Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made.

The Portfolio are asked to consider updates from the four Community Wellbeing work streams. Each Lead Member will to present to the Portfolio on the work of their Group, and this will be followed by an opportunity for discussion with the whole Portfolio.

The Chair summarised the work which had been undertaken across the Portfolio to date and highlighted the media coverage and parliamentary activity which the Portfolio had been involved in over the last few months. She thanked Lead Members and all Portfolio Members who had supported this work.

She explained that throughout the 2015/16 meeting cycle the priorities of the Portfolio had been delivered through four policy groups, each led by one of the Lead Members. Lead Members were invited to present to the Portfolio on the work of their group as well as highlighting future work and priorities.

The Chairman, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, explained that she was leading the Future Vision of Health and Care Systems Policy Group. There was a lot of ongoing work, and in particular many areas of joint working with other policy groups.

Members noted that following the spending review the government had announced planning guidance looking towards a more long term approach, and STPs were a key area for most local authorities. The Chairman had written to the Secretary of State on this issue, and the LGA had received a response from the Minister of State, Alistair Burt. It was hoped that with a local authority influence there would be more focus on a place-based approach and not just on cost.

Devolution was also having an impact on STPs, with the individual footprint areas being particularly important to local authorities. The LGA would continue to lobby for a whole system approach to healthcare. Manchester were still the only area to have gained control of health and social care in their devolution deal; other authorities were in discussions with government on this possibility. Work on this would be added to a green paper on devolution to be launched at the LGA Annual Conference.

The policy group had overseen joint work with the NHS Confederation, NHS Clinical Commissioners and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care (ADASS) on a joint vision paper which would be launched at the NHS Confederation conference, and would be presented at the LGA Annual Conference along with a toolkit for councils.

Across the country the LGA was working to ensure that Health and Wellbeing Boards became the system leader, although this was not yet a mandate from the government. They were currently seen as providing system leadership in more general terms.

In the discussion which followed Members raised the following points:

·         As always there should be cross-party agreement on the lobbying work with the government and the NHS on how to ensure there was an effective health and social care system.

·         There was concern on the lack of consultation on STPs and the lack of collaborative approach with the NHS and the lack of clarity on what they would achieve.

·         It was acknowledged that the LGA had been effective in influencing a delay in the Better Care Fund due to the lack of funding in the system.

Decision

The Community Wellbeing Portfolio noted the update from the Future Vision of Health and Care Systems Policy Group.

The Vice-Chair, Cllr Linda Thomas, explained that she was leading the Funding and Support for Adult Social Care Policy Group. She highlighted that this was increasingly a priority area for councils, with more pressure on other areas as they worked to sustain funding for Adult Social Care (ASC), learning disability support and transformation of care. 

Members noted that the government had announced an increase to ASC funding in the recent spending review as part of the Better Care Fund, however the increase would only cover the cost of paying existing staff the national living wage.

The Policy Group had identified that the LGA should focus more on provider and workforce pressures, as well as raising the profile of care and support in Parliament. As a result of this the Group had written to the Health Select Committee regarding the impact of the spending review on health and social care.

It was hoped that a wide ranging report on ASC funding would go to the next NCAS conference to continue the conversation on pressures on councils. It was also suggested that local government leaders should write to the Prime Minister to ask for a guarantee of funding outlined in the spending review.

The group had a forthcoming meeting with providers of services to people with learning disabilities, which was a growing issue for councils. It was hoped that a shared message from councils and providers could be drafted for publication in the national media.

In the discussion which followed Members raised the following points:

·         The Portfolio and LGA as a whole should continue to work on raising the profile of care and support. This would also link with the public health agenda, and would be a good area to jointly work with the Health and Wellbeing Policy Group.

·         It was important for the LGA Executive to promote the work of the Portfolio, and provide examples of funding reductions to the government and health system leaders on behalf of councils.

·         It was anticipated that the equalisation of business rates would be a positive step for councils in securing funding for ASC in the future.

Decision

The Community Wellbeing Portfolio noted the update from the Funding and Support for Adult Social Care Policy Group.

The Deputy Chair, Cllr Richard Kemp CBE, explained that he was leading the Health and Wellbeing Policy Group, which covered primarily public health. He highlighted that councils did not have large budgets to deliver public health projects, but if a whole council approach was taken then there could be a strong influence.

The LGA was looking to find interesting and fun ways to engage with people on serious public health issues. Lobbying by the LGA had influenced government policy, such as the forthcoming tax on sugary drinks, and would continue to work with government to ensure that this was implemented nationally. Currently 30% of 11 years olds were obese, which would cause further dangerous health implications as they got older.

The policy group was also working on the health of unemployed people, and physical inactivity generally. There were many examples of programmes in councils to encourage people to become more active, and best practice was shared across the country. They were also working with Chairs of Health and Wellbeing Boards, particularly on children’s health.

Councils were still waiting for the government to publish the delayed Childhood Obesity Strategy, but the LGA had produced a publication to launch at the Annual Conference to promote councils’ views on the strategy, and promote work which was already being undertaken.

In the discussion which followed, Members raised the following points:

·         There should be strong links between the LGA’s public health and mental health work, and how to get people living healthily in the community. There was a real responsibility for local authorities to make good use of public health budgets.

·         Public health work should be promoted to the wider LGA, as it linked in particular with planning, transport, and air pollution.

·         Members were encouraged to share further examples of public health schemes from their own authorities.

Decision

The Community Wellbeing Portfolio noted the update from the Health and Wellbeing Policy Group.

The Deputy Chair, Cllr Gillian Ford, explained that she was leading the People Policy Group, which covered vulnerable adults and young people, and end of life care. The group worked closely with outside bodies, and the main focus for the year was mental health, where councils had a great deal of work to do. Mental health received only 6% of the NHS budget, and therefore this was an area where the LGA should focus lobbying work very carefully.

At the first Mental Health Conference Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb had advised he would be calling for a cross-party commission on mental health. The LGA was calling on local authorities to appoint mental health champions, which would lead to a new network of mental health champions across the country.

Members were working with the National Housing Federation on the local housing allowance cap, which would link into LGA work on transforming care. Members were also considering the 2020 dementia implementation campaign at local level, through Dementia Friends and Dementia Friendly Communities. The Department of Health was focussing on this, with a user led group to identify any shortfalls.

She highlighted that a session on the armed forces community covenant would be held at the LGA Annual Conference.

In the discussion which followed, Members highlighted in particular the growing pressures on learning disability funding. Some lobbyists were attempting to persuade the government to change local government limitations on developing work, prevention and socialising, which were all non-statutory. This could have a significant impact on local government and should be considered carefully by the LGA over the coming months.

Decision

The Community Wellbeing Portfolio noted the update from the People Policy Group.

Decision

The Community Wellbeing Portfolio agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 October 2015.