Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as varied at the meeting;

(b)       That the Chief Executive contact the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, seeking an urgent review meeting into the shortfall in joint funded packages, caused by the Health Board’s decisions on funding.  A report on this, incorporating resolution 16(c) from the meeting on 8 July 2021, be brought back to this Committee and the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee in November/December 2021; and

(b)       That the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Committee Chairman, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

The Head of Democratic Services presented the updated forward work programme for consideration.

Councillor Richard Jones referred to joint care packages discussed at the July meeting and said that the request for details of the amount lost to the Council over a reasonable period of time had not yet been actioned.  He also sought confirmation on whether a letter had been sent to the Health Board seeking to address inequality in the appeal process for decisions on joint funded care packages.

The Chief Executive said that case determination of such care packages was a long-standing complex subject with significant cost implications, on which the Council had engaged extensively with the Health Board.  He said that a commitment had previously been given by the Health Board to review the system and that a re-review was required.  He suggested that the Committee may wish to request that officers seek an urgent private meeting with the Chief Executive of the Health Board to review process and outcomes, with a full report submitted to this Committee and the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Jones spoke about the financial implications for the Council and said that projected contributions from the Health Board should not be included in the budget until the appeals process was completed.  He proposed the suggestion made by the Chief Executive and asked that the report, incorporating the information requested in July, be brought back to the Committee in November/ December.  He was seconded by Councillor Arnold Woolley.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as varied at the meeting;

(b)       That the Chief Executive contact the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, seeking an urgent review meeting into the shortfall in joint funded packages, caused by the Health Board’s decisions on funding.  A report on this, incorporating resolution 16(c) from the meeting on 8 July 2021, be brought back to this Committee and the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee in November/December 2021; and

(b)       That the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Committee Chairman, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.