Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 5.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillor Onkar Saini and Councillor Liz Hardman had sent their apologies to the Panel. Councillor Eleanor Jackson was present as a substitute for Councillor Hardman for the duration of the meeting.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest, (as defined in Part 4.4 Appendix B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Nicola James addressed the Panel and made a statement on the subject of BSW Hospitals Bank Staffing Outsourcing. A copy of the statement is attached as an online appendix to these minutes, and a summary is set out below.

‘I was elected as a public governor for Bath at the RUH in 2022 and served until July 2024. I attended the meetings, read every paper. What I'm about to put on this Panel's record should concern every councillor in this room.

In September 2023 the RUH Public Board paper stated explicitly that the Trust's strategy was to grow the staff bank. Direct quote: "We're looking to support Managers to develop exit plans for high cost agency workers by recruiting to vacancies, moving agency workers onto our Bank." I heard that case made repeatedly. Experienced workers who knew the wards and the patients. Worth protecting, we were told.

By March 2026 the Trust had completely reversed that strategy, abolishing the staff bank entirely and handing it to a private equity company. No public explanation. No long term cost modelling. No transparency about what changed.

The projected saving of £3.3 to £5.4 million comes entirely from cutting employer pension contributions from 23.7% to 6%. That's not an efficiency saving. It's a cost deliberately shifted onto workers to plug a deficit.

The Trust's own consultation document named Pulse/Acacium as preferred bidder before the union consultation period had even closed on 4 March 2026. This panel should ask the trust to explain how a preferred bidder was identified before consultation concluded and what weight, if any, was given to union feedback.

This Panel has a statutory right under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to be consulted on substantial variations in local NHS services before decisions are made. Removing hundreds of workers from NHS employment across three trusts, formally opposed by recognised trade unions, is exactly such a variation. My understanding is this Panel was not consulted. Its statutory rights were entirely bypassed.

This is not responsible financial stewardship. This is deficit management by sleight of hand. And this Panel has both the right and the duty to call it out.

I'm asking this Panel to call an emergency session before August – requiring BSW trust executives to attend and answer for this decision before it becomes irreversible. To write formally to the Secretary of State. And to formally note that its statutory consultation rights were not observed.’

Baz Harding-Clark addressed the Panel and made a statement on the subject of BSW Hospitals Bank Staffing Outsourcing. A copy of the statement is attached as an online appendix to these minutes, and a summary is set out below.

‘I am Branch Secretary of UNISON Bath Health Branch. I also serve as Chair of Staff Side at the RUH, and I am directly affected by this decision in my clinical role. I represent the workers directly impacted. I have formally written to the Secretary of State, Wes Streeting, about it. I  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

The Chair asked if an update could be provided on the proposed changes to the Connecting Families service that were raised at the last meeting.

The Executive Director for People replied that the consultation remained ongoing and that a regular dialogue was taking place between the Senior Leadership Team and the Unions.

He added that expressions of interest in certain roles would not be sought until the consultation had closed.

He said that the consultation had been extended until 17^th July 2026 and that further engagement activities have been planned. He added that at this stage the new structure of the service is anticipated to be issued on 1^st September 2026 and go live on 1^st November 2026.

He stated that following on from the all Councillor briefing in March 2026 a further briefing would sought for some time in May 2026.

The Chair commented that the previous briefing had been helpful and welcomed the offer a further one.

Councillor Joanna Wright said that it was good to hear that talks are ongoing, but said it was her understanding that many staff still don’t feel part of the consultation. She added that she believed that further strikes are planned, or at least being considered and asked what can be done to avoid such action, given the likely impact it would have on the public.

The Executive Director for People replied that he was aware that Unison had held an indicative ballot of their members which had shown that they were in support of taking strike action. He added that the Council would seek to mitigate risks should a strike take place and would work with the Unions to attempt to avoid such action.

Councillor Wright says she recalls being told that there would not be a fire and rehire process and asked if an explanation could be given to those staff that had received a letter stating that their role no longer existed.

The Executive Director for People replied that the process around the deletion of posts has been explained to those concerned and that the letters sent were part of the HR process. He added that in many cases the reason for the letter was that the role was to be subject to a change in title. He stated that five posts were at risk of redundancy.

Councillor Wright said that she remained unhappy with how the process had been carried out so far, especially for the five people whose roles were at most risk.

The Executive Director for People replied that the consultation is still ongoing and that support is being given to those members of staff whose roles are at most risk.

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked him for his update.

Kevin Burnett raised the issue of supervised teeth brushing in schools and asked if Public Health could consider whether  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Services addressed the Panel and highlighted the following points from her update.

