Agenda item

To receive an update on health and planning.

The Committee considered a report regarding health and planning.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·         At the Committee’s September meeting, Councillor Frewin had asked a question in relation to health in planning decisions.  The question had come about as a result of a planning application for a quarry and cement works at Bridge Farm.  Councillor Smith outlined the reasons why this application had been refused.

·         Marcia Head clarified that when a planning application was received it was sent to Environmental Health for comment.

·         Councillor Frewin commented that it was important to look at the cumulative effect of development on the local health service.

·         Ian Bellinger commented that in producing the Local Plan there were several steps which could be taken to ensure that health and wellbeing considerations were taken into account and to make sure information was accessible.

·         An Infrastructure Delivery Plan was being produced alongside the Local Plan.  Engagement would be carried out with organisations such as the NHS, Police and Fire Authority.

·         It was noted that the Council would publish a Health Impact Assessment that would be published alongside the Draft Local Plan when it was put out to consultation in February.  This assessments considered how the Draft Local Plan aligned to the Council’s health and wellbeing priorities.

·         Members were advised that the Draft Local Plan proposes that developers of major developments submit their own health impact plans.  If this policy were accepted, supplementary guidance would need to be produced to assist its implementation.

·         Councillor Frewin suggested that there was a gap in the planning process between the production of the Local Plan and the provision of GP surgeries.

·         Councillor Miall commented that large developments in particular often had engagement meetings with the local community.  He went on to ask if this was a requirement.  Marcia Head stated that the Government guidance on planning and also the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement encouraged early engagement. 

·         Councillor Bishop-Firth asked whether the Council engaged with neighbouring authorities regarding health and wellbeing matters and planning.  Marcia Head indicated that neighbouring authorities would be consulted in the case of major applications.  Ian Bellinger emphasised that the Local Plan would also take cross border movement into account and officers had regular meetings.

·         In response to a Member question, Ian Bellinger indicated that the Council tried to have conversations with partners such as the NHS as early as possible regarding the potential allocations to inform and influence service provision.  However, the Council had no direct control over this.  If the NHS indicated that, they required land within a major development to be reserved for a health service building this could be discussed and planned for.  However, engagement with the CCG had indicated that their main constraint in how to deliver services related not to land but to the availability of health professionals, such as GPs, and revenue costs.

·         The Committee discussed hospital provision in some detail.  Councillor Mather questioned where residents in any potential new large-scale developments in the Borough would be expected to go to hospital and where their GP surgery would be located.

·         Workforce pressures continued to be an issue across the NHS.  Members referred to specific areas within the Borough where the recruitment of GPs had been difficult.

·         Jim Stockley commented that access to GP appointments continued to be one of the most common topics that people contacted Healthwatch Wokingham about.

·         Councillor Frewin questioned whether there would be an opportunity to suggest a new hospital facility, in the Local Plan.

·         Councillor Mather asked whether the Reading and West Berkshire Overview and Scrutiny Committees should be asked for their views on local hospital services.  Members also questioned whether the local MPs should be lobbied.

·         In response to a Member question, Marcia Head clarified that the National Planning Policy Framework touched on the issue of health and wellbeing but it was more within the context of ensuring access to open space.

·         Councillor Smith proposed that he refer the issues of hospital service provision and GP surgeries within the Borough and appointments, to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, and ask that they raise these matters at the Chief Executive’s Forum and Leaders Forum.

RESOLVED:  That

1)         the report be noted;

2)         the issues of hospital service provision and GP surgeries within the Borough and appointments be referred to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, and it be asked that they raise these matters at the Chief Executive’s Forum and Leaders Forum.