Decision details

Proposed decision:

a)  To agree that Kent County Council enter into a Section 75 agreement with the Kent clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which will formalise the implementation of the Better Care Fund (BCF) and establish the required pooled fund

b)  To delegate the authority to the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing to arrange sealing of the Section 75 agreement

How the decision relates to Corporate Objectives:

It supports Health and Social Integration – the Section 75 agreement will allow the pooled fund to be established and, in turn, the integration plans under the BCF to proceed. The BCF Plan has been approved and the pooled fund is required to ensure these funds are available for 1^st April 2015.

Care Act Implementation – the Section 75 agreement will enable funding to support the implementation of the Care Act, in line with corporate objectives and national policy.

Supports the Kent Vision as a national Integration Pioneer – to put the citizen at the centre with services wrapped around what’s important to them.

Supports Adult Social Care Transformation through facilitating partnership working and joint commissioning of health and social services across the Kent health economy. 

Financial Implications: The Section 75 agreement will include the pooling of £101.4m for the BCF.  This will include £10.6m Capital from the County Council and £90.8m Revenue from the Clinical Commissioning Groups.  Kent County Council will be the host. The agreement outlines the financial contributions to the pool, the funding flows out of the pool, including for the protection of social care, VAT implications and financial reporting requirements. 

Legal Implications: County Council Legal Services are currently engaged in drafting the Section 75 Agreement, which will then be reviewed and agreed by all relevant parties and approved by the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board.

Equality Implications: The agreement will allow for the implementation of the BCF plan. The plan is centred on improving health and social care outcomes for all the residents of Kent by transforming services within the community.

The BCF is one of the strategic priorities of the Adult Services Transformation Portfolio within the Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Business Plan.

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Heath I:

1)           ENDORSE the Better Care Fund Plan that has been agreed by the Health & Wellbeing Board.

2)           AGREE that Kent County Council will enter into a Section 75 agreement with Kent Clinical Commissioning Groups which will formalise the implementation of the Better Care Fund and establish the required pooled fund.

3)         DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing or other suitable delegated officer to arrange the sealing of the Section 75 agreement in line with the details set out in the recommendation report.