To approve the financial schedule between Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group for 2013 to 2014 attached as Appendix D to the Section 75 and agree the extension to the existing Section 75, until the 30 June 2013, whilst work continues to develop a ‘fit-for-purpose’ new Partnership Agreement for 2013/16.

THAT:

(a)             The financial schedule for 2013/14 in Appendix D page 26 of the report was approved on behalf of the Council;

(b)             An extension and novation of the existing Section 75 was agreed until June 30 2013;

(c)             The work in progress on a new Section 75 Agreement was endorsed, with a final document to be approved by 1 June; and

(d)             Delegated authority be given to the Director for People’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member Health & Wellbeing to sign off the final Section 75 Agreement on behalf of the Council.

To ensure that the Council and the HCCG have a legal basis for joint, effective commissioning.

The Council and the HCCG could decide not to pursue a Section 75, and have separate approaches to commissioning and service provision.  This would however not be in the best interests of people in Herefordshire, with the potential to create fragmented services, and inefficient use of resources. This would also make it more difficult to deliver the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.