Agenda item

To consider a report from Leeds City Council’s Head of Democratic Services presenting a further iteration of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership draft five year strategy.

Further to minute 10 of the meeting held 10^th September 2019, Leeds City Council’s Head of Democratic Services submitted a further report which provided the Joint Committee with an opportunity to review the work undertaken by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership on developing the Draft 5 Year Strategy. The first iteration of the Strategy was considered by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Board (WYH Partnership Board) meeting on 3^rd September 2019.

The Joint Committee noted that the final system narrative would be presented to the Partnership Board on 3^rd December 2019; however, despite being requested, an updated iteration of the draft 5 year strategy had not been made available to the Joint Committee for review.

The report included a brief update provided by the Partnership Director, outlining the development of the draft five year strategy and next steps. The first iteration of the draft strategy and accompanying presentation previously considered by the Joint Committee in September 2019 were also included within the report.

The following were in attendance to present the report and contribute to discussions:

-  Ian Holmes – Director, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership.

-  Rachael Loftus - Head of Regional Partnerships, Health Partnerships Team

In presenting the report, it was highlighted that the next draft of the 5 Year Strategy would be made public on 26^th November 2019 as part of the agenda papers for the Partnership Board meeting on 3^rd December 2019.

The Joint Committee considered and discussed a range of matters regarding the development of the 5 Year Strategy, including:

·  Concern that an updated iteration of the draft strategy, such as that submitted to NHS England on 27 September or 15 November, was not made available for the Joint Committee to review and receive assurance that comments made and issues raised at the September meeting had been addressed.

·  The Joint Committee noted the response that the version submitted to NHS E had included comments made by the Joint Committee and also local Health and Wellbeing Boards which had met by that date. The Joint Committee was advised that none of the Local Authority Leaders or Health and Wellbeing Board Chairs had seen the revised Strategy as yet; and those who were members of the WYH Partnership Board would receive a copy on 26^th November 2019

·  The technical process for the submission of the updated draft document, noting that comments from partners and interested parties had been received throughout the consultation process.

·  The implications of the General Election on 12^th December 2019, noting that, due to the guidance issued surrounding the pre-election period and decisions on future strategy, the WYH Partnership Board on 3^rd December 2019 may decide to postpone a decision on the 5 Year Strategy or to support the Strategy subject to the outcome of the election.

·  While noting that the draft strategy and its contents had predominantly been prepared by NHS partners, the Joint Committee emphasised the role of scrutiny as a critical friend, empowered by legislation to take an overview of matters associated with the planning and provision of health care services, which included the development of strategies, plans and proposed service changes. The scrutiny function had parity with Health and Wellbeing Boards within Local Authority structures.

The Joint Committee expressed its dissatisfaction regarding the 5 Year Strategy development process and methodology, noting that the WYH Partnership Board was not a statutory body and that implementation of the strategy ultimately remained with the relevant statutory bodies. The Joint Committee discussed the view whether, having been deprived of an overview of the revised strategy, it may move to scrutinise the “signed off” document in the New Year. The Joint Committee also supported comments made by individual Members that the development process had not been conducive to good partnership working and that without the assurance of having collectively seen the revised strategy, the Joint Committee could not endorse the document.

In conclusion, the Joint Committee requested that the concerns highlighted during the discussions were relayed directly to the Partnership Board – a matter the Chair agreed to undertake – and additionally requested that Members of the Joint Committee be notified once the revised 5 Year Strategy was publicly available as part of the agenda for the WYH Partnership Board meeting on 3^rd December 2019.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and the discussions held at the meeting;

b)  To note the updated information provided at the meeting and the current position regarding the development of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Board: Draft Five Year Strategy;

c)  That Members of the Joint Committee be notified once the revised 5 Year Strategy was publicly available as part of the agenda for the WYH Partnership Board meeting on 3^rd December 2019;

d)  That officers be requested to draft a direct response to the WYH Partnership Board on the contents, development process and methodology of the Draft Five Year Strategy, based on the Joint Committee’s comments made at the September and November 2019 Joint Committee meetings.