A report by the Acting Chief Executive provided the Cabinet with an update on national policy and guidance for public health reform; an update on the local transition, and sought agreement on the proposed role of the Director of Public Health and structure within the Council. 

Members noted that under the Health and Social Care Act, local authorities were given new statutory duties across the three ‘domains’ of public health.  These were:

·  Health improvement – including reducing lifestyle related ill-health and inequalities in health, and addressing the underlying determinants of health.

·  Health protection – including ensuring that comprehensive plans are in place across the local authority, NHS and other agencies to respond to infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

·  Health service improvement – by providing NHS Commissioners, including Clinical Commissioning Groups, with expert advice and support to improve and evaluate the quality and efficiency of health services.

In addition, each authority must, acting jointly with the Secretary of State for Health, appoint an individual to have responsibility for its new public health functions, known as the Director of Public Health (DPH).

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the report be noted;

(2)  the Director of Public Health will report directly to the Chief Executive, and a secondment arrangement be put in place to enable her to directly manage Council staff; and

(3)  under the secondment agreement, the Director of Public Health will take responsibility for Public Health, Performance Management, and the Council’s approach to Commissioning within the local authority.