Councillors have agreed to move forward with a plan to investigate putting fluoride in the water to try and address the county's dental access problems. 

A motion by Liberal Democrat councillor Abigail West was agreed by Rutland County Council's full council last night (Nov 21) and the issue will now be investigated by the council's health and wellbeing board. 

The final decision comes down to the government, after local evidence is submitted to them. However, the process can take years and took more than a decade to implement in Northumberland. 

Rutland has been suffering for several years from a lack of dentists and the county's Healthwatch has voiced huge concerns about the problems being faced by those who cannot afford to access private dental treatment in the absence of NHS care. 

Cllr West said she was inspired to bring forward the motion following a recent scrutiny meeting in which the continuing issues were discussed. 

She said: "One of the things we can do is add fluoride to our water. This is not something that everybody agrees on, but it's an option that's open to us and so I'm bringing it here before you tonight to see how everybody else in the chamber feels about adding fluoride to our water." 

The councillor was supported by a number of other councillors. 

The cabinet member for children, Cllr Tim Smith (Lib Dem), said it was a "national disgrace" that children were having to go to hospital to get their teeth pulled. And Labour's Cllr Ramsay Ross said the issue of fluoridation was being taken to the area's health scrutiny by the public director of health Mike Sandys soon. 

But a number of councillors voiced their concern, citing research that there may be a link between fluoride and dementia and other illnesses.  

Cllr Kiloran Heckels (Con), who represents Exton, said more research on the benefits and disadvantages was needed. 

She said: "I would like to see a proper feasibility study undertaken before a final decision is made on this. Really, we should be thinking about how to improve our dentistry in Rutland. Adding fluoride isn't really going to be an alternative to regular dental appointments and hygienist appointments." 

Chair of the health and wellbeing board Cllr Diane Ellison (Lib Dem) said the board would consider the matter carefully. The motion was carried and so the evidence gathering will begin. 

A motion by Conservative councillor Lucy Stephenson about the Labour government's changes to the winter fuel allowance scheme was also carried. The recommendation is that council leader Cllr Gale Waller (Lib Dem) will now write to the chancellor asking for a review of the means tested benefit. 

And another motion in support of the county's farmers was carried. 

Cllr Giles Clifton (Con) said Labour's proposed alterations to agricultural relief, which change the amount of inheritance tax paid by farmers whose land is of a certain value, will 'rip up protections' farmers need to survive. 

The council will now ask the government to rethink and consult with rural communities.