Issue - meetings

To receive any questions or petitions.

Notes:

1.    The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (13 November 2017).

2.    The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting(10 November 2017)

3.    The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.

One question had been received from Jonathan Essex. The response was tabled at the meeting and is attached as an annex to these minutes. Jonathan Essex expressed concern at the delays around providing services for children and asked for clarification around aspects of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). It was clarified by witnesses that there were several pathways for targeted services, including an Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder pathway, an Autistic Spectrum Disorder pathway and Crisis Care pathway.

It was acknowledged that there were delays, though witnesses from Surrey and Borders Partnership (SABP) highlighted that high needs cases were prioritised. It was acknowledged that this would be covered in more depth in item 7 on the agenda. The Cabinet Member for Education highlighted that CAMHS had seen additional investment from both the council and the NHS in the last year, and that the waiting lists were the result of excessive demand, rather than cuts to services.