Agenda item

The B&NES Public Services board is working towards a coordinated approach to local services and is now in the process of working towards three key strategies to support this:

·  Health & Wellbeing

·  Environmental

·  Economic

The 2010 B&NES Economic Strategy committed the Council to refresh and renew its plans after a period of three years.  The Council has now commenced work on refreshing the strategy and wishes to take this opportunity to broaden the scope of the strategy to embrace a wider range of Health & Wellbeing Interventions and Outcomes.

The Board is asked to agree that:

·  The review of the B&NES Economic Strategy and the integration of the Health & Wellbeing agenda should be supported.

·  To support the setting up of a sub group to work on the review of the strategy.

The Chairman invited John Wilkinson (Acting Divisional Director for Regeneration Skills and Employment) to introduce the report.

John Wilkinson introduced the report by saying that The B&NES Public Services board is working towards a coordinated approach to local services and is now in the process of working towards three key strategies to support this:

• Health & Wellbeing

• Environmental

• Economic

The 2010 B&NES Economic Strategy committed the Council to refresh and renew its plans after a period of three years.  The Council has now commenced work on refreshing the strategy and wishes to take this opportunity to broaden the scope of the strategy to embrace a wider range of Health & Wellbeing Interventions and Outcomes.

John Wilkinson invited the Board to agree that the review of the B&NES Economic Strategy and the integration of the Health & Wellbeing agenda should be supported; and to support the set up of a sub group to work on the strategy's review.

The Chairman welcomed that the Board has the opportunity to look at, and begin to explore some issues around the economy which may not be looked at within previous similar forms.

John Holden (CCG) asked about confidence of the possible range of the resources over the period mentioned in the report and also if there is an intention to consider some scenario planning in order to test strategic directions coming out of the strategy refresh.

John Wilkinson responded that the Council is doing a lot of work on workplace learning, apprenticeships, etc.  It is about looking at the existing teams and resources and how to deliver the right outcomes with the existing resources.  It is also about shifting the approach and the way how the things are delivered without the need for new, or more resources.  John Wilkinson also said that scenario planning should be part of the refresh.  The Council will be putting in place a range of focus groups to give their views on the economy.

Dr Ian Orpen welcomed that the Board is contributing to the Strategy.  There is a close link between health services and economic settings in the area and it is really useful to have joined-up conversation.

Councillor Dine Romero commented that inequalities do seem to tie in with the whole economic deprivation, which is also linked with health inequalities.  Councillor Romero asked about the work with the connecting families project and how that could be included in the strategy.

John Wilkinson responded that there is a team who work very closely with the connecting families project.  John Wilkinson welcomed the suggestion from Councillor Romero to include the work with connecting families project into the strategy.

Jo Farrar (Chief Executive B&NES Council) explained that the B&NES Public Services Board combines a group of leaders from various public services and voluntary sector organisations that have got together to oversee the agenda across the Bath and North East Somerset and chaired by the Leader of the Council.  It involves police, fire authority, voluntary sector, housing and business.  The Public Services Board had been really keen to make sure that strategy and plans are joined-up and that they do not duplicate the effort. Jo Farrar also said that the Council recognises the current financial climate that we are in and that there are choices and decisions to be made, though one of the strategy points is about the better use of resources.  It is really important to participate in the strategy and encourage everyone to become involved.

Tracey Cox (CCG) commented that there is an opportunity for a synergy.  The CCG is required to produce their 5 year strategy by June 2014 and the main components of that strategy will be focused on some of the issues raised in the Economic Strategy, i.e. inequalities agenda.  There is a real opportunity for discussions over the next couple of months about overlaps and some other issues.

John Wilkinson commented that the timing of the CCG strategy will work well with the timing of the Economic Strategy.  The refreshed draft Economic Strategy should be ready by April/May 2014.

Bruce Laurence (Director of Public Health) welcomed that the strategy recognises the links between the economy, health and inequalities and highlighted that there should be a focus on low paid jobs. 

Ashley Ayre (Strategic Director for People and Communities) asked about the links with the Core Strategy and potential linkage with the use of Section 106 Agreement, in particular if the Council and the CCG want to do something of particular need for the geographic community.

John Wilkinson responded that the Council are considering in relation to the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, in particular how to drive more social outcomes from the commissioning processes that the Council does in terms of particular geographic communities.

Douglas Blair (NHS England) said that he would be interested in the integration with health planning and asked what would be the length of the Economic Strategy.

John Wilkinson responded that the Economic Strategy is set for 20 years with the refresh every 3 years.

The Chairman summed up the debate by saying that there is a real desire for collaborative work.

It was RESOLVED to:

1. Agree that the review of the B&NES Economic Strategy and the integration of the Health & Wellbeing agenda should be supported;

2.  Support the setting up of a sub group to work on the review of the strategy.