Dementia Strategy

·  A multi-agency Steering Group is established, including representatives from B&NES Council, ICB, AWP, Alzheimer’s Society, ReMind, CMHT, carers, care-home and home-care providers, and local VCSE organisations. The approach is rooted in co-production, with focus groups and surveys planned to ensure lived-experience shapes priorities.

·  The Dementia Strategy Steering Group met for the first time on 27 November 2025 and for a second time on 26 February 2026. There are now 24 members of the group from a broad range of health, care, community and voluntary sector organisations. The NHS Dementia 100 Self-Assessment Toolkit is being used to benchmark current pathways and processes and to identify areas of good practice, variation and gaps requiring improvement. This work will help inform priorities to be addressed through the strategy.

·  Engagement Activity:

o  Informal visits to groups to gather insight into the lived experience of people with dementia and carers.

o  Frontline staff engagement through surveys and attendance at team meetings

o  Engagement conversations with RUH, Ambulance Service, Police and VCSE organisations

o  Identification of people with dementia and carers willing to participate in formal focus groups

·  Next Steps

o  Completion of mapping, gap analysis and identifying priorities from the Dementia 100 tool by the end of April

o  Analysis of feedback from staff surveys and informal visits by end of May to inform priorities.

o  Delivery of formal engagement (focus groups and public survey) from March onwards.

o  Analysis of dementia data and alignment with other local strategies and priorities by end of April

Sensory Impairment Support Service

·  The new service was successfully mobilised on 1 January 2026 under a new partnership between Sight Support West and the Royal Association of the Deaf. Providers and commissioners continue to raise awareness of the service with residents, partner organisations, and local services through practitioner communications, social media, the Live Well B&NES resource, the One Stop Shop and the Community Wellbeing Hub.

Advocacy Services

·  The new contract for advocacy services in B&NES went live on April 1st, with The Advocacy People (TAP) as the newly commissioned provider, replacing POhWER. Transition arrangements were carefully managed and progressed smoothly, with no disruption to people receiving advocacy support. The service will support residents to understand their rights, express their views, participate in decisions, and have their statutory rights met.

Learning Disability Provider Service

·  Work continues to review the services delivered by the in-house learning disabilities teams in B&NES. This includes working closely with SEND and Children’s Social Care, introducing structured transition frameworks to ensure smoother journeys for young people as they progress into adult services. The changes reflect our commitment to promoting independence, inclusion, and choice for everyone accessing Adult Social Care.

Update on Combe Lea CQC Inspection

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) undertook an unannounced inspection of Combe Lea on 11th December 2025 and the assessment closed on 9th January 2026. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108.

The Panel will receive an update from the B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) on current issues.

Lucy Baker, B&NES Place Director, BSW ICB addressed the Panel and highlighted the following areas from the update.

Dentistry

·  She gave confirmation and assurance that any NHS funding returned by dentists is recycled for further procurement and commissioning and that all such funding is fully committed.

Blood pressure roadshows in B&NES

·  Work is currently underway to explore opportunities to extend this activity beyond Bath city centre, including potential locations in more rural communities across B&NES such as the Somer Valley and surrounding areas. This approach aims to improve reach and accessibility, particularly in areas where residents may experience barriers to routine health checks.

Neighbourhood Health Planning: Progress in B&NES

·  BSW ICB and B&NES partners are actively developing a locality Neighbourhood Health Plan, led through the Integrated Care Alliance (ICA) and Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB). The Plan will set out how services are organised around defined neighbourhoods of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 people, with Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) bringing together general practice, community health services, social care, VCSE partners and local community assets.

·  Community INT mobilisation commenced from April 2026 under the ICBC contract with HCRG. In BaNES, the initial focus is on high priority cohorts: people with moderate to severe frailty, care home residents, and those who are housebound or approaching end of life.

NHS 111 Press 2 – Mental Health Call Handling - New Interim Call Handling Arrangement

·  Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) are engaging an external partner under a PSR (provider selection regime) direct award contract for up to 12 months to undertake the NHS 111-2 call handling function for Bath, Swindon, and Wiltshire.

·  This arrangement enables us to stabilise the service, strengthen governance, and apply established, evidence-based processes to clinical decision-making.

·  The revised model provides enhanced oversight and assurance regarding the quality and safety of care delivered via additional and more structured clinical audit processes. Furthermore, the new model will provide better data quality to help inform future decision-making.

·  The added functionality provided by engaging with an external partner will also allow for wider integration into the physical health 111 service and other emergency response processes. This will support professional callers to access the right advice and guidance in a timely manner, but also service users to get the right response for their needs at the right time.

