Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Housing.

(a)           That the work completed to establish the Public Health teams within Dorset and BCP councils and the continued good performance in line with statutory responsibilities for Public Health, as set out in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, be endorsed.

(b)           That the proposed principles for the planned joint commissioning of Public Health services, where this makes sense to continue to do so, to maintain service quality, performance, efficiency and value for money for the residents of Dorset, be agreed.

(c)            To agree the principle that where commissioning and procurement decisions were required for any services that remain jointly provided, the lead commissioning authority’s decision making and governance route would be followed.  This included respecting thresholds where Cabinet agreement was required under that lead authority’s scheme of delegation.

(d)           That the proposed future direction for the delivery of public health functions and services through the two Public Health teams in Dorset and BCP council, be agreed.

(e)           That responsibilities for decisions associated with future procurement approaches, where Dorset Council leads, be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Prevention & Communities, in consultation with the Executive Director for Housing, Communities.

Reason for the decision

It has been a year since two new Public Health teams were established in BCP and Dorset Councils. The paper and recommendations provided updates to elected members on the progress establishing the new Public Health teams. They provided an overview of the preferred options for how we intend to commission and provide Public Health functions and services in the future.

It was timely to review and set the future ambitions for the Public Health functions and services over the coming years in line with the 3-year indicative ring-fenced grant allocation and the ambitions set out within the Dorset Council Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Public Health, Prevention and Communities set out the report updating members on progress following the disaggregation of Public Health Dorset in April 2025 and the establishment of separate Public Health teams within Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council. The report also set out the proposed future direction of the delivery and commissioning of Public Health functions and services, including areas where joint working should continue.

Members were further advised that the report was broadly supported by the People & Health Overview Committee at its meeting on 29 April 2026, and a similar paper was being considered by BCP Council.

It was proposed by Cllr M Bell seconded by Cllr N Ireland.

Decision

(a)           That the work completed to establish the Public Health teams within Dorset and BCP councils and the continued good performance in line with statutory responsibilities for Public Health, as set out in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, be endorsed.

(b)           That the proposed principles for the planned joint commissioning of Public Health services, where this makes sense to continue to do so, to maintain service quality, performance, efficiency and value for money for the residents of Dorset, be agreed.

(c)            To agree the principle that where commissioning and procurement decisions were required for any services that remain jointly provided, the lead commissioning authority’s decision making and governance route would be followed.  This included respecting thresholds where Cabinet agreement was required under that lead authority’s scheme of delegation.

(d)           That the proposed future direction for the delivery of public health functions and services through the two Public Health teams in Dorset and BCP council, be agreed.

(e)           That responsibilities for decisions associated with future procurement approaches, where Dorset Council leads, be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Prevention & Communities, in consultation with the Executive Director for Housing, Communities.

Reason for the decision

It has been a year since two new Public Health teams were established in BCP and Dorset Councils. The paper and recommendations provided updates to elected members on the progress establishing the new Public Health teams. They provided an overview of the preferred options for how we intend to commission and provide Public Health functions and services in the future.

It was timely to review and set the future ambitions for the Public Health functions and services over the coming years in line with the 3-year indicative ring-fenced grant allocation and the ambitions set out within the Dorset Council Plan.

To consider a report by the Deputy Director of Public Health and Prevention.

The Deputy Director of Public Health and Prevention introduced the report on the future direction of public health contracts. It had been one year since the disaggregation of Public Health Dorset and the creation of two separate public health teams. Due to the long-term establishment of contracts, there would need to be a gradual and managed transition for them. The item sought views on how the disaggregation of public health is continued with the contracts.

Members of the committee discussed the report and raised the following points:

·         Joint working between the two public health teams would be collaborative on shared programmes, such as the integrated sexual health service.

·         How the governance for the contracts would work when the two public health teams are working together. There was a Joint Sharing Agreement in place for the financial arrangements.

·         Clarification on the AI text messaging service, which was used for programmes by Livewell Dorset.

·         The ringfenced budget through the Public Health Grant. The council was under budget for public health, however more had been held in reserves due to the risk of disaggregation.

·         Shared contracts could be used when there were better economies of scale. There were also contracts where separation could free up resources.

·         Where procurement of a contract was being led by BCP Council, there must be involvement from Dorset Council to ensure it can meet the needs of the Dorset Council area.

·         The Joint Sharing Agreement had been developed by the legal services of both councils, and it ensures that payment for services continue. The delivery models of public health may be different due to the different needs of each council area.

Proposed by Cllr Bown, seconded by Cllr Orrell.

Decision:

To recommend to Cabinet that it:

1.    Endorse the work completed to establish the Public Health teams within Dorset and BCP councils and the continued good performance in line with statutory responsibilities for Public Health as set out in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.

2.    Agree the proposed principles for the planned joint commissioning of Public Health services where is makes sense to continue to do so to maintain service quality, performance, efficiency and value for money for the residents of Dorset.

3.    Agree the proposed future direction for the delivery of public health functions and services through the two Public Health teams in Dorset and BCP council.

4.    Delegate responsibilities for decisions associated with future procurement approaches to the Cabinet Member for Health and Housing in consultation with the Director of Public Health and Prevention, in line with appropriate scheme of delegation and procurement regulations.