Issue - meetings

 Report by Maggie Rae, Corporate Director

 In the absence of Cllr Keith Humphries, The Leader asked Maggie Rae, Corporate Director to introduce the report which sought approval for the high level objectives of the Better Care Plan (BCP) which was required to be revised and submitted to the national team for review by the end of March 2016.

Issues highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included:

That the fund would run from 2018/19 but then would form part of core funding; that the national team would be visiting and report would be discussed at H&WB; that the plan focused on the frail elderly population; that the activities arising from the plan aimed to divert hospital admissions and keep people in their communities.

In response to a question from Cllr Chris Caswill, Maggie Rae explained that Homefirst was a pilot scheme being trialled in Salisbury, and it was yet to be fully analysed. It may be possible for the results to be discussed through the Select Committee.

During debate concern was expressed over the introduction of new Sustainability and Transformation Plans that the Government had required local NHS partners to develop in a short timescale.

In response to a question from Cllr Chris Caswill, Maggie Rae explained that it was her intention that funding be focused on enhancing and embedding the community services model.

Resolved

1.    To note the Better Care Plan in Wiltshire retains a strong reputation nationally and as the data demonstrates we are making strong progress in a number of performance indicators.

2.    To approve the high level objectives of the Better Care Plan for 2016/17 and the budget outline in appendix 1 of the report.

3.    That the Cabinet remains concerned that any budgets remain unallocated, and that these should be correctly identified as earmarked reserve.

Reason for Decision:

In line with the urgency associated with this work the BCP needs to be revised and submitted to the national team for review by the end of March 2016.