Hampshire County Council consult QC

No existing scheme, power now with Council.




For the complete coverage go to HCC video of meeting
The relevant bit starts at 01:49:33.  

Councillor David Harrison

Surprising Twist in Fluoridation Saga

I was ready to make a speech today at the full meeting of Hampshire County Council, supporting a motion that reaffirmed the position of Hampshire County Council, that we don't support any scheme without public consent and evidence that it is good for public health, rather than harms public health.
In the event, the motion was withdrawn, following a plea from the Leader, Cllr. Roy Perry. He explained that he had taken legal advice and it seems that it would be unwise for the council to predetermine a view, now that the law has changed giving the power to the County Council to decide such issues.
This, I interpret as good news, in that it has not so far been clear whether the power to decide the issue rests with Public Health England (taking over from the abolished Strategic Health Authority), or if it is for us County Councillors to decide. The legal opinion strongly suggests that the decision now rests with us !
After the meeting I was privately reassured by a very high level conservative Councillor that "Everything is soon to be clarified and that I need not worry".
It might be that Public Health England, who will now be required to work very much in partnership with local councils, have after-all accepted that they cannot simply progress a scheme in the face of such opposition.

In a further surprising move, Councillor Roy Perry undertook to see whether the newly created Health & Well Being Board would be willing to accept myself as a member. I am opposition Spokesman for Health. It would reflect the way in which the County Council seeks to work on a cross-party basis on health issues. Fingers crossed then, on both counts!