To consider a report of the Executive Member for Ault Social Services.

That the Executive:

1.    Approved the proposal to review and update the current s75 partnership agreement between GM ICB Trafford and the Council for the Better Care Fund with a view to creating a new s75 partnership agreement for 2023/24 as detailed in the report; and 

2.    Delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Adults and Well-Being in consultation with the Director of Legal Governance to agree the terms and conditions of the partnership 23/24 agreement and to enter into the 23/24 Agreement on behalf of the Council.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care provided Members with a report on the S75 Better Care Fund and improved Better Care Fund (BCF) Agreement 2023 – 24. Members were remined that the Better Care Fund was introduced by the Government from 1st April 2015, consolidating a number of previous funding streams into one pooled fund, which was now hosted by the ICB.

It was reported that guidance for the use of BCF 2023/4 had not yet been published but would take into account upcoming reforms taking place to the health and social care system, including the Integration White Paper: Health and social care integration: joining up care people, place and populations, the Adult Social Care Reform White Paper, People at the Heart of Care; the Health and Care Act 2022 and reforms to the public health system – all of which provided an important context for the BCF.

The Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, and Strategic Partnerships welcomed the inclusion of learning disabilities within the better care fund as it had been separated from health and social care for far too long.

Councillor Whetton welcomed the report and could see the excellent work and activities that were being undertaken to support elderly and vulnerable people.  He was impressed by the work that had been done and recognised that there was much to admire and be grateful for in terms of the workforce within Trafford.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1)    Approved the proposal to review and update the current s75 partnership agreement between GM ICB Trafford and the Council for the Better Care Fund with a view to creating a new s75 partnership agreement for 2023/24 as detailed in the report; and 

2)    Delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Adults and Well-Being in consultation with the Director of Legal Governance to agree the terms and conditions of the partnership 23/24 agreement and to enter into the 23/24 Agreement on behalf of the Council.