The Associate Director of Finance, Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board – Wirral Place, introduced his report which provided a summary of the proposed Pooled Fund budget for the financial year 2023/24 and the financial risk exposure of each partner organisation. The report also provided an update on the preparation of the framework partnership agreement under section 75 of the National Health Services Act 2006 relating to the commissioning of health and social care services, which would be subject to approval and final sign off by Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Adult Social Care Committee.

Members queried some of the figures in the report for clarification.

The Place Director provided an update on the extension of the contract intermediate care beds at Clatterbridge which had been recommended by the Joint Strategic Commissioning Board on 22 June 2023. The recommendation was presented on 27 June 2023 to the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board’s Finance, Investment and Resources Committee. The contract had been due to cease in September 2023 and had been extended to Sep 2024 with a break clause at 22 months (1st July 2025).

Resolved – That

1) support for the proposed place pooled fund budget for 2023/24 be confirmed.

2) it be noted that Primary Care (GP Delegated Commissioning) elements of the pooled budget are supported by ring-fencing arrangements and may be subject to an increase in the budget allocation.

3) support be confirmed for the place-based commissioning vision if there are additional budgets that should be included within pooling arrangements either immediately or during 2023/24.

4) the proposed risk share arrangements be supported and it be noted that shared risk arrangements are limited to the Better Care Fund (BCF) only.