Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chair intimated that this meeting of the IJB would be recorded and that the recording would be available to watch on both the Council and HSCP websites.

 

Karen Turner (Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board), Paul Higgins (Health Board staff member involved in service provision) and Dr Shilpa Shivaprasad (other Medical Practitioner (non-GP)). 

 

The Minute of the meeting of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) held on 24 January 2025 was submitted.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

 

The Clerk submitted a report requesting that the IJB ratify the appointment of Carron O’Byrne as Interim Chief Officer for a period of six months beginning 10 March 2025.

The report intimated that in terms of Section 10 (1) of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, the IJB was required to appoint, as a member of staff, a Chief Officer. At meetings of the IJB held on 13 December 2024 and 24 January 2025, members were advised that Christine Laverty would take up her new post of Chief Officer of Edinburgh HSCP early in the new year. 

The report advised that a selection process had been undertaken involving collective input from the Health Board and the Council to find a successor and that at the conclusion of this process it was decided that Carron O’Byrne, one of the HSCP’s Heads of Service be appointed as Interim Chief Officer for a period of six months beginning 10 March 2025. The appointment of Carron O’Byrne as the Interim Chief Officer now required to be ratified by the IJB. 

DECIDED: That the appointment of Carron O’Byrne as Interim Chief Officer be ratified by the IJB and that it be noted that the Interim Chief Officer would be a member of the IJB.

 

The Clerk submitted a report providing an update on the membership of the IJB.

 

The report intimated that the HSCP had advised that Fiona Ralph would replace Karen Jarvis (Registered Nurse) as a non-voting member on the IJB for a period of three years, with effect from 17 March 2025 and also that Lesley Nish would replace Paul Higgins (Health Board staff member involved in service provision) as a non-voting member on the IJB for a period of three years, with effect from 31 March 2025. 

The report further intimated that Mark Ferguson had replaced John Boylan (Trade Union Representative for Council) as a non-voting member on the IJB for a period of three years, with effect from 12 February 2025, and that Colin Goodall would be Mark’s proxy.

The report advised that the voting members, being Councillors Jennifer Adam, Jacqueline Cameron, Lisa-Marie Hughes and Iain McMillan, and substitute voting members, being Councillors Alison Ann-Dowling, Michelle Campbell, Robert Innes and Mags MacLaren, appointed by the Council required to be reappointed for the period up to the next Council elections scheduled to be held in May 2027. 

Members were advised that Fiona Ralph would replace Paul Higgins as a non-voting member on the IJB Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Committee with effect from 31 March 2025.

DECIDED:

(a) That the IJB confirm the appointment of Fiona Ralph (Registered Nurse), Lesley Nish (Health Board staff member involved in service provision) and Mark Ferguson (Trade Union Representative for Council) together with Colin Goodall as Mark’s proxy, as non-voting members of the IJB for a period of three years; 

(b) That the IJB confirm that the voting members and substitute voting members appointed by the Council be reappointed for the period up to the next Council elections scheduled to be held in May 2027; and

(c) That it be noted that Fiona Ralph would replace Paul Higgins as a non-voting member on the IJB Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Committee with effect from 31 March 2025.

The Interim Chief Officer submitted a report providing an update on key developments and operational activity since the last meeting of the IJB on 24 January 2025 and additional policy developments which would be built into future workplans, strategies and action plans.

The report intimated that the contents reflected an ongoing period of change and challenge, particularly within the financial circumstances faced by the IJB. 

The Interim Chief Officer advised that, since publication of the report, a letter had been received from the Chief Medical Officer advising that the Spring Covid-19 Vaccination Programme 2025 would take place between 31 March and 30 June 2025 and that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation had advised that the cohort that would be included in the programme would be identical to those vaccinated in 2024.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the range of key HSCP updates, as detailed in sections 4 to 8 of the report, be noted; 

(b) That the national policy updates, as detailed in sections 9 to 15 of the report, be noted; and

(c) That the verbal update in relation to the Spring Covid-19 Vaccination Programme 2025 be noted.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report relative to the revenue budget position at 31 January 2025 and the projected year end position for the year ending 31 March 2025. 

The report advised that the projected final outturn for 2024/25 was an overspend of £3,930k, prior to any drawdown of reserves, and included a transfer of any in-year underspend at 31 March 2025 to earmarked reserves in line with Scottish Government funding arrangements in relation to Action 15, the Primary Care Improvement Programme and the Alcohol and Drug Partnership.

DECIDED:

(a) That the in-year position at 31 January 2025 be noted;

(b) That the projected year-end position for 2024/25 be noted; and

(c) That the in-year management action in place to reduce 2024/25 spend be noted.

The Head of Mental Health, Learning Disabilities & Alcohol & Drug Recovery Services submitted a report providing an update on the revised plans for delivery on programmes funded through the Enhanced Mental Health Outcomes Framework.

The report intimated that the reduction in the funding allocation from the Scottish Government had been highlighted in the Chief Finance Officer’s report to the IJB in December 2024. As Glasgow HSCP hosted the board-wide Mental Health Strategy, the report advised that the proposed funding arrangements to deliver the programmes in 2025/26 had been approved at the meeting of the Glasgow IJB held on 29 January 2025.

The Chief Social Work Officer advised that a report relative to the approach to mental health services support for children and young people in Renfrewshire would be considered by the Children’s Services Partnership Board in September 2025. This report would then be submitted to a future meeting of the IJB for consideration.

