The report requested Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee to retrospectively approve the Section 75 pooled fund arrangement for 2022/23 between the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Council and give delegated authority to the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Director of Care and Health to sign off the agreement. The report described the arrangements, content, and value of the 2022/2023 Section 75 and set out the additional funding that the ICB contributed to the pool. The report set out how the content of the S75 supported the outcomes of the Healthy Wirral Plan and achieved the Governments priorities for 2022/23.

Resolved – that,

1. The continuation and value of the pooled fund arrangement between the Council and the ICB for 2022/23 as set out in the report be approved.

2. The shared risk arrangements are limited to the Better Care Fund (BCF)  arrangements only, which is currently reporting a break-even position be noted.

3. The increase in the Section 75 pooled fund in November 2022 as a result of the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund be noted.

4. The Director of Law and Governance be authorised in consultation with the Director of Care and Health to enter a S75 Agreement with the Wirral ICB for 2022/23.

5. Committee would welcome an explanation of the movements in the Better Care funding streams at a forthcoming workshop.

A section 75 pooled fund agreement must be updated to set out the detail of budget areas pooled in 2022/23 and the associated governance. There is a mandatory legal requirement to have a Section 75 agreement in place to draw down the elements of the pool relating to the BCF. Continuing the current pooled fund arrangements, including the increased contribution from the CCG, does not increase financial risk to the Council.

The pooled fund arrangements are contributing to ensuring people and carers remain as independent as possible for as long as possible and people are discharged from hospital to the right place at the right time. There have been significant pressures within the health system and the care market, the BCF has mitigated some of these pressures and it is therefore recommended to continue with the pooled fund arrangement for 2022/23, including the increased contribution from the ICB. To exit the arrangement is not recommended and it does not expose the Council to increased financial risk