The Head of Legal Services welcomed the members and officers and those watching the webcast to the meeting.  It was outlined that the Joint Strategic Commissioning Board was established as a committee in common at which two or more bodies met at the same time to discuss a common agenda. The two bodies established by the partners to form the Joint Strategic Commissioning Board committee in common were the Integrated Care Board and Wirral Borough Council and the Council was represented at this meeting by a Sub-Committee of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee.

As this was the first meeting of the Municipal year, a Chair was elected of the Sub-Committee and a Chair for the meeting in common was agreed.

Councillor Simon Mountney proposed Councillor Julie McManus as the Chair of the Sub-Committee and this was seconded by Councillor Kieran Murphy and agreed by assent.

Councillor McManus accepted the role of Chair.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair asked for members to declare any interests in any items on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

The appendix to this report may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact lorna.quigley@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Associate Director of Finance, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside presented the report which sought agreement from the Joint Strategic Commissioning Board to progress to phase 2 of the proposed commissioning intentions for Clatterbridge Intermediate Care Centre (CICC) which would be procured via NHS Cheshire and Merseyside The report outlined the progress to date following the agreements made at the Wirral Place Partnership Board meeting of February 2024 and the requirement to recommission the service based on procurement advice in line with the Provider Selection regime.

It was highlighted that the initial contract awarded by the Finance Investment Committee of Cheshire and Merseyside was for a term of one year which was due to conclude on 31 August 2024. There was provision for an additional extension of one year and it was suggested that the extension be put in place to extend the contract of the Wirral Community Health and Care Trust until 1 September 2025.

The three alternative selection processes under the Public Provider Selection regime were clarified as a direct award process, a most suitable provider process and competitive process. It was clarified by the Place Director (Wirral) NHS Cheshire and Merseyside that he was able to extend the contract under a scheme of reservation and delegation to the Board so the extension of the contract for a further year would create the space to carry out the procurement exercise. It was noted that the outcome of the Wirral Review could influence the procurement decision.

In response to a Member question the Board were advised that the procurement options could be looked at in October and a decision around procurement could be made at that point. It was clarified to Members that in the event of any overspend the costs were managed through the Better Care Fund and would be split evenly between the NHS and the Council.

The Director of Place (Wirral) proposed an amendment to the first recommendation to remove “by way of a competitive process” so that it read “in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime”.

The recommendations were moved by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Simon Mountney and agreed by the Council and on behalf of the NHS by Simon Banks.

Resolved - That

1. a procurement exercise be endorsed and carried out by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Commissioning Board in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime for a contract for the provision of intermediate care services. The contractual terms will be agreed by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and in accordance with the specification set out in this report.

2. the extension with the current provider Wirral Community Health and Care Trust until 1st September 2025 be noted.