Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: April 17, 2025

Purpose: Report to summarise the feedback received via the council public consultation process for the proposal to reduce the Specialist Health Improvement Service Budget by £200K from April 2025.

Content: The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health and Communities, which sought approval of the proposed spend for the Specialist Health Improvement Service within the Public Health and Communities Directorate.   The report author, accompanied by the Assistant Director Public Health and the Head of Work and Skills, was in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   Officers informed that the report also sought approval to accept the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Grant 2025/26 and to allocate the funding as set out in table 2 in the report. This grant helped mitigate some of the impact on staff of the Specialist Health Improvement Service budget reduction. The skills and experience of some staff members who would otherwise be at risk of redundancy, meant Living Well were well placed to deliver the objectives of the grant.   The Cabinet Members noted the supplementary information which had been published and circulated, following the publication of today’s agenda.   Resolved: 1.    That the proposal to reduce the budget for the Specialist Health Improvement Service following consultation as part of the Savings Programme be approved; 2.    That the £537,720 Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Grant 2025/26 be accepted; it be agreed that £171,024 of this funding be allocated to Big Life to deliver the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer to ensure the immediate delivery of the aims of the grant; 3.    That it be agreed to procure directly with Big Life via exemption as detailed in this report to enable the delivery of services funded via the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Grant 2025/26; 4.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Economy and Place in consultation with the Director of Public Health and Communities, the Director of Corporate Services and the relevant Cabinet Members to allocate and spend the remainder of the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Grant 2025/26 in line with the grant conditions.   Reason for decision: To support the Council’s requirement to deliver a balanced budget for 2025/26. The Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Grant 2025/26 had been provided to the Council to support people who had significant health conditions and were economically inactive to participate in the labour market. The recommendations in this report enabled the grant to be allocated appropriately and deliver the requirements at the pace required to reduce the potential non-delivery of the requirements of the grant.   Alternatives considered and rejected: Members could decide not to take the proposal forward and identify alternative savings proposals.