The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported on an overview of the National Integrated Care Fund (ICF) and the regional governance and monitoring arrangements surrounding the fund.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that as a result of the re-alignment of the health board boundary – now known as the Cwm Taf Morgannwg region, officers and elected members were now working with new partners and establishing new regional partnership arrangements.  This included the allocation, influence and management of the Integrated Care Fund which remains under the approval of the Regional Partnership Board.  She highlighted the governance structure which oversees the ICF process in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg region, the governance arrangements are in the process of being reviewed due to the re-alignment of the boundary changes.  It was expected that the review will recommend a similar three tier structure, with it intended to be implemented from April 2020.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported that the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board had seen its ICF Revenue allocation increase from £5.608m to £12,7m during 2019/20, due to the inclusion of the Bridgend ICF allocation.  To assist Bridgend transition into the new Region, it was agreed that Bridgend would ring fence its previous ICF Revenue allocation of £1.988m.  She highlighted examples of some ICF Revenue being ring fenced to themes identified by Welsh Government as being specific priorities to deliver national strategies.  The Integrated Autism Service, Dementia Action Plan and Welsh Community Care Information System are examples of how specific ICF allocations are ring fenced within each regional allocation.  She stated that completed bids for the ICF Revenue allocation therefore range from those from a single organisation, to integrated Health and Social Care bids, and also regional collaborative approaches that may consist of all local authorities or one local authority plus Health Board.  Some ICF bids are for previous or existing schemes that are carried over from year to year, and such schemes are currently dependent on ICF.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing outlined the process for bids whereby proposals are approved locally and submitted to the Regional Commissioning Team that serve the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board.   

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported on the ICF capital allocation, which for the region in 2019/20 is £5,049,000, inclusive of £1,500,000 transferred from Western Bay into the new region.  It was estimated that this would total £5,771,000 in 2020/21.  She stated that the process for considering ICF capital bids is similar to that of the revenue process.  The key difference between ICF Revenue and ICF Capital Allocation is that the capital allocation can be separated into two parts being Main Capital Programme (MCP) for schemes over £100,000 and Discretionary Capital Schemes (DCP) for schemes under £100,000.  Whilst there is not a requirement for regions to have DCP schemes, Welsh Government impose a limit on the DCP allocation to a maximum of up to 20% of the total capital funding available for the Region in 2019/20.    

The Committee questioned whether it was necessary in respect of project MCP 11 for land and buildings to be purchased to create 10 new specifically designed accommodation for those with complex health and learning difficulties as it would be prudent to build on the Council’s land.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that a whole range of options would be considered in conjunction with registered social landlords and it had yet to be confirmed whether there would be a land deal for this project.  She stated that sometimes land is better sold for development and that land would not be purchased until all options had been examined.  Its cost effectiveness and achieving the best outcome for the service would be considered. 

The Committee questioned the proposals for project MCP 13 Maesteg Hospital.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee this was a feasibility study for the future development of Maesteg Hospital.

The Committee questioned whether the new governance structure would cause concern to get bids for funding projects.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that there were no immediate concerns. The Committee reminded the Wales Audit Office (WAO) that they had previously raised questions on whether ICF across Wales was effective.  Samantha Spruce from the WAO informed the Committee that she would make those enquiries. 

The Committee referred to delays in the decision making processes in the Welsh Government which meant that confirmation offers were not returned to the region until late August and whether there would be a risk to projects not being completed.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that this is an issue of sustainability and it was difficult to plan in the long term with grant funding as it is not core funding, leading to difficulties in recruiting temporary staff.  She stated there are contingency plans for slippage.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing stated that she would provide the Committee with details of schemes at risk due to delays in funding.  She undertook to provide the Committee with the papers of the Regional Partnership Board.

RESOLVED:              That the Committee noted the information in the report.