Issue - items at meetings - Joint Commissioning Board and the Health and Wellbeing Board - Update

Report of Director of Adult Social Services/Lead Commissioner People (copy attached).

(1)       That the Joint Commissioning Board (JCB) are asked to consider and respond to the transitional arrangement as set out in Appendix 1 which is going to Full Council in January 2012. 

(2)       That the JCB agree to a seminar being set up after April 2012 to consider the    implementation of the Shadow HWB and future ongoing arrangements.

20.1    The Board considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Services/ Lead Commissioner People which explained that the Summary Transitional Arrangements Paper, attached as Appendix 1, was prepared following the second Health and Wellbeing Board development seminar held on 3 October 2011 and gave details of the function, governance and membership during the shadow year.

20.2    The Director informed the Board that the Health and Social Care Bill was making its way through parliament.  The functions and membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board were set out in the appendix.   There would be a shadow year during 2012/2013.  The shadow year would be reviewed.

20.3    The Chief Operating Officer reported that there was an expectation that once the Board was up and running that there would be a review of other joint arrangements.  There was a need for a more considered piece of work. The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board would not have any powers.  Those would come into effect in 2013. 

20.4    Councillor Norman stated that he had attended the two seminars.  He stressed the need not to overload the Health and Wellbeing Board with too many members.  He was pleased to see the proposed membership in the Appendix. 

20.5    Janice Robinson informed the Board that she had attended the seminars.  There had been a huge variance of opinions.  She congratulated whoever had written the report.  However, she expressed concern about the future of the joint commissioning arrangements.  The current pooled funding arrangements were helpful to the users in the city.  She noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board did not have a budget, so she did not see how joint commissioning could be subsumed into a Wellbeing Board.  

20.6    The Senior Lawyer explained that the Health and Social Care Bill is drafted widely and there is currently a lack of clarity on specific detail.  Once it became law it is hoped there would be some central guidance about these matters in the form of regulations. 

20.7    Councillor Jarrett stated that the remit of the Health and Wellbeing Board would be wider than the Joint Commissioning Board.  It would include other Cabinet Members with different portfolios.  There would be discussions at the Council on how to take this forward, and he would be mindful of the comments made by Janice.   

20.8    The Director of Adult Social Services/Lead Commissioner stated that officers were not looking at any changes to joint commissioning arrangements.  The report had been submitted to discuss the relationship of the Joint Commissioning Board with the Health and Wellbeing Board.

20.9    The Chair suggested that further queries could be directed to the Director of Adult Social Services.  The Chief Operating Officer stated that she was on the Steering Group of the Health and Wellbeing Board, and she would also be available to answer queries. 

20.10  RESOLVED - (1)      That the transitional arrangements that would be presented to full council in January 2012 be noted.   

(2)       That a seminar be set up after April 2012 to consider the   implementation of the Shadow HWB and future ongoing arrangements.