Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any Substitute Members, in accordance with paragraph 4.12 of the Harrow Partnership Governance Handbook.

AGREED:  To note

(1)               that no Substitute Members were in attendance;

(2)               the apologies received.

(if any).

AGREED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 6 – Health and Well-being Update

Howard Bluston declared a personal interest in that he was a member of a patients group at St Mark’s Hospital.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Agenda Item 7 – Progress Report Relating to LAA Reward Grant Funding and the Board’s Work Programme

Julie Browne declared a personal interest as some of the allocation of the Reward Grant funding had been allocated to her organisation in relation to the Cedars Centre.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the Board Meeting held on 12 July 2011, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

AGREED:  That the minutes of the Board meeting held on 12 July 2011 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Harrow Council.

An officer introduced the report which set out proposed changes to the Governance Handbook of the Harrow Strategic Partnership, following changes to the structure of the Partnership and the disbandment of the Local Area Agreement framework.

It was confirmed that the handbook would be published on the Council’s website and hardcopies made available to members of the Board if requested.

AGREED: That

(1)               the revised Harrow Strategic Partnership Governance Handbook be adopted;

(2)               the circulated substitution list be completed and returned to officers in the Policy and Partnership team.

Report of the Corporate Director, Adults and Housing, Harrow Council.

The Board received a report which set out proposals to establish an organisation that would operate a model of service delivery for vulnerable and older people called the Harrow Mutual Support Network (HMSN).  This would involve users purchasing support and services through a network of paid and volunteer helpers.

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing, Harrow Council, introduced the report and explained that the proposal had previously been known as ‘Circles of Support’.  He reported that:

·                     the proposal would set up a social enterprise within the borough and assist people within the community who had specific needs.  It would provide assistance with practical activities;

·                     it provided an opportunity to provide services to the community and draw on a volunteer base;

·                     it was anticipated that this model of service delivery would become financially self-sufficient after 3 years.  The initial amount provided by the Reward Grant was to assist in starting the project in its initial stages;

·                     those who utilised the services would pay a membership fee and it was anticipated that they would pay for services in the future where applicable;

·                     this model of service delivery had been utilised successfully by other authorities nationally including the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the London Borough of Southwark.  This was the basis for confidence that the project would be a success;

·                     an open and transparent process would be operated in terms of organisations bidding to run services under the proposal.  It was expected that consortiums may also be involved;

·                     it was envisaged that the proposals would support the good work already being conducted in the borough including the Neighbourhood Champions scheme could build on the brokerage function provided by Shop4Support which helped people to use their personal budgets for social care;

·                     a steering group would be established to oversee the project through the development of the HMSN.  The HMSN would be an independent organisation.

Members of the Board strongly supported the proposals.  In response to a question from a Member of the Board, the Corporate Director confirmed that payments for Criminal Records Bureau checks where applicable would be borne by the HMSN in the long term.

Members of the Board made a number of comments including:

·                     the links to current good work taking place within the borough was welcomed.  The HMSN would assist those who required assistance and would improve their quality of life;

·                     a good aspect of the proposals was that it would assist a wide range of people in the borough and not just those who were elderly.  For example it would also assist those with learning disabilities.  An all embracing approach had been adopted which would provide real benefits;

·                     the Further Education Colleges and businesses within Harrow would be interested in assisting the work of the HMSN including providing volunteers.

AGREED: That the comments made by Members of the Board in relation to the Harrow Mutual Support Network, be noted.

Presentation of the Corporate Director, Adults and Housing, Harrow Council.

The Board received a presentation which addressed current issues relating to the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board, the Public Health Transition and Commissioning Support.

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing, Harrow Council, made the presentation and reported the following:

Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board

·                     The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board had been established as an informal group to consider the health agenda.  Some of their key actions involved agreeing health and wellbeing priorities for Harrow, developing a Joint Strategic Need Assessment and influencing the forthcoming commissioning arrangements;

·                     although the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board was not a formal body, it nevertheless played a key role in assisting to bring about changes within the borough at a senior level;

·                     it was recognised that 2012 would be a transitional year which provided flexibility to further develop and consider the terms of reference and membership;

·                     there was a lot of work taking place between the Council and the Primary Care Trust relating to reablement and intermediate care.  The reablement service had been fully operational for about a year;

·                     a multi-agency project had been commenced which was investigating streamlining work and expenditure relating to the Top 50 families on whom public money was spent within the borough.

