Agenda item

(To receive a report from Councillor Mrs Sue Woolley, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board and John Turner, Chief Executive, NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, on the proposal to change the Health and Wellbeing Board's Terms of Reference to incorporate the functions of the Integrated Care System Partnership Board)

The Board gave consideration to a report which proposed changes to the Health and Wellbeing Board's (HWB) Terms of Reference to incorporate the functions of the Integrated Care System (ICS) Partnership Board.  The Board were reminded that discussion on this item had been deferred from the 1 December 2020 meeting, due to the publication of a consultation document on Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) by NHSEI on 26 November 2020.

The Board noted that the ICS guidance and the White Paper announced on 11 February 2021, built on the route map set out in the NHS Long Term Plan for health and care to join up locally around people's needs.

The Board was advised that the approach in Lincolnshire was to incorporate the functions of the ICS Partnership Board into the HWB; pages 28 and 29 provided a list of advantages for this approach, which included building on the strong partnership working of the HWB; continuing focus on the wider determinant of health; collaborative working; population health management and neighbourhood working; and the genuine desire across the health and care system to develop innovative ways of working.

Paragraph 1.3 advised the Board of the main changes to the HWB Terms of reference.  The main changes were in Section 2 Context, Section 3 Objectives, Section 4 Functions and Responsibilities, Section 5 Membership, Section 7 Accountability and Section 11 Quorum.  A copy of the revised Terms of Reference was provided in Appendix A to the report for the Board to consider.

The Board noted that subject to the HWB endorsing the changes, the revised terms of reference would then need to be reflected in the Council's Constitution and agreed by Full Council in the new municipal year.  It was noted further that the first meeting of the HWB under the new terms of reference was scheduled to take place on 8 June 2021.

In conclusion, it was highlighted that every area was required to have an ICS by April 2021, with an overarching board in place to provide a strategic steer and to oversee the work of the local integrated health and care system.  The proposal to incorporate the function of the ICS Partnership Board with the HWB would put Lincolnshire in a unique position and at the forefront of partnership working.

During consideration of this item, it was highlighted that district councils had been heavily involved in partnership working during the pandemic; and it was felt that district council representation on the Board should be increased to two representatives from one, to enable them to have more representation.  There was recognition that district councils had played a huge part throughout the pandemic.  Reference was also made to the fact that there were some 'dual hatters' on the Board representing both the county and the district.  It was highlighted that membership would be reviewed again in twelve months' time when, subject to legislation, the Clinical Commissioning Group was discontinued and the ICS came into effect.  The Board noted that the proposals put forward at this stage were just the first steps in the process.

RESOLVED

1.    That the revised Terms of Reference set out in Appendix A be endorsed.

2.    That the necessary changes to the Councils Constitution be recommended to Full Council for approval.