Agenda item

 

(a)    Question from Mr. D. Wright, on behalf of ‘South Yorkshire Save Our NHS’, 15 Chantry Close, Cantley, Doncaster, DN4 6RX, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“My question refers to Item 5 on the agenda of the Doncaster CCG Governing Board meeting 15 February 2018, which is the minutes of the January Board meeting, paragraph 7 on pages 17/18 of the agenda pack.

 

This is a report by Ernst Young, which said 'The cost of delivering health and social care services is increasing and our gap will be £139.5 million by 20/21 if we do nothing'. Page 18 says that the CCG's 'total expected saving of the £139.5 million was approximately £30 million' (by 2021).

 

We believe that it is not possible to have a functional 'joined up' health and social care service with these proposed unattainable financial restraints.

 

Can you tell me what the Council's share of these 'required savings' will be and will the Mayor now change her stance to actively opposing them?”

 

(b)    Question from Mr. A. Ntiege, 2 South Street, Doncaster, DN4 5FH, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“With regards to draft BAME HNA, what specific measures are being taken by the Mayor and the Council to ensure accountability in the implementation of the recommendations from the Assessment and what are the steps taken by the Council to resolve the unemployment issues forced by BAME residents?”

 

(c)    Question from Mr. T. Brown, 4 West Grove, Wheatley Hills, Doncaster, DN2 5NB, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“Dr Suckling states “the best predictor of good health is having a good job”.

 

16 years on from the Professor Gus John report – Tired of Fighting, DMBC is still virtually mono cultural!

 

The FOI response sent to me (3.11.17) suggests that BME candidates across DMBC are still over 2 times less likely to be appointed after shortlisting than white candidates who are shortlisted.

 

Can you honestly explain why such racial disparities continue to exist in 2018 and articulate what actions DMBC can implement (based on best practice) to ensure that the dream of fairness within DMBC/Doncaster becomes a reality?”

 

(A)       Question from Mr. D. Wright, on behalf of ‘South Yorkshire Save Our NHS’, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones.

 

“My question refers to Item 5 on the agenda of the Doncaster CCG Governing Board meeting 15th February 2018, which is the minutes of the January Board meeting, paragraph 7 on pages 17/18 of the agenda pack.

 

This is a report by Ernst Young, which said 'The cost of delivering health and social care services is increasing and our gap will be £139.5 million by 20/21 if we do nothing'. Page 18 says that the CCG's 'total expected saving of the £139.5 million was approximately £30 million' (by 2021).

 

We believe that it is not possible to have a functional 'joined up' health and social care service with these proposed unattainable financial restraints.

 

Can you tell me what the Council's share of these 'required savings' will be and will the Mayor now change her stance to actively opposing them?”

 

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, gave the following reply:-

 

“Thank you for your question Mr. Wright.

 

As you know, the Council continues to face harsh government cuts to its budget.

 

Over the next three years, we need to meet a further budget gap of £44million. This includes the latest savings and pressures including growth, for more Council services that provide health and social care, which are set out in more detail on pages 21 to 23 of today’s agenda.

 

Despite this, we have once again set out a balanced revenue budget for the coming year, which will be considered by Members today. 

 

Anyone who has listened to me over the last five years will know that I have time and time again set out my opposition to the ongoing Conservative austerity cuts.

 

I have also repeatedly criticised the Government for its failure to properly deal with social care funding.  Instead, they are pushing the burden on to local Council Tax Payers. It is a point that I will once again be making today.

 

Similarly, this Council has made clear our concerns about the underfunding of the NHS and the impact of not providing the NHS with the funding that it needs.

 

Furthermore, the Cabinet chose to note rather than support the Sustainability and Transformation Plan, because it did not make clear the impacts of the funding gap facing health services in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

 

I cannot make any clearer my opposition to the current Government’s approach to funding health and social care.

 

However, I will not let our opposition to Government austerity stop us from undertaking vital work to better integrate health and social care services for the benefit of local people. It is something that is clearly required, with support from health professionals and across the political party divide.

