Apologies for absence were received from Board Members:  Councillor Scouler (Torbay Council) and Sam Barrell (South Devon and Torbay Shadow Clinical Commissioning Group – who was represented by Steve Wallwork).

The Board was notified of a change to its membership; Anne Mattock has been replaced by Kevin Dixon (Acting Chair of LINk).

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 22 November 2012.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board held on 22 November 2013 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the Draft Commissioning plan 2013/2014.

The Board was informed that from 1 April 2013 the Clinical Commissioning Group would become a formal body and as required, had compiled a draft commissioning plan for 2013/2014.  Steve Wallwork advised the draft commissioning plan had been formulated taking account of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Government Guidance.  The Board was also informed that it was best practice to have a draft commissioning plan set out as a one page summary which was presented to the Board for their views.

Whilst Members requested the opportunity to view the full draft commissioning plan, the Board were supportive of the draft commissioning plan, based upon the summary.  Members welcomed the use of language that easily translated to local government, however they felt that partnership working should feature in the ‘vision’ with joint commissioning being given greater emphasis.

Members of the Board were keen for a single outcome framework to be developed that would focus upon what could be achieved with shrinking resources.

Agreed: That the Draft Commissioning Plan 2013/2014 be supported with the final agreement being delegated to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Richard Williams, Director of Children’s Services, Torbay Council to provide a verbal update.

Richard Williams, Director of Children’s Services, informed the Board of a £50 million fund being administered by the Big Lottery Fund.  The fund could only be used for projects targeted at children of 0 to 3 years old with a focus on communication and language development, social development and nutrition.  The successful projects had to be led by a voluntary agency that was used to handling a high level of funding and cover an area of up to 50,000 people and draw together a number of voluntary and private sector partners.

A board member suggested the troubled families agenda as a possible area to focus, with one or two unique selling points being used to make the bid stand out from the others.

To consider proposals to establish a formal planning and delivery mechanism in order to explore opportunities for joint commissioning, shared priorities, collaborative budgets and shared staffing.

Members were advised that as part of the wider strategic commissioning framework of the Council and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) it was agreed to explore opportunities for joint commissioning, shared priorities, collaborative budgets and shared staffing.  Within this context proposals have been made to establish formal planning and delivery mechanisms in order to progress this work.  Member’s views were sought on the proposed options.

Members expressed a preference for option two.  However members sought reassurance that both options would be cost effective and questioned the legitimacy of the Partnership Commissioning Board being a decision making authority.

Agreed: that Option two, as set out in the submitted report, be supported.

The date of the next meeting will be held on 21 March 2013.

The next meeting of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board will be held on 21 March 2013 at 3.00 p.m. in the Town Hall, Torquay.  Members were informed that this meeting would consider the findings from the work to be undertaken by the Local Government Association (LGA) using the Health and Wellbeing Board Development Tool.