Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which indicated that the integration of health and care had been a long standing policy ambition based on the premise that more joined up services will help to improve the health and care of local populations and make more efficient use of available resources.

Whilst the Sustainability and Transformation Programme (STP) is the primary planning tool for health and care, the Better Care Fund is the only mandatory policy to facilitate integration. The Better Care Fund (BCF) is a programme spanning both the NHS and local government which seeks to join-up health and care services, so that people can manage their own health and wellbeing, and live independently in their communities for as long as possible.

In March 2017 a new policy framework for the Better Care Fund covering the period 2017 to 2019 was issued at the same time as significant additional funding being made available to Councils in order to protect adult social care. These sums arise from the 2015 spending review and the 2017 spring budget. Taken together these sums comprise the Improved Better Care Fund (BCF).

This additional funding, which was being made available by the Department for Communities and Local Government direct to Councils, was intended for three purposes:-

1)  To meet adult social care need

2)  To provide support to the NHS (especially through application of the 8 High Impact Changes)

3)  To sustain the social care provider market

Plans for use of the grant need to be agreed by the City Council with the relevant CCG (in this case the Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group (CRCCG)) and with the local Health and Well-Being Board. Once plans are agreed the resources can start to be spent but must be done so through a pooled budget arrangement (unless ministerial exception is granted)

Since the implementation of the Better Care Fund (BCF) in 2015, the Council has had a BCF plan facilitated by the Health and Wellbeing Board supported by a Section 75 partnership agreement with Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group (CRCCG). A new plan is required covering the period to 31 March, 2019 with a supporting section 75 partnership agreement identifying how the additional resources identified in the spring budget are to be used. Once the planning tools are made available, this new plan will be developed followed by the required section 75 partnership agreement.

The report and associated appendices sought approval for the use of the additional Better Care Fund resource against the three stated purposes. The use of the grant without the associated planning tools being provided, completed and assured is permissible on the basis that spend plans have been agreed by the Local Authority and the CCG through the Health and Well-Bing Board.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:-

1.  Approves the programme plan for the resources made available through the Improved Better Care Fund (BCF) against the areas identified for 2017/19

2.  Approves entering into a new Section 75 Partnership Agreement with the Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group for the delivery of the BCF plan once the plan is completed. This will include the governance arrangements for the operation of the Section 75 Partnership Agreement and maintain the City Council as the host for the pooled budget to enable the delivery of the BCF plan

3.  Delegates authority to the Director of Adult Services and the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, as the Section 151 officer, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Services and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources to finalise the section 75 agreement with Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group following approval of the plan.

4.  Recommends that the City Council approves acceptance of a grant in excess of £2.5m in relation to the additional BCF grant.