Kingfisher Unit - Revised opening date

·  Earlier this year, AWP reported a significant flood within the building which caused extensive damage on the ground floor. This required detailed investigation and specialist assessments to understand the long-term implications. This work has now been completed, with all damaged materials removed and the drying process underway.

·  AWP’s contractor has now confirmed that they expect to hand the completed building over on 17 August. Following this, AWP will begin the necessary preparations for operational use and anticipates that the building will open and receive its first patient on 5 October 2026.

Response to Meningitis outbreak in Kent

·  While there were no cases  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services and the Director of Adult Social Care introduced the report to the Panel.

Councillor Lesley Mansell said that she was pleased to see that improvements had been made within this year alongside bringing some services back in house. She asked how this would be maintained.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that improvements remain ongoing and that she was especially proud of the Occupational Therapy Assessment Centre. She added that it was expected that the CQC would return for a further inspection within the next six months and that evidence was already being gathered in preparation.

Councillor Michael Auton asked what support was in place for residents having issues with regard to Direct Payments.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that a manager was now in place within the service to provide support to residents.

Kevin Burnett asked if there were any current areas of focus for the service.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that they were in the process of setting their current priorities and hoped to have concluded this by May. She added that she would like to see waiting times continue to decrease, implementation of their digital offer (for those residents that are able to) and work towards making safeguarding personal.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson raised the issue of older parents that still have responsibility for their child with learning difficulties who are now an adult, and asked what should be done to make sure arrangements are in place if they are no longer able to care for them.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that they do track families that have adults with learning disabilities and urged them to contact the service to attempt to put a plan in place should such a situation occur.

The Director of People stated that he had recently visited the Occupational Therapy Assessment Centre and commended its work. He also wished to paise the Director of Adult Social Care for her leadership of the service and the response to the CQC inspection.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

i)  Note the summary of progress towards the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan which highlights main themes and action for achieving a good Care Quality Commission rating.

ii)  Agree that a further update report on the progress against the ASC Improvement Plan is submitted to Panel in Autumn 2026.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services and the Complaints and Data Protection Team Manager introduced the report to the Panel.

They explained that the report sets out the number of complaints, compliments and concerns received between April 2024 and March 2025 and details the types of complaint received, the handling of these complaints and the actions taken by the Service to ensure learning is derived from the complaints and related feedback.

Kevin Burnett asked if any particular positives or concerns should be noted.

The Complaints and Data Protection Team Manager replied that the handling of complaints has improved which should be seen as a positive. She added that when complaints are responded to in good time, they are less likely to escalate.

She said that a concern would be whether they could maintain their current levels alongside retaining the ability to learn from complaints that are received.

Kevin Burnett asked if any complaints were received regarding external sources that would be deemed out of their hands.

The Complaints and Data Protection Team Manager replied that there had been a recent increase in complaints relating to finance / charges relating to DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) issues. She added that these would likely show through in the report for 2025-26.

Councillor Lesley Mansell asked what work can be done to improve / gather any missing data. She also asked how information is shared with our providers.

The Complaints and Data Protection Team Manager replied that until this year there was not a source in place to gather specific data. She added that from 1^st April 2026 there was a database in place which should lead to more detailed reporting.

She said that in terms of information sharing she regularly meets with the Head of Commissioning to discuss complaint handling so that she can relay any issues.

The Chair asked when the Panel would receive the next edition of this report.

The Complaints and Data Protection Team Manager replied that this would be around September 2026.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel. Any suggestions for further items or amendments to the current programme will be logged and scheduled in consultation with the Panel’s Chair and supporting officers.

The Panel reviewed the workplan, noting items to be brought forward, including:

·  Response from the BSW Hospitals Group re: Bank Staffing Outsourcing

·  ASC Improvement Plan – Progress Update (Autumn 2026)

·  Complaints and Feedback Annual Report for Adult Social Care 2025-26 (September)

Councillor Eleanor Jackson raised the issue of access to the Sulis Hospital in Peasedown St John as the 522 bus service has now been rerouted.

Lucy Baker replied that she would relay this matter to colleagues and suggested it might be worth exploring whether transport to the site was available through the NHS.

Councillor Lesley Mansell suggested that she would like the Panel to receive an update that covers home care and hospital discharges and any further information on how the current budget is affecting 3^rd sector organisations.

The Chair proposed that the Panel receives a future report relating to the Neurodiversity Strategy.

The Panel RESOLVED to note their current workplan and these proposals for future updates / reports.