Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Director of Adults and Cultural Services which provided an overview of the progress to date on the submission of the Leicestershire Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan 2026-27. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 9’, is filed with these minutes.

The Board welcomed to the meeting for this item Lisa Carter, Health and Social Care Integration Service Manager, Leicestershire County Council, and Tracy Ward, Assistant Director, Adults and Cultural Services.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)           Since the agenda pack for the meeting had been published an amendment had been made to the metric in the BCF Plan return relating to emergency admissions to hospital for people aged 65+ per 100,000 population. The amended documentation would be circulated to Board members after the meeting.

(ii)         In response to an observation that the narrative return document for 2026-27 did not make any reference to mental health, particularly mental health discharge delays, reassurance was given that there was room in the BCF for mental health funding and further conversations about this would take place after the meeting.

(iii)        The Strategic Discharge Group was working to ensure that discharge targets were met.

(iv)       Concerns were raised that in the years since the BCF had first been set up the principles and practical application of the BCF could have disconnected. It was suggested that a detailed review needed to take place of the way the BCF funding was spent to ensure it was still strategically aligned and addressing the priority areas. In response it was explained that whilst there was scope to spend the money differently in the future, all the money had been committed and if it was to be spent elsewhere decisions would have to be made on which areas would no longer receive funding. It was noted that the neighbourhood policy framework was due to be published in July 2026 and the content of that document would link strongly with the Better Care Fund, therefore it was advisable to wait for that document to be published before making any final decisions. Discussions could take place in the next few months regarding the possibilities for how the money could be spent but no final decisions could be made until the following year. Anything agreed at those discussions would still be subject to the BCF policy framework that would be published in January 2027.

RESOLVED:

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

(b)        That the Better Care Fund Plan 26-27 numerical template and the narrative document that details the contents of the BCF Plan return, be noted;

(c)         That the action taken by the Chief Executive of Leicestershire County Council, to use powers of delegation to approve the BCF Plan for submission prior to the deadline of 19th May 2026 be noted.

(d)        That officers be requested to meet to discuss a plan for a potential review of the BCF from 2027-28 onwards to align to national Neighbourhood guidance expected in July 2026, and provide an update to the Board in September 2026.