Issue - meetings

In considering the Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity and also the Report of the Head of Adult Commissioning and Health, on how the Council’s strategic objectives were being delivered, the mid-year budget position and future strategic issues for this service area, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 21 November  2017 (Minute 26) resolved that ‘the Cabinet be requested to lobby Government for ‘fair funding’ in respect of both the County Council’s Public Health Grant and for Adult Social Care and Health Services’.

Recommendation:  That the views of the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee be welcomed and endorsed and Cabinet make representations, as appropriate, in respect of the County Council’s Public Health Grant and for Adult Social Care and Health Services.

The Cabinet noted that in considering the Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity and also the Report of the Head of Adult Commissioning and Health, on how the Council’s strategic objectives were being delivered, the mid-year budget position and future strategic issues for these service areas, attached, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 21 November  2017 (Minute 26) resolved that ‘the Cabinet be requested to lobby Government for ‘fair funding’ in respect of both the County Council’s Public Health Grant and for Adult Social Care and Health Services’.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health commended the suggestion to the Cabinet.

It was MOVED by Councillor Leadbetter, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED that the views of the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee be welcomed and endorsed and Cabinet make representations, as appropriate, in respect of the County Council’s Public Health Grant and for Adult Social Care and Health Services.

(a) Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity, attached (Page 1)

(b)  Report of the Chief Officer for Adult Care and Health (ACH/17/74), attached (Page 3)

(a) Public Health

The Committee received the report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity on how the Council’s strategic objectives were being delivered, the mid-year budget position, and future strategic issues for this service area.

The Chief Officer and Assistant Director of Public Health responded to Members’ questions and/or commented:

·         on the provision of mandated public health services and aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Devon, while reducing health inequalities;  

·         on the re-procurement of sexual health services, substance misuse and domestic and sexual violence services in 2017/18 leading to the commencement of new contracts in 2018, and additionally recommencement of the universal NHS Health Check programme,   as part of the Council’s responsibilities to reduce health inequalities;

·         on targeting towards those families and communities which were in greatest need, with some services such as the Specialist Stop Smoking Service focused wholly on those most vulnerable;

·         on the Public Health Team’s work to commission a number of public health services to support the delivery of its strategic objectives and statutory responsibilities, working collaboratively with the local NHS delivering its statutory function to provide public health expertise to the Clinical Commissioning Groups; 

·         on the success of the Public Health Team in drawing in additional funding to support the delivery of new programmes and services, including funding from NHS England to support the development of Cranbrook as part of the NHS Healthy New Town Programme, Big Lottery funding to support the introduction of a new targeted Diabetes prevention programme and funding from Public Health England for a Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training programme;

·         on the current budget position in keeping within the budget set and published in the Budget Book; 

·         on the future strategic issues for this service area, notably the continued annual reduction in the Public Health Grant, with significant budget reductions from 2016 – 2020 and on the production of a medium term financial plan to ensure affordability over the coming years; and

·         on the future provision of the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service on which options for the future delivery mechanism for this service were currently being appraised and would be subjected to public consultation prior to any final decision being taken. 

(b) Adult Commissioning and Health:  Position Statement – Budget 2017/18

(Councillor A Leadbetter attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(1) and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee)

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Adult Commissioning and Health (ACH/17/73) on the budget which was forecast to underspend by £4.170 million as at month 6, covering data up until 30th September. The total budget represented approximately 47% of the Council’s revenue budget.

The Head of Service, Assistant Director - Health and Social Care Community, East; and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services responded to Members’ questions and/or commented:

·         on the total Adult care and health services budget which represented some 47% of the Council’s revenue budget;

·         on the majority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26