 

There is a very significant difference between opposing the Government’s austerity measures and getting on with the job you have been elected to do to improve the lives of local people.

 

For the last five years, that is what I have done and it is what we will continue to do.

 

Once again, thank you for your question.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.10, Mr. Wright asked the Mayor, the following supplementary question:-

 

“Mayor fourteen months ago, I asked a similar question about Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STPs) and you were then concerned about the lack of information about budget pressures arising out of STPs.  Your position is unchanged and you still have the same problems.  By the way I am Doug Wright from ‘Save our NHS’.  As the Council has been made aware, the 2018/19 NHS allocation for Doncaster CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) is nearly three quarters of a million pounds less than everybody was led to believe in the budget forecast you were given in 2016 when the STP (Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships) changes were being developed.  The question is, will this have a significant impact on your Council budget for next year now you have agreed to work together in partnership with the CCG and partners?”

 

In response, the Mayor gave the following reply:-

 

“All the impact has been taken account of when you look at the pressures and the savings that’s on the pages that I have quoted previously.  Therefore, all account has been taken of the pressures and the increases.”

 

 

 

 

(B)       Question from Mr. A. Ntiege, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones.

 

“With regards to draft BAME HNA, what specific measures are being taken by the Mayor and the Council to ensure accountability in the implementation of the recommendations from the Assessment and what are the steps taken by the Council to resolve the unemployment issues faced by BAME residents?”

 

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, gave the following reply:-

 

“Thank you for your question.

 

The development and implementation of the Black and Ethnic Minority Health Needs Assessment has been led by Doncaster’s Health and Wellbeing Board, a Sub-Committee of Full Council.

 

At its meeting this month, as part of a regular reporting cycle, the Health and Wellbeing Board will receive an update on the approach to health inequalities.

 

This will include feedback from an initial round of focus groups. It will also update Board Members on access to and outcomes from treatment services for people with common mental health conditions.

 

Moving forward, the Board will have an important role in improving health outcomes in relation to the issues identified in the BME Health Needs Assessment and for all communities in Doncaster.

 

Doncaster is also part of a South Yorkshire pilot to support people out of work with common mental health problems and musculoskeletal problems to return and stay in work.

 

As this begins, we will monitor how people from BME groups access and benefit from the new offer.

 

Finally, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Framework will be considered by Cabinet tomorrow. This includes a number of important steps to support people into employment, including:-

 

·     That more young people from disadvantaged, BME backgrounds, as well as people with a disability, do well at school.

 

·     There is an increase in the number of people from BME communities that take up apprenticeship opportunities in Doncaster; and

 

·     We will identify and reduce the inequalities of health outcomes of BME populations in Doncaster, particularly on access to Mental Health Services.

 

Once again, thank you for your question”.

 

As Mr. Ntiege was not in attendance at the meeting, a copy of the Mayor’s response would be sent to Mr Ntiege.

 

(C)       Question from Mr. T. Brown, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones.

 

“Dr Suckling states ‘the best predictor of good health is having a good job’.

 

16 years on from the Professor Gus John report – Tired of Fighting, DMBC is still virtually mono cultural!

 

The FOI response sent to me (3.11.17) suggests that BME candidates across DMBC are still over 2 times less likely to be appointed after shortlisting than white candidates who are shortlisted.

 

Can you honestly explain why such racial disparities continue to exist in 2018 and articulate what actions DMBC can implement (based on best practice) to ensure that the dream of fairness within DMBC/Doncaster becomes a reality?”

 

The Mayor of Doncaster gave the following reply:-

 

“Thank you for your question.

 

My view is that the Council has made significant improvements on the important issue of equality and diversity, but we must continue to deliver further improvements.

 

I would not agree that the Council is virtually mono-cultural. The Cabinet regularly receives reports on the Council’s workforce profile and the latest data shows that in Quarter 3 of this year, approaching 5% of the Council’s workforce was from an ethnic minority background. This was also an increase on the figure from the previous quarter.

