Agenda item

This Council Meeting notes that on 5 June 2015, the Government announced a further £3 billion of spending cuts to the current financial year. This included the Department for Health reducing its spending on public health grants to local authorities by £200 million. At the same time, the Government continues to claim that the health budget is fully safeguarded.

The decision to reduce funding for public health has come as a big surprise, not least because the budget for 2015/16 was only confirmed by central government 6 months ago. There has been no indication from the Government prior to 5 June that such a proposal was being considered, and Stockport has successfully set a balanced budget, including full allocation of the Public Health Grant in 2015/16.

Therefore, the Chancellor’s announcement that past public health allocations would be reduced and a likelihood that there would be continuing annual reductions of £200m was a shock. In Stockport’s case this would amount to nearly £1m per year. These plans are ill-timed and potentially life threatening.

Public Health is central to the future sustainability of the NHS. These cuts are even more surprising given the Government’s commitment to the NHS Five Year Forward View, which has prevention as a key element. Prevention is absolutely crucial as the NHS will be unable to cope with the rising burden of illness caused by smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and alcohol. Public Health investment will save money in the long- term by reducing the demand on the NHS and social care.

If the significant proposed cuts are made, it can be expected that there will be an increase in heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes and a huge increase in unhealthy life expectancy.

The transfer in responsibility of public health services recognised the key role of local government in improving health and the NHS. It is essential that the Government ensures that this responsibility remains fully funded, and that any proposals regarding its distribution are fair and transparent.

In particular this Council firmly believes that it is more important than ever that the distribution of available resources reflects the assessed needs of areas (i.e. levels of deprivation) and the ability to raise resources.

Given the recent announcement, Stockport Council is extremely concerned about how the Public Health grant will be treated in the forthcoming Emergency Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review, and in any future allocation formula.

This Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:

·        write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling upon the Government to:-

(i)     re-consider its short-sighted and contradictory approach to the proposed cut in public health funding; and

(ii)    honour  its  previous  commitments  as  set  out  in  the  local      government finance settlement in February 2015.

·        write to the four local Members of Parliament, seeking their support for properly funding the preventative aspects of the NHS as set out in this motion.

Moved by:                 Councillor Sue Derbyshire

Seconded by:           Councillor John Pantall

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that on 5 June 2015, the Government announced a further £3 billion of spending cuts to the current financial year. This included the Department for Health reducing its spending on public health grants to local authorities by £200 million. At the same time, the Government continues to claim that the health budget is fully safeguarded.

The decision to reduce funding for public health has come as a big surprise, not least because the budget for 2015/16 was only confirmed by central government 6 months ago. There has been no indication from the Government prior to 5 June that such a proposal was being considered, and Stockport has successfully set a balanced budget, including full allocation of the Public Health Grant in 2015/16.

Therefore, the Chancellor’s announcement that past public health allocations would be reduced and a likelihood that there would be continuing annual reductions of £200m was a shock. In Stockport’s case this would amount to nearly £1m per year. These plans are ill-timed and potentially life threatening.

Public Health is central to the future sustainability of the NHS. These cuts are even more surprising given the Government’s commitment to the NHS Five Year Forward View, which has prevention as a key element. Prevention is absolutely crucial as the NHS will be unable to cope with the rising burden of illness caused by smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and alcohol. Public Health investment will save money in the long- term by reducing the demand on the NHS and social care.

If the significant proposed cuts are made, it can be expected that there will be an increase in heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes and a huge increase in unhealthy life expectancy.

The transfer in responsibility of public health services recognised the key role of local government in improving health and the NHS. It is essential that the Government ensures that this responsibility remains fully funded, and that any proposals regarding its distribution are fair and transparent.

In particular this Council firmly believes that it is more important than ever that the distribution of available resources reflects the assessed needs of areas (i.e. levels of deprivation) and the ability to raise resources.

