R M Knight raised the issue of the involvement of ward members in respect of the Guide Hut at Whitfield as per a previous recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Strategic Director (Place and Growth) advised that the ward members would be consulted when the heads of terms were ready to be signed off.

RESOLVED:       That the Work Programme be noted subject to the inclusion of the items on SEND provision in the Dover District and Wastewater management and agricultural runoff.

Please note that in accordance with the agreed Protocol for Public Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny, the right to speak only applies to agenda item 11 – Renovation of Former Hair Salon to Provide Extended Facilities for Crosslinks Youth & Community Hub at 9 Sheridan Road, Dover.

Members of the public wishing to speak must register to do so by no later than 2.00 pm on the second working day (Thursday) before the meeting.

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy advised that no members of the public had registered to speak on items on the agenda to which the public speaking protocol applied.

To scrutinise the provision of NHS Dentistry Services in the Dover District.

Representatives of NHS Kent and Medway will be present at the meeting to respond to questions from the members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Sukh Singh (Director of Primary and Community (Out of Hospital) Care – NHS Kent and Medway), Louise Matthews (Deputy Director Primary Care Commissioning – NHS Kent and Medway) and Cheryl Wood (Chair of Kent Local Dentistry Committee) were present at the meeting to provide answers to the Key Questions submitted by Members.

The Director of Primary and Community (Out of Hospital) Care informed Members that the ICB was keen to learn from dentists, particularly given the national challenges around dentistry provision. He emphasised the importance of preventative care for patients to prevent future problems.

A report containing statistical information had been circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.

Q1.      What proportion of the 1) adult, and 2) child population of the district is registered with a dentist as an NHS patient?

Patients were not registered with a dentist in the same way that they were with a GP because dental patients were not bound to a catchment area, nor could the ICB allocate a patient to a dentist in the same way they could a GP. The onus was on the patient to find an NHS dentist and they were not restricted by locality.

Patients were aligned to a dental practice for their course of treatment only and NICE guidance recommended an adjustable recall interval for adults ranging from a minimum of three months to a maximum of 24 months between recall appointments (dental check-ups). For children, the recommended recall interval was between 3 and 12 months.

From the NHS perspective, dental access was measured by the number of individual patients seen by a NHS dentist, at least once in the most recent 24-month period. Between April 2018 and April 2020 slightly less than half of the Kent and Medway population accessed NHS Dental Services.

For children this was around 65% and for adults around 43%. In February 2022 this dipped to 33.5% of the Kent and Medway population accessing NHS Dental Services. For children this fell to 49.3% and for adults 29%.

In response to a question from a Member it was stated that it was possible for patients to drop off the books of dentists once their work had been undertaken. Additionally, if a dentist had fulfilled there contract they could refuse to undertake additional work.

Q2.    How has the number of dentists (and dental surgeries) in the district changed over the past 5 or more years?

Currently there was limited workforce data available.  A national workforce data collection was introduced in October 2023, and NHS Kent and Medway were waiting on the publication of the results. They did not hold district level workforce data.

The Annual National Dental Statistics provided information at a Kent and Medway level on the number of dentists undertaking NHS dentistry.

Between 2012-13 and 2022-23 the total number of dentists undertaking NHS dentistry in Kent and Medway rose from by 9.4% from 801 to 876, an increase of 75 dentists.

Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, the total number of dentists undertaking NHS  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Property Assets.

The Head of Property Assets informed Members that the report sought to update the Cabinet on the progress with the project to undertake works to the shops at Nos 9 and 13 Sheridan Road, Dover to support the work of the Crosslinks Community Hub and to seek approval from the Cabinet for the proposed concessionary rent arrangements.

Councillor C A Vinson queried why this particular project had advanced more quickly than other projects and the nature of the budget pressure arising from it. In response it was stated that attempts to achieve a commercial solution had failed and that the proposed solution provided for a benefit to the local community and avoided having an empty property that could attract anti-social behaviour. Additionally, the work of Crosslinks helped to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour.

It was agreed to note the report.

It was moved by Councillor C A Vinson, duly seconded by Councillor M W Rose and

RESOLVED:   That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the items to be considered involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Place and Growth.

The Strategic Project Manager presented the report on the Dover District Crematorium Project.

It was agreed to note the report.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Place and Environment).

The Head of Place and Growth presented the report on Dover Town Centre Regeneration – Roman Painted House and Roman Lawn, Dover.

It was agreed to note the report.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Place and Environment).

The Strategic Project Manager presented the report on Your Leisure Additional Funding.

It was agreed to note the report.