Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Sheri Green and Graham Harris, Dartford Borough Council; Allison Duggall, Kent County Council; Lesley Bowles, Sevenoaks District Council; and Cecilia Yardley, Healthwatch.

There were no declarations received.

Councillor Gough introduced his report which set out the background to the establishment of the Health and Wellbeing Board in 2012 /2013, explained that the Board had experienced a contraction in work and relevance, and sought to explain the reasoning behind this in terms of alterations to the governance and consultation processes supporting health provision in Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks.

The report also presented details of two recently established health consultation and support groups which were possible role models for the future direction of the Board.

In support of this Mrs Stock reported on new structures relating to Health Governance in Kent, highlighting differing geographic models which were emerging, stressing the state of flux that the Commissioning Group was now experiencing, and considered how the HWB fitted into this.

Councillor Members of the Board concurred with the general thrust of the comments made but stressed that the Board, even in its current format, provided information on emerging health initiatives, allowed Members to comment on matters surrounding preventative work, and provided a sounding - board for Officers to discuss County wide and National Health matters.

However it was noted that should any new consultative group be established it was important that it was relevant to Members and that contributions and suggestions made would be treated as serious proposals and accorded the consideration they deserved.

The Board examined the structures of the two presented consultation and support groups, the DGS Local Care Implementation Committee (LCIC) and the West Kent Health and Wellbeing Elected Members forum, and considered that the LCIC would satisfy best the needs of Councillor Members, and it was suggested that our elected members could form a sub group to meet in parallel with the LCIC, as there was currently no Councillor Member input to this body.

The Board therefore RESOLVED,

     I.        That the current Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Health and Wellbeing Board DGSHWB was no longer adequately fulfilling the role for which it was originally established;

    II.        That to disband the Board without an adequate replacement body would leave a void in representation and accountability for health provision in the DGSHWB area;

  III.        Subject to the approval of the LCIC

a)    That elected Members from the three donor Boroughs and Kent County Council, together with suitable Officers in a supporting role, form a sub group of the LCIC, meeting at the conclusion of each LCIC meetings;

b)    The sub group would consider the relevant matters contained in the Agenda of the LCIC;

IV.   That a review of the process would be undertaken in six months - time to gauge the suitability of the arrangements.