Agenda item

10.1

The Director of Public Health submitted a report setting out proposals for the effective use of Sheffield’s Public Health Budget for 2013/14 in support of Sheffield’s vision and ambitions for Public Health.

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

approves the use of Sheffield City Council’s £29.7m Public Health Budget for 2013/14 in support of Public Health outcomes and in line with Sheffield’s distributed model of Public Health. This will cover staffing, commissioned Public Health services and related overheads;

(b)

delegates to the Executive Director, Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living, decisions on the use of any unallocated Public Health Grant (subject to negotiations on contracts);

(c)

authorises the Director of Public Health and relevant Executive Directors, in consultation with relevant Cabinet Members, for the purposes of finalising detailed in-year savings, to negotiate detailed arrangements with providers in support of the overall savings envelope included in the report; and

(d)

gives support for Elected Members to undertake a fundamental review of all Public Health investment during 2013/14, which will determine the use of this budget post April 2014. The review will be supported by the Director of Public Health and relevant Executive Directors with subsequent proposals and decisions on the ring-fenced Public Health grant to form part of the Council’s 2014/15 Budget planning process.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

A guiding principle for Sheffield’s Public Health Transition was to ensure a smooth transfer for staff, providers of Public Health services and service users. For this reason (and in line with the HR staff transfer scheme) existing contractual commitments to the staff that transferred must be honoured.

10.3.2

With some exceptions determined the PCT in consultation with relevant Executive Directors, the majority of Public Health services have continued into the 2013/14 financial year, but with the Council as the lead commissioner. These include both commissioned treatment services (substance misuse treatments and sexual health) and Public Health programmes.

10.3.3

In order that Public Health funding can be used to support a broader range of Public Health activity and services, and tackle the wider determinants of health a reduction in the value of some contracts is proposed later on in the financial year. The changes proposed have been subject to impact assessments and informed by provider feedback through equalities impact assessments and consultation. Delegations will allow for outstanding negotiations with providers on how required savings are achieved in-year. The proposed Member-led review will build on Member work to date and allow for Elected Members to consider Public Health investment in the round and will inform priorities and funding proposals for 2014/15 onwards.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

Sheffield City Council has the option of maintaining current spending levels on existing (previous PCT) Public Health commissioned services throughout the financial year. However, this would not allow for the Public Health resources to be employed to support a broader range of activity in support of Public Health outcomes. This would mean ending other valuable Public Health activity altogether and would undermine the Council’s 2013/14 budget commitments.

10.4.2

The Council also had the option of seeking to secure savings from 1^st April 2013. However, in line with the Sheffield Compact and our Best Value Duty it was agreed that providers would be consulted on proposals and given notice of the Council’s intentions.

10.4.3

The legal basis of this staff transfer means that Sheffield City Council must honour the contracts/terms and conditions of the staff that have transferred to us through the transition.

10.4.4

It should be noted that there is no overall reduction on Public Health spend in 2013/14. This is a ring-fenced grant and will all be used in support of Sheffield’s Public Health outcomes. Where proposed, the savings on contract value will free up capacity for a broader range of activity in support of Public Health outcomes.

10.4.5

Regarding delegations, the alternative was to take individual contract decisions through the Cabinet process. Given the timescales involved and the pressure to identify savings this was not recommended.

10.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

10.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

10.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Director of Public Health

10.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Healthier Communities and Adult Social Care

10.1

The Director of Public Health submitted a report setting out proposals for the effective use of Sheffield’s Public Health Budget for 2013/14 in support of Sheffield’s vision and ambitions for Public Health.

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

approves the use of Sheffield City Council’s £29.7m Public Health Budget for 2013/14 in support of Public Health outcomes and in line with Sheffield’s distributed model of Public Health. This will cover staffing, commissioned Public Health services and related overheads;

(b)

delegate to the Executive Director, Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living, decisions on the use of any unallocated Public Health Grant (subject to negotiations on contracts);

(c)

authorises the Director of Public Health and relevant Executive Directors, in consultation with relevant Cabinet Members, for the purposes of finalising detailed in-year savings, to negotiate detailed arrangements with providers in support of the overall savings envelope included in the report; and

(d)

gives support for Elected Members to undertake a fundamental review of all Public Health investment during 2013/14, which will determine the use of this budget post April 2014. The review will be supported by the Director of Public Health and relevant Executive Directors with subsequent proposals and decisions on the ring-fenced Public Health grant to form part of the Council’s 2014/15 Budget planning process.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

A guiding principle for Sheffield’s Public Health Transition was to ensure a smooth transfer for staff, providers of Public Health services and service users. For this reason (and in line with the HR staff transfer scheme) existing contractual commitments to the staff that transferred must be honoured.

10.3.2

With some exceptions determined the PCT in consultation with relevant Executive Directors, the majority of Public Health services have continued into the 2013/14 financial year, but with the Council as the lead commissioner. These include both commissioned treatment services (substance misuse treatments and sexual health) and Public Health programmes.

10.3.3

In order that Public Health funding can be used to support a broader range of Public Health activity and services, and tackle the wider determinants of health a reduction in the value of some contracts is proposed later on in the financial year. The changes proposed have been subject to impact assessments and informed by provider feedback through equalities impact assessments and consultation. Delegations will allow for outstanding negotiations with providers on how required savings are achieved in-year. The proposed Member-led review will build on Member work to date and allow for Elected Members to consider Public Health investment in the round and will inform priorities and funding proposals for 2014/15 onwards.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

Sheffield City Council has the option of maintaining current spending levels on existing (previous PCT) Public Health commissioned services throughout the financial year. However, this would not allow for the Public Health resources to be employed to support a broader range of activity in support of Public Health outcomes. This would mean ending other valuable Public Health activity altogether and would undermine the Council’s 2013/14 budget commitments.

10.4.2

The Council also had the option of seeking to secure savings from 1^st April 2013. However, in line with the Sheffield Compact and our Best Value Duty it was agreed that providers would be consulted on proposals and given notice of the Council’s intentions.

10.4.3

The legal basis of this staff transfer means that Sheffield City Council must honour the contracts/terms and conditions of the staff that have transferred to us through the transition.

10.4.4

It should be noted that there is no overall reduction on Public Health spend in 2013/14. This is a ring-fenced grant and will all be used in support of Sheffield’s Public Health outcomes. Where proposed, the savings on contract value will free up capacity for a broader range of activity in support of Public Health outcomes.

10.4.5

Regarding delegations, the alternative was to take individual contract decisions through the Cabinet process. Given the timescales involved and the pressure to identify savings this was not recommended.