This Council recognises the opportunities offered by devolution to Greater Manchester in terms of transport, housing, skills and health as well as in several other areas. However, Council also recognises that for DevoManc to be a success the project must be properly funded.

Council is therefore concerned by the continued underfunding of Greater Manchester's health and social care services. The British Medical Journal has stated that by 2021 the conurbation will have a health funding gap of some £2 billion, yet Greater Manchester has some of the worst health outcomes and most significant health inequalities in the country. Funding secured from NHS England's Transformation Fund is welcome but not been substantial enough to alleviate concerns.

In light of these issues, this Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government highlighting that current health and social care funding in Greater Manchester is unsustainable and calling for a funding settlement for Greater Manchester's health and social care needs that addresses the £2 billion shortfall identified by health professionals.

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council recognises the opportunities offered by devolution to Greater Manchester in terms of transport, housing, skills and health as well as in several other areas. However, Council also recognises that for DevoManc to be a success the project must be properly funded.

Council is therefore concerned by the continued underfunding of Greater Manchester's health and social care services. The British Medical Journal has stated that by 2021 the conurbation will have a health funding gap of some £2 billion, yet Greater Manchester has some of the worst health outcomes and most significant health inequalities in the country. Funding secured from NHS England's Transformation Fund is welcome but not been substantial enough to alleviate concerns.

In light of these issues, this Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government highlighting that current health and social care funding in Greater Manchester is unsustainable and calling for a funding settlement for Greater Manchester's health and social care needs that addresses the £2 billion shortfall identified by health professionals.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council recognises the opportunities offered by devolution to Greater Manchester in terms of transport, housing, skills and health as well as in several other areas.

Council also recognises that for devolution to deliver, it must be accompanied by appropriate funding and freedom to take decisions locally that have a real impact on the wellbeing of our population and the efficiency of health and social care services.

The British Medical Journal has stated that by 2021 the conurbation will have a health funding gap of some £2 billion. Council welcomes the £0.5 billion of additional transformation funding allocated by the former Chancellor of the Exchequer to help Greater Manchester plan for its future, but recognises there remain ongoing pressures on revenue budgets.

This Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government highlighting the current pressures facing health and social care funding in Greater Manchester and calling for a funding settlement and greater freedoms that will contribute towards meeting the £2 billion shortfall, working collaboratively towards a sustainable solution for our population.”

Following a debate on the matter and subject to clarification that “greater freedoms” referred to those expectations set out in the Memorandum of Understanding, the amendment was agreed with the general consent of the Council. The substantive Motion was consequently declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council recognises the opportunities offered by devolution to Greater Manchester in terms of transport, housing, skills and health as well as in several other areas.

Council also recognises that for devolution to deliver, it must be accompanied by appropriate funding and freedom to take decisions locally that have a real impact on the wellbeing of our population and the efficiency of health and social care services.

The British Medical Journal has stated that by 2021 the conurbation will have a health funding gap of some £2 billion. Council welcomes the £0.5 billion of additional transformation funding allocated by the former Chancellor of the Exchequer to help Greater Manchester plan for its future, but recognises there remain ongoing pressures on revenue budgets.

This Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government highlighting the current pressures facing health and social care funding in Greater Manchester and calling for a funding settlement and greater freedoms, as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding, that will contribute towards meeting the £2 billion shortfall, working collaboratively towards a sustainable solution for our population.