09 02 2005

A  MEETING of the COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF GOSPORT was held in the Council Chamber at the TOWN HALL, GOSPORT on WEDNESDAY, the NINTH day of FEBRUARY 2005 at  6.00 PM.

 

The Mayor (Councillor Edwards) (P) (in the Chair);

 

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Burgess) (P);

 

Councillors Allen (P), Mrs Batterbury (P), Mrs Binfield (P), Bone, Carr (P), Carter (P), Mrs Champion (P), Chegwyn (P), Clinton (P), Mrs Cully (P), Cully (P), Davis (P), Dickson (P), Edgar (P), Farr (P), Foster (P), Gill (P), Hayward (P), Hook (P), Jacobs (P),  Kimber (P), Langdon (P), Philpott (P), Redrup (P), Rigg (P), Mrs Salter (P), Searle (P), Smith (P), Taylor (P), Train (P), Mrs Wright (P) and Wright (P).

 

Also in attendance: Honorary Aldermen Mrs Bailey, Foster and O’Neill

 

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APOLOGIES

 

Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillor Bone and Honorary Aldermen Flory and Rushton.

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MINUTES

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the Council held on 1 December 2004 and 20 January 2005 be confirmed and signed.

 

 

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MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS

 

(A)              ELLEN MACARTHUR

 

The Mayor reported that he had sent an e-mail on behalf of the Council’s Members and Staff congratulating Ellen MacArthur on her new world record for sailing single handedly around the world.

 

(B)             HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT STRATEGIC HEALTH AUTHORITY (SHA) MEETING – 8 FEBRUARY 2005

 

The Mayor had agreed to allow Council Edgar to update Members regarding the Strategic Health Authority meeting he had attended on 8 February 2005.

 

Councillor Edgar reported that the SHA meeting had considered a report that had predicted that it could struggle to find all the cash for the hospital which is to be built on the former Coldeast site at Sarisbury.  The report had presented three options:

 

Ø      To plough on regardless;

Ø      To make cuts to the budget; and

Ø      To delay its implementation

 

The Authority had a month to consider the options.  Therefore Fareham’s Community Hospital in 2010 was on hold.  The Fareham and Gosport PCT would make a decision on the matter in March 2005.  Councillor Edgar expressed concern that he had noticed at the SHA meeting that lay members and some officers of the SHA and the PCT did not appear to be aware of the excellent facilities which already existed and were in current use in this area at the Royal Hospital Haslar.  In the present difficult circumstances there had to be a thorough exploration of the use of these facilities to provide health services in the future and a dialogue with the MOD and Government about sensible and reasonable costing  reflecting the best public interest.  It could not be right that this option was to be ignored.

 

In this connection Councillor Edgar asked for the Council’s support for letters to be written to the Chairmen of the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight SHA and Fareham and Gosport PCT inviting their officers and members to a fact-finding visit to the Royal Hospital Haslar.  If difficult decisions had to be made, it was essential that those involved were fully appraised of the existing and potential cost effective use of these facilities for elective surgery and community use.

 

In conclusion, Councillor Edgar referred to a reply Dr Ellis, Chairman of the Hampshire County Council’s Health Review Committee had received from Ivor Caplin MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans regarding the configuration of military and civilian health services in South East Hampshire.  He was disappointed with the last paragraph of the letter which stated:

 

“Lastly, you asked for comment on the feasibility of reducing or waiving the transfer of assets at the Haslar site.  You should be aware that any transfer of the site would be constrained by Treasury guidance, which only allows for a departure from full cost charging in exceptional cases.”

 

MOTION: That the Chief Executive be requested to write to the Chairmen of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority and the Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust inviting their officers and members to a fact-finding visit to the Royal Hospital Haslar.