Given the recent announcement, Stockport Council is extremely concerned about how the Public Health grant will be treated in the forthcoming Emergency Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review, and in any future allocation formula.

This Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:

·         write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling upon the Government to:-

(i)            re-consider its short-sighted and contradictory approach to the proposed cut in public health funding; and

(ii)          honour  its  previous  commitments  as  set  out  in  the  local      government finance settlement in February 2015.

·         write to the four local Members of Parliament, seeking their support for properly funding the preventative aspects of the NHS as set out in this motion.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting:

·         Welcomes the additional Public Health funding from Government which has resulted in Stockport Council being allocated over £2.8m more in public health funds this year, compared to last year and resulting in a total of £15.615m in Public Health Grant;

·         Notes that in the first two years of ring-fenced Public Health Grant being paid to Local Authorities, Stockport Council achieved a significant underspend in both years;

·         Also notes that Stockport Council’s Public Health Grant underspends of £0.969M  in 2013/14 and of £109,000 in 2014/15 were transferred into a special reserve;

·         Further notes that the current balance of Stockport Council’s earmarked Public Health Reserve is £1.078M.

This Council Meeting understands that on 4 June 2015, the Government announced a further £3 billion of new savings measures to bring down public debt this year. This included departmental savings from non-NHS Department of Health worth £200m.

This Council Meeting recognises the Treasury’s statement that these savings were based on projected local authority underspends and that any reduction in funding will not affect frontline services.

This Council Meeting notes that as yet no final decisions have been given on the level of funding reductions at individual authorities but notes that Stockport Council is likely to remain better off this year, than last year in terms of public health monies.

This Council Meeting notes that a consultation with local authorities is due to take place to decide the best way of delivering the savings and requests the Executive to take a full part in any such forthcoming consultation.

For the amendment 13, against 48.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

It was then

RESOLVED – (48 for, 13 against) This Council Meeting notes that on 5 June 2015, the Government announced a further £3 billion of spending cuts to the current financial year. This included the Department for Health reducing its spending on public health grants to local authorities by £200 million. At the same time, the Government continues to claim that the health budget is fully safeguarded.

The decision to reduce funding for public health has come as a big surprise, not least because the budget for 2015/16 was only confirmed by central government 6 months ago. There has been no indication from the Government prior to 5 June that such a proposal was being considered, and Stockport has successfully set a balanced budget, including full allocation of the Public Health Grant in 2015/16.

Therefore, the Chancellor’s announcement that past public health allocations would be reduced and a likelihood that there would be continuing annual reductions of £200m was a shock. In Stockport’s case this would amount to nearly £1m per year. These plans are ill-timed and potentially life threatening.

Public Health is central to the future sustainability of the NHS. These cuts are even more surprising given the Government’s commitment to the NHS Five Year Forward View, which has prevention as a key element. Prevention is absolutely crucial as the NHS will be unable to cope with the rising burden of illness caused by smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and alcohol. Public Health investment will save money in the long- term by reducing the demand on the NHS and social care.

If the significant proposed cuts are made, it can be expected that there will be an increase in heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes and a huge increase in unhealthy life expectancy.

The transfer in responsibility of public health services recognised the key role of local government in improving health and the NHS. It is essential that the Government ensures that this responsibility remains fully funded, and that any proposals regarding its distribution are fair and transparent.

In particular this Council firmly believes that it is more important than ever that the distribution of available resources reflects the assessed needs of areas (i.e. levels of deprivation) and the ability to raise resources.

Given the recent announcement, Stockport Council is extremely concerned about how the Public Health grant will be treated in the forthcoming Emergency Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review, and in any future allocation formula.

This Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:

·         write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling upon the Government to:-

(iii)         re-consider its short-sighted and contradictory approach to the proposed cut in public health funding; and

(iv)         honour  its  previous  commitments  as  set  out  in  the  local      government finance settlement in February 2015.

·         write to the four local Members of Parliament, seeking their support for properly funding the preventative aspects of the NHS as set out in this motion.