PAPER C

Committee:	COORDINATING COMMITTEE
Date:	15 NOVEMBER 2002
Title:	LOCAL AUTHORITY HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
	REPORT OF THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT

1.	REASON FOR CONSIDERATION
	This report seeks to advise Members about the introduction of new powers of health overview and scrutiny for local authorities and to recommend that the Isle of Wight Council’s Constitution be amended to include health scrutiny within the remit of the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee.
2.	BACKGROUND
2.1	Part 1 of the Local Government Act 2000 created a new discretionary power for councils to do anything which is likely to ‘promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being’ of an area. The Health and Social Care Act of 2001 provided a more explicit power for local authorities with responsibility for Social Services to scrutinise health services within the authority’s area as part of their wider role in health improvement.
2.2	As a result of these new powers local authority overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) will, from 1 January 2003, be able to make recommendations and reports on matters relating to the local health service. OSCs will also be able to require local National Health Service (NHS) representatives to attend meetings and answer questions. In return, NHS bodies will have a statutory duty to provide information to OSCs and consult them on proposals for major reconfigurations with the NHS.
2.3	A consultation document on the Department of Health’s proposals for the exercise of the new power was published in January 2002. This was followed last month by the draft Local Authority (Overview and Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Regulations 2003. The period of consultation for the draft Regulations is due to finish on 18 November and it is anticipated that the final Regulations will be published in December.

3.	LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HEALTH SCRUTINY
3.1	As the Isle of Wight Council is a unitary authority the new power will fall primarily to us, although there may be a future need for some cross-boundary working with local authorities in Hampshire.
3.2	The Health and Social Care Act defines an NHS body, in relation to an OSC, as a Health Authority, Primary Care Trust or NHS Trust. Locally, this would mean that the Isle of Wight Council would be scrutinising the following NHS bodies: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust A brief explanation of the responsibilities of each of these bodies is attached as Appendix A.
3.3	Members should be aware that health does not yet feature within the remit of any of the Council’s Portfolio Holders.
4.	PROPOSED STRUCTURE FOR HEALTH SCRUTINY
4.1	The current remit of the Council’s Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee includes responsibility for the scrutiny of housing services, housing benefits, support for the young, elderly and those with disabilities, voluntary sector liaison and the local Health Improvement Programme Strategy.
4.2	The Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee has, in the past, scrutinised a number of issues with health implications, including the Health Improvement Programme Strategy, and has kept a close eye on developments in joint working between the Social Services and Housing directorate and the NHS. As this cross-cutting trend is likely to continue it is proposed that health scrutiny be included within the remit of the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee. This would require an amendment to Council’s Constitution.
4.3	If this proposal is agreed then it is suggested that Select Committee and Best Value Support work with the Chairman of the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee to formulate a programme aimed at preparing Select Committee members for their new role. This could include arranging for members to receive a basic grounding in how the NHS works locally, holding a dedicated training event and working with the NHS to plan a programme of future work.
5.	RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
	Health Improvement Programme Strategy
6.	OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS
	This report starts the consultation process

7.	LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
	The Health and Social Care Act 2001 requires local authorities to ensure that OSCs are given the new power.
8.	FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
	It is anticipated that the level of officer support to the Select Committee process will need to be increased in order to meet the demands of the new power. Members are advised that this will lead to a bid in the current budget round for a third committee administrator.
9.	CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
	There are no Crime and Disorder implications in respect of this report.
	RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL
	That health scrutiny be added to the remit of the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee.
	APPENDICES ATTACHED
	Appendix A – A brief explanation of the responsibilities of the NHS locally.
	BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
	Health and Social Care Act 2001
	‘A Healthy Outlook – Local Authority Overview and Scrutiny of Health’ (Audit Commission, 2001)
	‘Local Authority Health Overview and Scrutiny – A Consultation Document’ (Department of Health, January 2001)
	The Draft Local Authority (Overview and Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Regulations 2002 (Department of Health, October 2002)

Contact Point: Saskia Kiernan, 823805

ALISTAIR DRAIN

Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support

APPENDIX A

The National Health Service in the Isle of Wight

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority

Strategic Health Authorities are responsible for delivering local health services in line with the NHS Plan and are accountable to the Secretary of State. They are tasked with developing strategic frameworks for, and the performance management of, local health services.

Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust

Primary Care Trusts are responsible for planning and securing local health services. They work closely with GP practices and directly provide services such as podiatry and district nursing.

Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust

The Trust is responsible for providing hospital and community services to patients, together with the provision of mental health and learning disability services and the Island's ambulance service. NHS Trusts must be visible and accountable to the community for the service they deliver and they have considerable powers to organise their own affairs.