Agenda item

This report sets out the budget proposals for public health services covered by this Policy and Accountability Committee (PAC). An update is also provided on any proposed changes in fees and charges

Anita Parkin and Nicola Ashton provided an overview of Public Health and outlined the various ways in much Public Health allocated funds across the Council departments to ensure that health outcomes were supported.  These included targets such as increasing life expectancy, smoking cessation or supporting rough sleepers; and acknowledged that people in different parts of the Borough often had different experiences.  In addressing the wider determinants of health, Public Health worked with other departments across the Council. They worked particularly closely with ASC, supporting vulnerable adults and children, and facilitated prevention work, for example:  health protection, working and responding to major incidents, healthcare and preventing mortality. 

Understanding the financial picture, Public Health received £22 million to support locally, sensitive health priorities for Hammersmith & Fulham residents.  Over 200 public health outcomes were provided within the Public Health Outcomes Framework 2017 and the issue was how to understand how this could be locally interpreted.  Emily Hill set out the figures as to where the Public Health grant was spent and reported that there was a reduction of 2.6%.  The key point to consider was the positive impact of Public Health investment across the Council, contributing to meeting public health outcomes.  The current funding trend indicated a downwards trajectory although a financial reserve had accumulated, counterbalancing that decrease and could ensure service continuity, if necessary.  It was recognised that in terms of risk, future funding will eventually cease, excluding provision for essential services which would continue.  There had been an increased and a review of the funding allocation would be undertaken. 

Jim Grealy, in the context of the reduced Public Health grant, asked if Public Health worked to support children.  Lisa Redfern explained that strategically, Steve Miley, Anita Parkin and herself, were members of the Health and Wellbeing Board, and worked closely to deliver on a range of early years.  They also attended monthly meetings with the CCG to consider core and strategic, operational issues.  Anita Parkin briefly outlined the healthy schools provision, and added that it was necessary to look at improved ways of working with schools to help young people build emotional resilience, and prepare them adequately for later life.

Councillor Coleman commented that Public Health operated right across the Council. He had requested to meet with all those who worked directly with young people to find ways in which the current range of outcomes could be improved upon.  It was important to see the impact of preventative policies.  He planned to meet with schools, parks and leisure services to address this and to ensure that Public Health funding was well spent.

In response to a query from Councillor Kwon, it was explained that the pie chart indicated the different portions of spend. The Council determined how to deliver on public health outcomes by investing in different departments. Much of this was apportioned to ASC and Children’s Services and very little allocated elsewhere. Councillor Coleman added that Public Health was well placed to work alongside other departments.  For Public health outcomes to be successfully delivered, departments would need to understand what was expected.  The funding was to be paid quarterly and in arrears but it was important that they delivered the expected outcomes. Performance and monitoring will measure and demonstrate how departments are meeting the targets, how these were set and funding allocation would be contingent on targets were met.

In response to a query from Councillor Lloyd-Harris, Councillor Coleman clarified that discussions with parks and leisure would consider the service provision.  They would work closely with residents, although it was accepted that engagement was self-selective and that this would require careful calibration in order to be inclusive.

Councillor Richardson thanked officers for the report and looked forward to hearing about further progress on delivering Pubic Health outcomes, in the future.

RESOLVED

That the Committee noted the report.