Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Fiona Davies, Dr Rebecca Helliwell and Margaret McGowan.

Graham Bell declared an interest in item 12 of the agenda (National Strategy for Community Justice – Analysis of Responses) as he was a non-executive member of Community Justice Scotland.

Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board held on 26 January 2022

The Minutes of the meeting of the Integration Joint Board held on 26 January 2022 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Risk Committee held on 15 February 2022 were noted.

The Chair of the Committee, Councillor Sandy Taylor, advised that the draft Annual Report was currently out for comment.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Clinical and Care Governance Committee held on 24 February 2022 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee held on 25 February 2022 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Planning Group held on 3 March 2022 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee held on 18 March 2022 were noted.

The Chair of the Committee, Councillor Kieron Green, advised that the Committee had been asked to review and endorse the budget proposals, but as the equality impact assessments had not been available for consideration at the meeting, the Committee had reviewed the proposals but had been unable to endorse them.

Report by Chief Officer

The Board gave consideration to a report from the Chief Officer covering the Chief Officer appointment, service visits, Chief Officer podcast, award winning Argyll and Bute Community Addictions Nurse, national no smoking day, our winning diabetes team, senior management appointments and Argyll and Bute Suicide Prevention Group.

The Head of Finance, on behalf of the Chief Officer, advised that the previous day letters had been issued centrally with incorrect vaccination appointments, which was a similar issue to that which had taken place the previous autumn.  He advised that these appointments would be cancelled and new appointments issued locally.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the report by the Chief Officer and the verbal update from the Head of Finance.

(Reference:  Report by Chief Officer dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Report by Associate Director of Public Health

The Board gave consideration to a report reviewing the work of Public Health in relation to Covid-19. The report built on accounts provided in earlier reports and presented the most up to date information as possible on how the pandemic was unfolding in Argyll and Bute as well as how the next phase of the pandemic response was developing in Scotland.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the Covid-19 current status in the Argyll and Bute community, in terms of:

·         Distribution of infection rates;

·         Covid-19 vaccination;

·         Covid-19 testing programmes.

(Reference:  Report by Associate Director of Public Health dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Report by Head of Customer Support Services

The Board gave consideration to a report on staff governance performance covering financial quarter 3 (October to December 2021) and the activities of the Human Resources and Organisational Development teams.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.    Noted the content of the quarterly report on the staff governance performance in the HSCP.

2.    Endorsed the overall direction of travel noting that it would be helpful to have comparative information from both the NHS and the Council at future meetings.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Customer Support Services dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Report by Director of People and Culture

The Board gave consideration to the third quarterly Whistleblowing Standards report for NHS Highland covering the period 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2021.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Director of People and Culture dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology

The first Joint Strategic Commissioning Strategy covering the period April 2022 to March 2025 was before the Board for approval.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board approved the HSCP Joint Commissioning Strategy 2022-2025 for implementation.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology

The Board gave consideration to a report providing an update on the impact on service performance with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic and the progress made with regard to remobilising health and social care services in Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.    Noted the HSCP performance progress regarding remobilisation of activity in line with NHS Highland performance target for 2021/22 agreed with Scottish Government to 70%-80% of 2019/20 activity as at November 2021.

2.    Noted Waiting Times Performance and a further reduction in Consultant and Nurse Led Outpatient breaches greater than 12 weeks.

3.    Acknowledged performance with regards to both Argyll and Bute, and Greater Glasgow and Clyde current Treatment Time Guarantee for Inpatient/Day Case Waiting List and activity.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Planning, Performance and Technology dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Reports by Head of Finance and Transformation

The Board gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the financial position of the HSCP for the 11 months to 28 February 2022 and an updated forecast. The year to date position was an underspend totalling £224k against a budget to date of £272m.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted –

1.    That the forecast outturn position was an underspend of £250k.

2.    The additional funding allocation by the Scottish Government and the terms associated with it as contained within appendix 4 to the submitted report.

3.    That unspent funds would be carried forward as earmarked reserves.

4.    That the HSCP now expected to repay debt owed to Argyll and Bute Council early, estimated at an additional payment totalling £1.8m.

5.    That there was a year to date underspend of £224k at 28 February 2022.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Finance and Transformation dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

The Board gave consideration to a report providing a proposed budget and associated savings plan for 2022/23 which sought approval by the Board. It had been considered by the Finance & Policy Committee at their meeting on 18 March 2022. The budgeting process for the next year had been underway since October 2021, and the report followed on from a range of related reports considered in recent meetings which provided the Budget Outlook, a summary of the Scottish Budget, set the savings target, outlined draft budget proposals and the consultation process.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.    Noted that the HSCP had developed a proposed balanced budget in line with the timetable.

2.    Approved the proposed budget for 2022/23.

3.    Approved the Budget Proposals / Savings Plan.

4.    Noted Equality Impact Assessments had been completed and would be published on the website in respect of relevant savings proposals.

5.    Noted the outcome of the public consultation process and noted that this had been considered in the amendments to the savings plan.

6.    Approved the implementation of contract uplifts to ensure that all care staff received a minimum of £10.50 per hour from 1 April and noted that this was fully funded.

7.    Noted the intention to repay the debt to Argyll and Bute Council early and establish a reserve for capital investment and service transformation as funding allowed.

8.    Instructed the Chief Officer to accept Funding Offers from NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council and issue formal directions as detailed in the draft at appendix 5 to the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Finance and Transformation dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Report by Chief Social Work Officer

The Board gave consideration to a report summarising the key outcomes of the consultation on the National Strategy for Community Justice.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Chief Social Work Officer dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

Report by Chief Officer

The Chief Officer provided a verbal update.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the verbal update from the Chief Officer in respect of the National Care Service.

(Reference: Verbal Update by Chief Officer)

The Integration Joint Board workplan was before the Board for noting.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the content of the workplan.

(Reference: Integration Joint Board Workplan dated 30 March 2022, submitted)

25 May 2022 at 1.00pm By MS Teams

The date of the next meeting was noted as 25 May 2022.