Issue - meetings

An appendix to this item is included in the ‘Supporting Documents’ pack.

Mark Tyson, LBBD Commissioning Director Adult Care and Support, presented the report and explained that Section 75 Agreement is a requirement of the 2016 NHS Act to pool arrangements and was a requirement, not a choice, under the Better Care Fund terms.  The Plan has been agreed and accepted by NHS England, but the General Election and other issues had delayed its progress. 

The work next year would focus on the BHR alignment of strategies and the s75 Agreement will create a vehicle for cross borough services, but it will also allow Barking and Dagenham to focus on specific areas, for example dementia.  The s75 Agreement would allow us to deliver the Better Care Fund Plan and the changes such as improved hospital discharges and to build a joint commissioning plan. 

It was noted that the grant funding would help to sustain performance, in particular the discharge rates.  The Chair commented that this had been used by the Government as a tool to force us to reduce the delayed transfer to care rates but it would enable the three boroughs to have a stronger voice in the larger seven borough conglomerate, especially where increasing pressures would probably result in a drive for conformality, rather than local needs. 

It was noted that the s75 Agreement would not tie the Board’s hands on any strategy, plans or thinking. 

The Board:

(i)  Agreed to the retrospective expenditure which has taken place during this financial year, and agree to continue the section 75 Agreement (Pooled Fund) with NHS Barking and Dagenham Clinical Commissioning Group (“BDCCG”), on the terms and conditions outlined in this report, along with any ancillary legal agreements (i.e. the Deed of Variation) necessary for the joint administration of the Better Care Fund Plan for Barking and Dagenham;

(ii)  Delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration and the Director of Law and Governance, to approve the Deed of Variation for 2017/18; and

(iii)  Agreed, in principle, that a Section 75 agreement for 2018/19 would be pursued jointly with Havering and Redbridge, and note that a further request for delegated authority will be brought to the Board in due course.