Purpose

Seek approval from Cabinet Member for the annual localities grant following the 5 year approval.
 

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Health and Communities:

1) note the delegation given by Cabinet in January 2024 to approve annual funding allocations for locality Health and Wellbeing Partnerships up to £0.115m; and

2) approved two-year funding allocations for the 8 Locality Health and Wellbeing Partnerships, for the period 01 April 2025 to 31 March 2027 from the Public Health grant in the proportions set out in Appendix 1, section 1.0 table 2 and table 3 to the report. 

Reasons for the decision

A two-year funding allocation would enable a longer-term and more sustainable approach and commitment to local partners and community health initiatives. The funding commitment would allow the Localities approach to continue to improve the health and wellbeing of Derbyshire residents, reducing inequalities in a place-based approach, and to support discharge of the Council’s Public Health statutory duties.

Ongoing funding for the localities approach would also maintain strong HWPs that were an essential part of community recovery from the longer-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and of any response to potential future incidents where a community response was required.

A two-year funding allocation would also reduce administrative burden associated with developing and approving HWP grant agreements and support continuous improvement of the Localities approach working with our partners across Derbyshire. 

Alternative options considered

Option 1:  Approve a single year funding allocation for the 8 Locality HWPs for 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026, with a further paper to come to the Cabinet Member for Health and Communities each subsequent year to approve future year allocations. This option is not preferred as it limits the sustainability of projects and initiatives being developed by HWPs. Where funding for local health projects can only be confirmed for 1 year at a time longer term interventions cannot be planned and developed, recruitment and retention of key personnel was affected and the Council’s ability to stand up community response quickly in future outbreaks and pandemics was reduced due to this reduced stability and resilience. There was also increased administrative burden for Derbyshire County Council and HWPs.

Option 2: Approve four-year funding allocation for the 8 Locality HWPs, for the period 01 April 2025 to 31 March 2029.  This was not the preferred option as the Public Health grant local allocation was only set on an annual basis.  Committing to fixed funding amounts for an extended period of time therefore brings financial risk should there be reduction in grant allocation, changes to the conditions for its use, or other financial pressures.  A longer-term commitment also limits the ability of the Localities approach to respond and flex over time and in response to changing need or external context.