Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health seeking approval to grant delegated powers to officers and members to take certain decisions that will contribute to delivering better outcomes for local people within the framework of the recent NHS White Paper.

The Council agreed a joint framework with the Primary CareTrust which sets out the context for closer and integrated working between the organisations.  In July 2010, the new coalition Government published the NHS White Paper – Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS which identified proposals for far reaching changes to the NHS and the wider health and social care economy and the purpose of this recommendation is to seek approval to delegate authority to officers and relevant Members to take certain decisions that will enable the delivery of better outcomes for local people within the framework of the NHS white Paper.

To delegate to the Executive Director for Health and Adult Social Care, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, authority to take any decision and/or develop approaches that commit Council resources that are within budget and policy to deliver better outcomes for local people and support the aims of the NHS White Paper – Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS.

1.  Health and Social Care services in the City will be the subject of significant change over the next few years under the proposals set out in the NHS White Papers and the new Vision for Social Care.  The Adult Social Care and Health portfolio will be central to ensuring that the needs of local people are met and better outcomes delivered. 

2.  In November 2009, Cabinet delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, powers to take all decisions with regard to matters concerning the portfolio that fall to be considered by a Joint Strategic Board which is now in place.  This Board, or its successor, will oversee strategic developments and commissioning intentions across NHS Southampton City and Southampton City Council for Health and Adult Social Care.  The proposed recommendation to Cabinet underpins already delegated powers and will give the Executive Director the flexibility to make decisions after consultation with the Cabinet Member and the Chief Executive of NHS Southampton.

The alternative would be to reserve any significant and Key Decision to the Cabinet to resolve. This is not considered to be flexible enough to react to the White Paper and the possible changes required.