Agenda and minutes

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any Personal, Disclosable Pecuniary or other interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Dr Bal Bahia and Dr Barbara Barrie declared an interest in all matters pertaining to Primary Care, by virtue of the fact that he was a General Practitioner, but reported that, as his interest was not personal, prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matters where appropriate.

Purpose: To provide an update on the Better Care Fund.

Rachael Wardell introduced the item to Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board. The Better Care Fund (BCF) was money designated to supporting priorities within the health and social care system. It involved collaborative working across the West of Berkshire and consisted of seven schemes which had been grouped into five projects. It was a year since the BCF had first been presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Submission of the BCF plans was currently pending, in anticipation of a decision from the Department of Health (DH) regarding funding for the implementation of the Care Act. Local Members of Parliament were lobbying the DH on behalf of West Berkshire Council on this matter. Recently the DH had asked for further information from West Berkshire Council. Whilst the decision from the DH was awaited, West Berkshire Council were not in a position to sign off the BCF plans.

Councillor Marcus Franks added that continuing pressure was being placed on the Secretary of State and that until a decision was confirmed, it was suggested that the submission of the BCF plans should be deferred.

Cathy Winfield reported that although the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) supported the Local Authority in its negotiations over funding for the Care Act, she was disappointed that West Berkshire Council were not in a position to meet the national deadline set by central Government. There would be implications for not signing the BCF within the given timescale and therefore Cathy Winfield stressed the need to set a time limit for deferral and suggested that ten days from the Special Meeting would be reasonable. The CCG were sympathetic to the negotiations the Council was having to undertake however, it saw the Care Act as more decoupled from the BCF. The CCG were of the view that discussions concerning the Care Act were between the Local Authority and Central Government. The CCG was happy to support the Local Authority however, was keen for deadlines for deferment to be agreed.

Councillor Graham Pask stated that the fact that West Berkshire had been unable to sign off its BCF plans was due to no fault of its own. It was hoped that accumulative action would be the result of not meeting the deadline set by Central Government. Various pressures had been placed on the relevant people and a rapid response was required. Councillor Pask supported deferring the submission of the BCF plans however, felt that they could not agree to a timescale that there was no control over.

Cathy Winfield stressed by not submitting the plans, West Berkshire would supersede control of almost £9 million. The BCF process would need concluding.

Councillor Marcus Franks asked that Standing Orders be suspended in order to allow Steve Bedser (an associate of the Local Government Association) to speak to the Board, Steve Bedser explained that he formed part of a team, employed by the BCF taskforce at DH, which worked with areas who had submitted their BCF plans with conditions. He had worked with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Purpose: To discuss and if appropriate appoint a representative(s) of the Health and Wellbeing Board to attend Clinical Commissioning Group Commissioning Meetings.

Councillor Marcus Franks invited Cathy Winfield to elaborate on the item, which involved the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) inviting a Member of the Health and Wellbeing Board to sit on its Commissioning Meetings.

Cathy Winfield reported that the item related to new responsibilities designated to CCGs for the commissioning of primary care services. Primary Care was currently commissioned by NHS England.

CCGs could either apply to receive responsibly for the whole of the primary care budget or alternatively for shared responsibility with NHS England. Cathy Winfield reported that shared responsibility had been sought for the West of Berkshire. The Commissioning Group for supporting this was currently in shadow form and the guidance was vague as to whether the Health and Wellbeing representative should be at Member or Officer level.

Councillor Franks felt that it would be useful for a Member of West Berkshire Council to take up this position. This would form part of the Council’s formal Outside Bodies process, which was dealt with after each district election. With this in mind Councillor Franks suggested that a temporary nomination be made until the official process took place in May/June time.

Councillor Franks asked Board Members for any nominations regarding a representative to attend the CCG Commissioning meetings. Councillor Irene Neill proposed Councillor Marcus Franks. This was seconded by Councillor Gwen Mason. Members of the Board voted in favour of this proposal.

Resolved that Councillor Marcus Franks was appointed as representative to attend CCG Commissioning Meetings until May 2015.