This paper describes the current governance for the Herefordshire Public Services (HPS) partnership and proposes revised arrangements for the future, to reflect the national changes to health commissioning and health and well being and the new Clinical Commissioning Group, Herefordshire Health-Care Commissioners (HHCC).  A similar paper is being presented to the NHS Herefordshire Board on 19 October and the HHCC Board on 25 October 2011.

THAT:

Cabinet agreed the establishment of a Herefordshire Public Services Board to oversee the partnership between Herefordshire Council, Herefordshire Health-Care Commissioners and NHS Herefordshire, in accordance with the Terms of Reference and Constitution set out in Appendix A to the Report.

Revised governance arrangements for HPS are required to reflect the local and national changes that will impact on HPS, in particular the need engaged the Clinical Commissioning Group within HPS, to manage the transition period for the NHS and public health reforms and work together to manage the impact of further significant budgets cuts over the next 2/3 years

1             Given the strategic importance of the HPS partnership, it is essential that some form of governance is in place.  Other options for this include:

·         Option 1: retain the HPS Steering Group but include HHCC representation

·         Option 2: establish a new Herefordshire Health and Wellbeing Steering Group, with the three organisations to oversee QIPP, joint commissioning plans, formulation of health and wellbeing strategy etc and to promote integration to deliver this

·         Option 3: promote Herefordshire system wide integration through the Herefordshire Partnership Executive Group, with HPS co-ordination through informal meetings of the Chairs, Leader and Chief Executives

2             A review of the options has concluded that a new HPS Board with a remit to oversee both partnership working and to co-ordinate health and well being will best meet the challenges over the next 18 months.