Issue - meetings

Report attached.

The Joint Committee noted with regret and frustration that NHS officers had not attended the meeting due to legal advice that they could not discuss this item during the pre-election purdah period. Members disagreed strongly this non-appearance was justified. It was felt that the draft long term plan should not be submitted to NHS England without its having been subject to appropriate scrutiny first and that NHS England should be asked to defer any decision on this matter until such scrutiny had first taken place.

It was agreed that the clerk would draw up letters on behalf of the Joint Committee to the Accountable Officer for the North East London Commissioning Alliance and to NHS England expressing the Committee’s frustration and displeasure at the refusal of NHS offices to attend the meeting. It was also agreed that a further joint meeting should be arranged in order to scrutinise the Long Term Plan.