Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dr Paul Bowen (Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and Tina Long (NHS England ).

To appoint a Chairman for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

Councillor J Clowes opened the meeting.  In considering the appointment of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the 2015/16 Municipal Year she reported that unfortunately there was a difference in the appointment process set out in the 2012 legislation and in the Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference previously approved by the Council. 

In accordance with legal advice it was, therefore, proposed that a Task and Finish Group be established to investigate this issue, and also to look at the Terms of Reference as a whole to ensure that they were fit for purpose, and that their findings be considered at the next meeting of the Council.  In the meantime it was proposed that Councillor J Clowes be appointed interim Chairman.

In addition it was noted that the meeting was inquorate as no representatives from Healthwatch were present which meant that no formal decisions could be made.

RESOLVED

1.    That a Task and Finish Group be established to look at the Terms of Reference of the Board, and that it include a representative from the Clinical Commissioning Group.

2.    That, pending the outcome of the Task and Finish Group Councillor J Clowes be appointed interim Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

3.    That the Corporate Manager Health Improvement discuss with Healthwatch the difficulties caused by their non-attendance. 

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor S Corcoran declared a personal interest by virtue of his wife being a GP and a member of the south Cheshire GPs Alliance Ltd.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2015.

As the meeting was inquorate it was proposed that the approval of the Minutes be deferred until the next meeting.

AGREED

That approval of the minutes be deferred until the next meeting of the Board.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public wished to speak.

To note the Better Care Fund Update report.

Consideration was given to this report which provided the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) with an update on the progress of the Better Care Fund Section 75 Partnership Agreement; the Board being responsible for its oversight and delivery during 2015/16.    

Revised delivery dates for signing the s75 Agreements had been agreed at the last meeting but as the timeframe for reporting to NHS England was not in line with the next meeting of the HWB (29^th May v 16^th June respectively) responsibility for sign-off of the NHS England return had been delegated to the Chairman of the HWB for this to be done electronically.

It was reported that both South Cheshire CCG and Eastern Cheshire CCG had signed their s75 agreements as of 29^th May 2015 and these were executed by Cheshire East Council’s Legal Services department on 1^st June 2015.  

The required report for NHS England had been submitted on 27^th May 2015 following sign-off from the Chair of the HWB. This report was focussed on allocations, budgets and national conditions rather than the high level budgets which future returns are expected to focus upon, and a copy was attached to the report.  

The report detailed the next steps and confirmed that the NHS England return would be formally presented for sign off at the next meeting of the Committee. 

In response to a question from a member it was agreed that evidence in respect of the answers to whether or not the spending round conditions were on track be circulated to the HWB for information.

AGREED

That the report be noted.

To consider a report requesting the Board to support and approve the final CCG Quality Premium measures and local priorities for 2015-16.

The Board considered an overview of the Quality Premium 2015/16 national measures and a summary of the national guidance, which had been published on 25 April 2015.  The Board was asked to support the national measures and the two local priorities the NHS South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group had selected for 2015/16.

The quality premium to be paid to CCGs in 2016/17 would reflect the quality of the health services commissioned by them in 2015/16.  The measures would be based on a combination of national and local priorities, these being reducing potential years of life lost, the urgent and emergency health care menu, the mental health menu and improving antibiotic prescribing.  The two local measures identified were Lung Cancer – Record Stage at Diagnosis, and Estimated Diagnosis Rates of Dementia.

It was confirmed that whilst the health and wellbeing of children and young people was not set out specifically in any of the targets they were not precluded; it was agreed that the inclusion of this cohort be made more explicit in the documentation. 

AGREED

That approval be given in principle to the CCG Quality Premium measures and local priorities for 2015/16 to be agreed at the next quorate meeting of the Board.

To consider and comment upon the proposals for future priorities and to agree a way forward to drive action upon these.

(Cllr M Jones left the meeting during discussion of this item.)

Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Public Health on the progress made by the Health and Wellbeing Board over the last two years and to the areas on which it was proposed to focus in the future, these having been drawn from a workshop held earlier in the year.

The report listed ten priorities for future focus, including the development of a more robust work plan and also how best to engage with the public and stakeholders as there was a perception that communications needed to be improved.  The success of similar schemes in Manchester, Northumbria and Tower Hamlets was cited and it was thought that there needed to be a smaller number of priorities.  

Councillor S Corcoran circulated a further list of ideas for consideration by the Board and it was agreed that these be considered further; it was, however, noted that some of these suggestions might/could be dealt with elsewhere such the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). 

It was agreed that a Task and Finish Group, comprising Dr A Wilson, P Bowen (pending his agreement), H Grimbaldeston and J Hawker, be established to prepare a set o priorities and a work programme.  In addition it was agreed that the JSNA Strategy Group be reconvened and refreshed and that it review the achievements to date.

AGREED

1.    That a Task and Finish Group be set up to prepare a list of priorities and work programme for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee.

2.    That the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Strategy Group be reconvened to review its achievements to date.