Public Health Transition

·                     Responsibility for public health was proposed to transfer from the NHS to Local Authorities in 2013;

·                     Harrow Council were beginning preparations for this change in responsibility and were working closely with NHS Harrow;

·                     there was still a degree of uncertainty as the Public Health Bill had not yet been enacted.  It was hoped that further clarity on issues such as transition of staff, resources available and national outcomes, would be provided by the end of December 2011;

·                     a formal transition plan would be produced by March 2012, which would include a shadow budget.

Commissioning Support

·                     The NHS Framework for Commissioning Support in the future had 6 areas which included:

o          Understanding demand and provision;

o          Planning the most effective use of resources;

o          Doing the contracting and delivery;

o          Reviewing quality and effectiveness;

o          Engaging the public, patients and partners;

o          Supporting the organisation.

·                     From the Council’s point of view, they were keen for the commissioning of support to remain local.  However it was recognised that NHS Harrow had financial constraints, as had other public bodies, and might need to commission support at a regional level;

·                     a local workshop addressing these issues would be held in Harrow within the next couple of months.  Additionally the Council had offered to be part of a pilot to North West London Health Services.

During the discussion on this item, Members of the Board made a number of comments which included:

·                     although there was some uncertainty over the Public Health Bill, one thing that was certain was that Primary Care Trusts would be disbanded in 2013.  NHS Harrow were currently looking at how their functions would be dispersed and how they would support GP commissioners in 2013, especially in light of the NHS Framework for Commissioning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Harrow Council.

An officer introduced a report which set out the framework for monitoring progress with both the first and second allocations of the LAA Reward Grant and also a framework for monitoring progress against the Partnership’s priorities.

The officer reported that:

·                     the report addressed the progress by spend of Local Area Agreement grant to be spent by July 2012.  The report looked at the progress made by the end of  the first quarter of 2011;

·                     the report highlighted progress made in relation to specified outcomes with particular attention drawn to recent successes involving young people and combating anti-social behaviour during the riots experience in other parts of London;

·                     appendix 2 to the report provided an update on the Partnership fund allocation;

·                     appendix 3 to the report provided an update on outcomes and milestones provided in the relevant business plans, which were expected to be achieved.  Progress reports on these outcomes were expected next week;

·                     appendix 4 to the report provided details on how it was intended to monitor progress on the outcomes detailed in appendix 3.

·                     the Board additionally were requested to provide further suggestions for discussion issues at the next assembly meeting of the Harrow Strategic Partnership.  Suggestions could be emailed to officers by the end of October 2011.  Final items for the Assembly would be determined by the Harrow Chief Executives in consultation with the Chair of the Board;

·                     it was envisaged that the next meeting of the Assembly would take place on 7 December 2011 at the conclusion of the Board meeting;

·                     it was probable that the next Summit meeting would take place in March 2012.  This meeting would concentrate on refreshing the Sustainable Community Strategy.  This strategy would look forward to 2015.

During the discussion on this item, Members of the Board raised issues which were responded to as follows:

·                     it was expected that the Board will begin discussions on the Sustainable Community Strategy at the beginning of 2012.  This would be done before seeking wider endorsement at the proposed Summit meeting;

·                     regular reports detailing items considered by and deliberations of the Harrow Chief Executives were normally presented to each meeting of the Board.

In response to a request from a Member of the Board, officers agreed to provide the first quarterly progress report on the projects referred to in appendix 3 of the report, to all Members of the Board.

AGREED:  That the report be noted and agreed as appropriate.

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 7 December 2011 at 6pm in Committee Rooms 1 and 2, Harrow Civic Centre.

AGREED:  To note that the date of the next meeting of the Board would be held on 7 December 2011.