 

From a workforce perspective, Doncaster Council has an annual calendar of events which promote equality, diversity and inclusion. It also aims to ensure that the Council not only complies with its obligations as an employer under the Equality Act 2010, but goes beyond the protected characteristics in its policy framework, to promote a culture of dignity and respect for all employees.

 

However, there is always more that can be done, not just in the Council but across Doncaster.

 

Tomorrow, Cabinet will consider the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Framework for the next three years. The framework sets out in one place, our EDI objectives and arrangements for embedding equality into everything we do.

 

In developing the framework, we invited the Local Government Association to work with us to help shape our approach, build on our strengths and learn from best practice. The LGA recognised that good progress has been made in 2017 evidenced by the development of the EDI framework and associated governance arrangements.

 

Specific objectives for the coming year include:-

 

·       That more young people from disadvantaged, BME backgrounds as well as people with a disability do well at school;

 

·       There is an increase in the number of people from BME communities that take up apprenticeship opportunities in Doncaster;

 

·       Reviewing our recruitment practices to improve diversity in our workforce and become more reflective of Doncaster’s population; and

 

·       We will identify and reduce the inequalities of health outcomes of BME populations in Doncaster, particularly on access to Mental Health Services.

 

The EDI Board will receive regular reports on progress towards the objectives set out in this framework. In conjunction with our performance management framework quarterly monitoring process, the issue of equality, diversity and inclusion will have rigour, focus and transparency in the way it is managed and reported.

 

Once again, thank you for your question.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.10, Mr. Brown asked the Mayor, the following supplementary question:-

 

“Mayor Jones, once again you have failed to answer my very specific question.  It was a question and I stand here today as a parent. 

 

All I am trying to do with respect and I didn’t even want to be here today, because I find it a very intimidating atmosphere. I just want to give some context that as a parent, I have been asking these questions for over 23 years about why is it that black young people, from the Council’s own figures, are two times less likely to be appointed after being shortlisted and at the interview stage than a white person. 

 

With respect, there is nowhere in this respons, where Mayor Jones has bothered to answer this question.  Why don’t we look at best practice? Why don’t we look at McKinsey’s who are addressing such disparities; look at who is sitting on our interview Panels.  Why is it that this Council can’t afford some support to BME candidates.  Why is it that BME candidates cannot be afforded acting-up opportunities?

 

Mayor Jones makes reference to apprenticeships.  As a parent, very few of these apprenticeships are fit for purpose in the sense that very few are for three years.  They are what I call ‘Mickey Mouse’.  I would not allow my children to be on many of these one year apprenticeships that lead to nowhere.  When I put my son forward to a higher apprenticeship for Doncaster Council, in the application, they put that you must have experience of Doncaster Council’s financial procedures, etc. Thankfully, my son is at Newcastle University.  He can’t get into Doncaster Council, which is one of his preferred options because he is running up a £50k debt, which a lot of young people are facing.  His preferred option would have been an apprenticeship.  Those are the kind of responses that I would have wanted. 

 

Mayor Jones, after 20 odd years of me coming here, I have sat on the Equal Opportunities Panel 20 odd years ago.   It’s great to see Mick Cooper in the audience here.  He will remember me starting up as a founder member of ‘Friends of Grove Gardens’.  I am a net giver. My family are net givers.  My sister has worked 30 odd years at the NHS delivering babies.  And yet it is still the case that the Health Needs Assessment is still 14 years out of date. 

 

There is no BME voice or infrastructure in Doncaster. I will keep on coming here and keep asking these questions until there is fairness, not just for my family, but for everybody. Thank you very much.”

 

In response, the Mayor gave the following reply:-

 

“Mr Brown, I take this issue seriously and as I have already said in my response, progress has been made.  However, we will be reviewing our recruitment practices to seek to further improve diversity in the Council’s workforce and become more reflective of Doncaster’s population. Thank you.”                                                                .”