(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.