DECIDED:

(a) That the contents of the report be noted;  

(b) That the impact of this funding on each of the programmes be noted; and

(c) That it be noted that a report relative to the approach to mental health services support for children and young people in Renfrewshire would be submitted to a future meeting of the IJB following consideration by the Children’s Services Partnership Board in September 2025.

Under reference to item 5 of the Minute of the meeting of the IJB held on 24 January 2025, the Head of Strategic Planning & Health Improvement submitted a report providing further details on the work underway in relation to the Sustainable Futures Programme.

The report intimated that, following the meeting of the IJB in January 2025, the HSCP had reviewed and refreshed the existing internal governance for the Programme; commenced further development of savings and initiated planning for the public engagement to be carried out in May and June 2025. 

The report advised that, in addition, as further planning for savings had been undertaken, opportunities had been identified by the HSCP senior management team and Programme Board where an alternative approach to the development of a small number of savings was felt to be more appropriate, and further detail on these considerations were set out in the report.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the update provided on programme activity being progressed, as detailed in section 4 of the report, be noted;

(b) That the amended approach that would be undertaken to develop proposals relative to (i) the review of the Care at Home and District Nursing overnight service and (ii) the introduction of a waiting list for locality home-based respite, prior to the IJB’s final consideration in September 2025, as detailed in section 5 of the report, be noted; and

(c) That the updated review of programme risks, as detailed in section 6 of the report, be noted.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted an amended report relative to the financial allocation and budgets made available to the IJB for 2025/26 by Renfrewshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC) outlining the main financial pressures on health and adult social care services. 

The report intimated that the budget delegated by the two partner organisations was used by the IJB to commission services which were delivered by Renfrewshire HSCP. The principles of the funding allocated by the two partner organisations were set out in the Integration Scheme, however, utilisation of this funding was delegated to the IJB.

The report advised that in terms of the Integration Scheme, partner organisations should make appropriate arrangements to fund pay awards, contractual uplifts, the impact of demographic changes and determine efficiency targets as part of their respective budget setting processes. The role of the Section 95 Officer, the IJB Chief Finance Officer, included both the adherence to professional standards as well as compliance with section 95 of The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and for the IJB this included the requirement to ensure a balanced budget was set. 

The report set out the implications of the Scottish Government budget for 2025/26, the Bill for which was passed on 25 February 2025, and provided an overview of the IJB’s budget allocation for 2025/26.

The report highlighted that the 2025/26 budget proposals had been presented on a ‘business as usual’ basis and did not include any assumptions as regards any extraordinary costs which might be incurred. For accounting purposes these costs would be recorded separately with the assumption that costs would be recovered by parent organisations, and ultimately by government.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the delegated Adult Social Care Budget for 2025/26, which formed Appendix 3 to the report, be noted;

(b) That it be noted that the delegated Health Budget for 2025/26, which formed Appendix 4 to the report, would be subject to (i) any final adjustments in relation to recurring budget adjustments at month 12, (ii) any further funding allocated by the Scottish Government in respect of the impact of the 2025/26 pay award, and (iii) any further funding allocated by the Scottish Government in respect of the increase to employer’s national insurance contributions (eNIC), including recurring sustainability payments; and

(c) That the balanced budget outlined in section 9 of the report including the drawdown of required reserves in order to deliver a balanced budget for 2025/26 be agreed.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted an amended report relative to the Medium-term Financial Plan 2025/28, a copy of which was appended to the report. 

The report intimated that the Plan outlined, in broad terms, specific service and funding issues over the next three-year period and how the IJB would strive to achieve financial sustainability and resilience and brought together a range of assumptions on future income and expenditure allowing the HSCP to identify where, and when, it could expect to face financial pressures. The Plan complemented the HSCP’s refreshed Strategic Plan 2025/27 and highlighted how the HSCP medium-term financial planning principles would support, where possible, the delivery of the IJB’s objectives and priorities. 

The report provided detail on the medium-term financial outlook; the projected budget gap; the financial challenge; the medium-term financial strategy; and the refreshed approach. The Chief Officer and Chief Finance Officer would work with IJB members to take forward the Medium-term Financial Strategy to deliver financial balance whilst delivering safe and sustainable services. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the assumptions and context of the financial plan for 2025/28 and the levels of uncertainty that existed in relation to a range of these assumptions be noted; and 

(b) That the Medium-term Financial Plan 2025/28 and associated financial planning principles be approved.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report advising of the steps taken to develop the Renfrewshire IJB Market Facilitation Plan (MFP) 2025/27, a copy of which was appended to the report. 

The report intimated that the MFP assisted providers of social care services to make informed business decisions and plan for future service delivery in Renfrewshire. The new MFP should be read alongside the Medium-term Financial Plan 2025/28.

DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted.

The Head of Strategic Planning & Health Improvement submitted a report providing updates on podiatry, primary care support and GP out of hours services. 

The report intimated that the HSCP, through its Chief Officer, was responsible for the operational management of the hosted services across the Health Board area.  

DECIDED: That the performance for podiatry, primary care support and GP out of hours services for 2024/25 be noted.

The Clerk submitted a report relative to proposed dates of meetings of the IJB in 2025/26 and arrangements for these meetings.

DECIDED: That meetings of the IJB be held at 10.00 am on 19 September and 28 November 2025 and 30 January, 27 March and 19 June 2026 and that these meetings continue to be hybrid meetings held in Renfrewshire Council’s Council Chamber.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the IJB would be held at 10.00 am on 27 June 2025 and that this be a hybrid meeting in the Council Chamber, Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire House, Paisley.