Agenda item

(i)     Older Peoples Partnership

(ii)   Healthier Communities Partnership  

(iii) Mental Health Partnership

(iv)  Supporting People Partnership

(v)    Housing Executive

(i)                 Older People Partnership

An update was given by detailing some of the items listed on the Report of the Chair of the Older People’s Partnership Executive Board on its strategies that was presented to the Board. In addition, the board heard that at the first Mobility Forum AGM, the issue of community transport was raised and championed by the Executive Member for Environment and Conservation. Also, the Board heard that issues relating to Older People would become the subject of a Scrutiny Review in the new municipal year.

(ii)               Healthier Communities Partnership

An update was given by detailing some of the items listed on the Report of the Chair of the Healthier Communities Partnership Executive Board on its strategies that was presented to the Board. In addition, the Board heard that a an event took place in February that addressed the wide issues around health and life expectancy. In an effort to achieve Life Expectancy targets, this issue will appear in the Community Strategy.

(iii)             Mental Health Partnership

An update was given by detailing some of the items listed on the Report of the Chair of the Mental Health Partnership Executive Board on its strategies that was presented to the Board. In addition, the Board heard that work in the mental health sector had recently been dominated by major financial challenges particularly tough in Haringey. Payments by results had given rise to reduced budgets, and bids to the NRF had been considered to fill budgetary gaps.

(iv)             Supporting People Partnership

An update was given by detailing some of the items listed on the Report of the Chair of the Supporting People EMB on its strategies that was presented to the Board. In addition, the Board heard that responses to the Supporting People consultation had been received and that the programme outcomes are expected in due course.

(v)               Housing Executive

There was no update given to the Board, except for the Report of the Chair of the Housing Executive Partnership Board that was presented to the Board.

The Chair invited representatives from the Partner agencies to feedback to the Board as because they were not included on the Agenda. It was confirmed that this would be a standard item on future agendas of the Board.

            Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust

An update on the financial position of the Trust was given by the Chairman of the Trust. It was reported that there would be a c£12m impact on budgets in 2006/7 and that the outlook was extremely challenging with little guidance from the Department of Health. The impacts were not only felt in Haringey, but were London-wide. Any budgets agreed by the Trust’s Board would be shared with the Well-Being Board in due course, and it was highlighted that there were concerns that mental health services might bare the brunt of the budgetary cuts. There was a discussion about lessons learnt by the recent budgetary problems and it was established that the cause, and therefore the real lessons, were largely for the government to bare and this was manifested most recently by the resignation of the Chief Executive of the NHS.

Voluntary Sector

HarCEN outlined that they had participated in a Government Officer for London consultation on community strategies. The Board was notified of a conference that would take place on 20 March 2006 to highlight the move from a grants based to commission-led process, a major challenge for the Community Empowerment Network within the next year to 18 months. During a brief discussion is was highlighted that a mind-set change would be required of partners and rank and file members in terms of the new approaches to commissioning projects.

RESOLVED

The Board noted all of the  updates from Partners and the Executive Partnership Boards.