Councillor M Foy moved the following motion:

“Health and Social Care are in crisis due to the failure of Government to adequately fund both health and social care.

The proposed Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) for the North East will not resolve the current crisis without Government recognition of the need to meet the increased costs of growing demand.

We recognise the benefits of greater health and social care integration to meet the needs of our community. But long term investment is needed in these areas to chance the system from crisis management to prevention. Government also need to recognise the fundamental link between increased demand for health services and the reductions in funding to local authorities which has imparted on social care provision.

This Council is concerned that the STP process has so far not demonstrated clear engagement with local authorities – the process lacks clear governance and democratic accountability.

Whilst this Council will continue to work together with NHS partners and colleagues, through the formal mechanism of the Health and Wellbeing Board, we will not be able to endorse any final plan which does not recognise and address the need for adequate and fair funding and which has not been the subject of robust and meaningful public consultation.

This Council agrees to:

1.    Write to the Secretary of State for Health outlining concerns about the lack of robust governance processes and the inadequate engagement of key stakeholders.

2.    Write to MPs in the Borough to ask them to highlight our concerns about the lack of funding to support STP delivery.

3.    Support meetings with local Public Services Alliances to undertake joint campaigning work to highlight shared concerns about lack of funding.

4.    Use the full powers of Overview and Scrutiny to highlight our concerns with regard to transparency, engagement, finance and accountability.

5.    Work with members of Trust bodies to encourage them to challenge the development of STPs with key partners.”

The following amendment was submitted:

In 3^rd paragraph, 2^nd last line, replace “imparted” with “impacted”.

In 5^th paragraph, 2^nd last line, replace “adequate and fair funding” with “adequate funding based on need”.

In “This Council agrees to: 3”, replace “Public Services Alliances” with “appropriate campaigning groups”.

The amendment was accepted by the mover of the original motion and therefore put as the substantive motion and duly carried.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -

Health and Social Care are in crisis due to the failure of Government to adequately fund both health and social care.

The proposed Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) for the North East will not resolve the current crisis without Government recognition of the need to meet the increased costs of growing demand.

We recognise the benefits of greater health and social care integration to meet the needs of our community. But long term investment is needed in these areas to chance the system from crisis management to prevention. Government also need to recognise the fundamental link between increased demand for health services and the reductions in funding to local authorities which has impacted on social care provision.

This Council is concerned that the STP process has so far not demonstrated clear engagement with local authorities – the process lacks clear governance and democratic accountability.

Whilst this Council will continue to work together with NHS partners and colleagues, through the formal mechanism of the Health and Wellbeing Board, we will not be able to endorse any final plan which does not recognise and address the need for adequate and funding based on need and which has not been the subject of robust and meaningful public consultation.

This Council agrees to:

1.    Write to the Secretary of State for Health outlining concerns about the lack of robust governance processes and the inadequate engagement of key stakeholders.

2.    Write to MPs in the Borough to ask them to highlight our concerns about the lack of funding to support STP delivery.

3.    Support meetings with local appropriate campaigning groups to undertake joint campaigning work to highlight shared concerns about lack of funding.

4.    Use the full powers of Overview and Scrutiny to highlight our concerns with regard to transparency, engagement, finance and accountability.

5.    Work with members of Trust bodies to encourage them to challenge the development of STPs with key partners.