Agenda and minutes

Cllr Seccombe welcomed continuing and new members of the Board.  There were no declarations of interest and members noted the terms of reference for the board and its membership.

A verbal update will be provided by Andrew Webster

Andrew Webster provided members with a verbal update on the Better Care Fund.  Members expressed concern about uncertainty about the levels of protection for adult social care and the processes involved. They looked forward to further information about local plans being “signed off.”

A verbal update on the Lead Members meeting with Jon Rouse will be given by Cllr Seccome.

Members should refer to the briefing for item 2 in the papers for the Board members’ workshop.

Cllr Seccombe provided a brief account of the meeting she and fellow lead members had had with Jon Rouse at which they raised LGA’s concerns about the risk that reforms in 2015/16 would be underfunded.

Local authority Budget estimate for public health 2014-15

Councils are planning to spend approx. 6% more on public health than in 2014-15.  This is coupled with some rebalancing spend towards locally agreed priorities (so spending down in some areas and increased in others).

Health Premium Incentive Scheme. 

A public health premium incentive scheme will be phased in from 2015-16 to reward local authorities for progress against a sub-set of indicators from the public health outcomes framework. Linked to attainment of one local and one national target.

The total premium to be distributed across local authorities for the trial year in 2015-16 will be £5 million. This amount is less than 0.2% of the total ring-fenced grant for 2015-16.

Public Health Workforce

Guidance has been published (link below) on developing multidisciplinary health teams.  It offers key learning on workforce and contractual issues with respect to staff transfers and also some evidence of possible impacts on some professions such as environmental health scientists.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/344445/Multidisciplinary_PH_teams.pdf

Peter Sutcliffe was asked to provide members with an update from the Resources Board on anything relevant to Public Health.

Members noted the updates contained in the report and were asked to make any comments in relation to items 15 and 18 direct to Sally Burlington.

Appointment of a chair person and a member for each of the two Task and finish groups was deferred to Lead Members as an element of the appointment of portfolio holders and representatives on outside bodies.

Final paper to be tabled on the day

Members should refer to the Draft Document in the morning workshop papers (Item 4)

In the light of the discussion with Norman Lamb MP earlier that day, and taking account of the LGAs corporate priorities and work already underway on the board’s behalf, a discussion took place with respect to the Board’s priorities for 2014-15.

A number of key issues were identified further to those tabled at the 23 July Board and by lead members on the 20 August. 

Officers were asked to bring these into a single set of priorities against which would be mapped relevant current and planned work by the policy team for distribution to members.

Draft paper enclosed. 

Final paper to be tabled on the day

Members noted the portfolio areas and outside bodies set out in the paper.  Whilst some members had responded to the invitation to self-nominate to become a portfolio holder, the deadline was extended to allow all members to respond given that some were on leave when the invitation was made.  The appointment of portfolio holders and nomination of representatives to sit on outside bodies was deferred to the Lead Members at their next meeting. 

Minutes of the 23 July Board were noted. 

Given the activities of the board and the fast moving pace of developments it was proposed that:

a.         Board meeting times be formally extended to 3 hours in order to accommodate the number of items/issues requiring the boards consideration:

b.         That a regular update be sent out to members in-between boards that would progress actions arising from the board as well inform of any important developments in matters being considered by the board; and

c.         That attempts would be made to convene a joint meeting with members of the Children and Young People Board in the near future.