To consider a report of the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing.

1.    That the Executive Structure set out in the report be approved.

2.    That it be noted that that, subject to NHS approvals and the agreement of Council, it is proposed that Trafford Council Chief Executive will be appointed to the Accountable Officer for NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group.

3.    That agreement be given to the next steps for further alignment of functions within Trafford Council and NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group as set out in the report, including the appointment of a Joint Chief Finance Officer operating across the two organisations.

4.    That the requirement be noted for a period of assurance in relation to financial resilience of both organisations, to be carried out by the Accountable Officer and Joint Chief Finance Officer after the implementation of the Executive structure whilst moving forward with the integration.

5.    That it be noted that a further report will be brought back to Executive in the summer to update on progression of these proposals.

The Executive Member for Health and wellbeing submitted a report which focussed on seeking approval to bring Trafford Council and NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group services together under a single Executive structure led by the Chief Executive who will assume the Accountable Officer role following NHS England approvals. Approval was sought to move to the next phase of integration which included appointments to posts in the Executive structure, further alignment of functions and a period of financial due diligence to be undertaken following the appointment of the joint Chief Finance Officer. An opportunity was provided for Members to ask questions on the report’s content. These focused on a query to the proposed Accountable Officer, to which she responded, on the nature of the challenges posed by integration, and the potential financial issues arising from the linking of budgets. The Executive Member and Leader of the Council drew attention to paragraph 3.6 of the report, which set out the intention to undertake a period of due diligence; and it was noted that further updates would be referred to the Executive, as appropriate.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the Executive Structure set out in the report be approved.

(2)       That it be noted that that, subject to NHS approvals and the agreement of Council, it is proposed that Trafford Council Chief Executive will be appointed to the Accountable Officer for NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group.

(3)       That agreement be given to the next steps for further alignment of functions within Trafford Council and NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group as set out in the report, including the appointment of a Joint Chief Finance Officer operating across the two organisations.

(4)       That the requirement be noted for a period of assurance in relation to financial resilience of both organisations, to be carried out by the Accountable Officer and Joint Chief Finance Officer after the implementation of the Executive structure whilst moving forward with the integration.

(5)       That it be noted that a further report will be brought back to Executive in the summer to update on progression of these proposals.