Agenda item

Kate Green, Policy Officer, reported that the Board had been in operation as a statutory board since April, 2013, and had matured well, developing strong working relationships between partners.  However, the health and wellbeing landscape had changed considerably and Boards were increasingly being directed by Government to provide leadership and direction on a number of key policy agendas.  As a result, to enable Rotherham’s Board remain fit for purpose and able to deliver what was required, it was felt that a review of the governance arrangements was required.

Board members had undertaken an anonymous self-assessment looking at governance and operation of the Board in September, 2013.  A number of comments had been made which had been incorporated into the following proposals:-

-          Better Care Fund

It had been agreed that an Executive Group be established which would report directly to and provide a support mechanism for the Board.  It would hold the strategic overview of the health and wellbeing agenda, delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy workstreams and the Better Care Fund plan. 

Appropriate membership of the Executive Group was to be agreed.

-          Format of Meetings

It was proposed that the meetings remain monthly for the timebeing due to the volume of work.  However, it was proposed that the format changed so that every other meeting was for core members only (commissioners) to cover key business items i.e. commissioning plans, financial information and any major Service reconfigurations, the Better Care Fund Plan and performance management. 

The alternate meeting would be reflective and in 2 parts, the first for any necessary core business and the second part with provider and VCS involvement.

It was felt that this would allow more focussed agendas addressing the strategic priorities of the Board.

-          Board Membership

It was proposed that the membership be as follows:-

Core Members:

Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing (Chair)

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families Services

Director of Public Health

Chief Executive, RMBC

Strategic Director, Neighbourhoods and Adult Services

Strategic Director, Children’s and Young Peoples Services

Chief Officer, CCG

Chair of Clinical Commissioning Group

NHS England representative

Chair of Healthwatch Rotherham

Chief Superintendent, South Yorkshire Police

Provider/VCS (for reflective meetings):

Chief Executive, RDaSH

Chief Executive, Rotherham Foundation Trust

Chief Executive, Voluntary Action Rotherham

-          Stronger engagement with the public

Consideration was given to the above proposals.  The following issues were raised:-

·           What about providers of Primary Care?

·           Insufficient representation of Health providers – 3 GP commissioners on the core membership to correspond with the 3 Councillors

·           The position of Vice-Chair should not be from the Local Authority – it was noted that this was not possible as the Board was a formal committee of the Council and would involve amending the Council’s Constitution.

·           Felt to be a retrograde step to not have a representative from the Foundation Trust on the core membership

·           Quality of decision making was very much enhanced if providers were there

·           Possible loss of additionality – the split of provider/commissioner was not straight forward.  The VCS provided both functions

·           A number of partners carried out public engagement activities which needed capturing

·           The Executive Group had been established to produce the BCF submission and to support its delivery.  However, if its remit was broadened to include the strategic overview of the Health and Wellbeing agenda, what was the purpose of the Board?

Resolved:-  (1)  That 1 additional CCG representative be included on the core membership of the Board.

(2)  That Janet Wheatley lead on a review of the public engagement activities carried out by organisations and report to next meeting. 

(3)  That future agendas include “questions from members of the public”.

(4)  That the Terms of Reference, membership and organisational diagram for the Executive Group be submitted to the next meeting.