Agenda item

The Commissioning Partnership Board considered a joint report of the Directors of Finance (Oldham Council and Oldham CCG),  which asked the Commissioning Partnership Board to note the current draft version of the 2022/2023 Oldham Section 75 legal document, the proposed scheme specifications included and the proposed financial contributions of the CCG and OMBC and to delegate authority for approval of the final agreement to the Director of Finance for Oldham Council and the Chief Finance Officer of Oldham CCG.

The report updated the Board on proposals for the final version of the 2022/2023 Section 75 (S.75) legal agreement. The report proposed the scope and scale of the S.75 to reflect the financial value of relevant areas of Oldham CCG’s draft plan for 2022/2023 and an expanded portfolio from Oldham Council to reflect the 2022/2023 budgets impacting on the wider determinants of heath. The report also recognises the complex governance arrangements which will be in place for 2022/2023 due to the transfer of the S.75 to Greater Manchester Integrated Care from the CCG and the level of budget delegation to Place.

Originally the S.75 agreement covered expenditure funded by the Better Care Fund. The agreement was initially expanded to include the Improved Better Care Fund and the Winter Resilience Grant. The Council and the CCG have subsequently determined to further widen the scope of the agreement to incorporate several areas where services are commissioned jointly. The main purpose therefore was to facilitate a whole system approach to deliver care where and how it can be best delivered to the citizens of Oldham.

The Oldham system has a strong history of joint working and of organisations providing support where flexibility allows. Some examples of the financial system working include: Oldham CCG providing additional funding to Adult Social Care through the Better Care Fund of over £6m between 2014/15 and 2016/17; OMBC providing investment funds of £5.9m in 2019/20; Oldham CCG and Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust agreeing financial contracts that moved away from activity tariffs to move to a more constructive relationship focussed on joint working; and Oldham CCG providing additional funding to support Adult Social Care in 2020/21 and 2021/22.

RESOLVED: That

1.    The Board notes the strong history of joint working and funding arrangements in Health and Social Care in Oldham.

2.    The Board notes the current, draft version of the 2022/2023 Oldham Section 75 Partnership Agreement as attached at Appendix 1, to the submitted report.

3.    The Board agrees to delegate approval jointly to the Director of Finance of Oldham Council and the Chief Finance Officer of Oldham CCG Officer, in consultation with Members of the Commissioning Partnership Board, to finalise the S.75 Agreement including the financial expenditure and contribution figures, that are detailed at Schedule 8 of Appendix 1, of the submitted report, if required following legal review.

4.    The Board approves the intention to adopt a flexible approach to contributions to support delivery of the best services for Oldham residents.

5.    the Board authorises the Council’s Director of Legal Services to sign the final Section 75 Agreement on behalf of Oldham Council and an authorised signatory on behalf of the CCG following final legal review.

6.    The Board notes the joint governance arrangements that will be in place for 2022/2023 because of the transfer of the S.75 agreement to Greater Manchester Integrated Care following the passing of legislation relating to health and social care reform.