Contact : Graham Linecar Ext: 7390

1. Summary and purpose of report

1.1. The Committee needs to consider arrangements to enable Members to give in-depth consideration to HealthFit, and for joint consideration with the other three health scrutiny authorities in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority's (HIOWHA) area.

2. The HealthFit process

2.1. The last meeting of the Committee received a presentation on HealthFit, the major strategic review exercise being undertaken by HIOWHA considering the challenges facing the NHS in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and identifying options for how health services might develop and change to meet these challenges. It is an exercise of great significance for the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight which will have a major impact on the shape and pattern of their health care services.

2.2. Members have already been involved in consultation exercises and processes intended to inform the identification of issues and their impact on health services.

2.3. HIOWHA will shortly publish a `resource pack' intended to summarise conclusions about the challenges to be faced. HIOWHA will also want to consider with overview and scrutiny committees of the four local authorities in its area processes and arrangements for public consultation.

3. Proposed arrangements

3.1. The Committee needs to consider arrangements

_ for in-depth consideration of HealthFit

_ for working jointly with Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council in examining HealthFit and in responding to the HIOWHA

3.2. It is proposed that the Committee appoints Members to a working group, to operate in the same way as the working group undertaking the Committee's first review, for the purpose of considering HealthFit and investigating its implications and consequences for health services in Hampshire and making recommendations to the Committee on responses to be made to HIOWHA on HealthFit.

3.3. It is further proposed that the Committee consults with the appropriate overview and scrutiny committees of Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council on setting up a joint working group or committee of the four authorities to consider HealthFit, and to undertake investigation and discussion with HIOWHA on behalf of the four authorities.

3.4. It is therefore recommended that the Committee appoints Members to a working group which will, with immediate effect, be the point of contact with HIOWHA on HealthFit consultations. When the other authorities have responded to consultation on a proposal for a joint committee, those Members would become the Committee's representatives on that joint committee. Consideration should therefore be given to composition of a possible joint committee. It is suggested that the Committee considers proposing a joint committee with membership of

3 from the Committee, one of whom should be one of co-opted District Council Members (to allow representation of District Councils' interests and concerns)
1 Portsmouth City Council
1 Southampton City Council
1 Isle of Wight Council

Whilst Community Health Councils continue in existence, the Committee may wish to invite the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Federation of Community Health Councils to appoint a representative to attend meeting of the working group and, in time, the joint committee.

Recommendations

1. That three Members be appointed to a working group to examine and consider on behalf of the Committee the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority's (HIOWHA) HealthFit exercise and proposals and to work with HIOWHA and partner organisations in securing an appreciation of the issues involved and emerging proposals and to report to the Committee at such time as the working group considers if necessary and appropriate for formal response by the Health Review Committee.

2. That the appropriate overview and scrutiny committees of Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council be consulted on a proposal that a joint working group or committee be established consisting of

_ the three Members of this Committee's HealthFit working group

_ one Member each from the other three authorities

_ to consider, on behalf of the four authorities, HealthFit, its conclusions and proposals.

3. That terms of reference for the joint committee, which will be considered and agreed in consultation with the other authorities, should allow the joint committee to pursue issues and seek information on behalf of the four authorities but that formal responses to the HIOWHA would be made by the scrutiny committees of each of the four authorities taking account of conclusions and recommendation of the joint committee.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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