Agenda item

(1)  Chairman’s Engagements

An addendum to the list was the Chairman’s and His Lady’s attendance at the Bourne branch of the Royal Naval Association’s Battle of Trafalgar dinner on 21^st October 2005.  The Chairman’s own transport had been used.

(2)  Fun Run on 2^nd October 2005 at Wyndham Park, Grantham

The Chairman reported that Councillor Mrs Frances Cartwright took part in the Fun Run and raised £150 for Children with Leukaemia.  She had also raised £150 for the Chairman’s Charity LIVES.  The Chairman expressed his thanks to Councillor Mrs Cartwright commending the effort she had made to enter into the spirit of the event.  He suggested members might wish to help increase her sponsorship total.

(3)  Correspondence

The Chairman reported on the following letters  which had been received, relating generally to the question of health provision within the district.  In view of the importance of this issue, he read out the contents of each of the letters:

(a)     Letter dated 3^rd October 2005 from a representative of the Department of Health responding to the Chief Executive’s letter addressed to Patricia Hewitt seeking a meeting with the Minister and the Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee.  The letter stated that it would be inappropriate for the Minister to attend such a meeting before investigations into the Lincolnshire NHS Recovery Plan had been concluded.

(b)     Letter dated 13^th October 2005 from the Chief Executive of Peterborough & Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to acknowledge the resolution passed by the Council on 8^th September 2005 (minute 60 refers);

(c)      Letter dated 14^th October 2005 from the Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire, Councillor Mrs M.W. Davidson updating the Council on the outcome of the latest meeting of the scrutiny committee held on 13^th October.

(d)     Letter dated 11^th October 2005 from the Chief Executive of Staffordshire County Council seeking support for a resolution passed by that authority concerning the funding of the Air Ambulance Service by central government.  The Chairman explained he had brought this letter to the attention of this Council as Lincolnshire faced a similar situation.

(4)  Leader’s announcement: Portfolio changes

The Leader thanked the Chairman for allowing her to raise this matter at short notice.  She advised the Council that, owing to Councillor Peter Martin-Mayhew’s continuing personal difficulties, she had made some changes to his portfolio responsibilities which she was required to report to the Council.  With immediate effect Councillor Mrs Frances Cartwright would assume portfolio responsibility for all Housing related matters, to include private housing, care services, affordable housing and homelessness.  Councillor Martin-Mayhew’s would continue to hold the remaining responsibilities under his Community Safety portfolio, which included such key issues as tackling anti-social behaviour.

(5)  Health Provision in Lincolnshire

The Chairman advised that Lincs FM had contacted him about his motion before the Council meeting.  Representatives of the radio station would be conducting interviews in the offices to be broadcast today.  In connection with this matter, Councillor John Hurst had agreed that the Council consider the Chairman’s motion first before his own.

The Chairman then referred to a document that had been circulated within the Council Chamber.  This document related to a situation at Grantham Hospital on 8^th October 2005 that had consequences for a particular employee of the hospital and subsequently covered by the local press.  He stressed this document had not been circulated by the Council and was not part of the agenda.

The Monitoring Officer advised that, on the face of it, the document appeared to be confidential.  During consideration of the Chairman’s motion, he urged caution about referring to the individual concerned.  Councillor Avril Williams stated she had circulated the document which she did not believe to be confidential.  The Monitoring Officer further advised that the document concerned an employee of another organisation outside the Council.  Members could refer to the document in general terms, but not to a specific individual or individuals.