Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Public Health. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services). The report seeks approval to fund the current portfolio of Public Health services and programmes for 2013/14 in order to provide stability during the transfer of responsibility for Public Health from the Department of Health to Local Authorities.

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, which sought agreement to continue to fund the current portfolio of public health services and programmes for 2013/13 and to undertake a programme of review of the current commitments for 2013/14 in the Public Health portfolio.

In response to a series of questions Cabinet was advised that the budget for tackling teenage pregnancy reflected that significant improvements had been made in this area; however, work was ongoing. The £1m contingency sum was an inherited budget reflecting that there was risk attached to the sexual health budget.

Cabinet was advised that whilst responsibility of tackling infectious diseases fell within the responsibility of the Local Authority immunisation was the responsibility of NHS England. Given the current outbreak of Measles in other parts of the UK Local Authorities and NHS England were working closely on plans to address this.

RESOLVED:

1. That approval be given to continue to fund the current portfolio of public health services/programmes in 2013/14 at the estimated commitments of £13.800m.

2. That it be agreed that in 2013/14 a programme review of the current commitments in the current public health portfolio be undertaken.

3. That plans for £2.7m new spend in 2013/14 be noted.

4. That it be agreed that a contingency of £1m in 2013/14 be allowed.

5. That the proposed use of an earmarked reserve to smooth funding between years be noted.

Alternative Options Considered

A ring fenced public health grant is being provided to enable Local Authorities to discharge their new public health responsibilities. Current funding and future proposals for investment are based on grant conditions (see Appendix 1).

Reasons for Decision

Information is provided in sections 2 and 3 of the report.