Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Deferred
Implement agreed outcomes-based system for local authority accountability before 2026/27 financial year.
Conclusion
After the conclusion of the Framework’s live call for evidence and before the start of the 2026/27 financial year, the Ministry must implement the agreed outcomes-based system, by which local authorities will be held accountable for achieving the agreed outcomes within their overall budgets and not for meeting spending targets for individual services. (Recommendation, Paragraph 63)
Government Response Summary
The government's response detailed ongoing reforms to NHS Integrated Care Boards and efforts to strengthen partnerships between the NHS and local government, rather than committing to implement an outcomes-based accountability system for local government.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
49. NHS England has asked Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within their structure with the expectation of achieving a reduction in their running cost allowance. 50. To achieve the Government’s three health mission shifts; hospital to community, analogue to digital and treatment to prevention, the NHS needs to work in much closer partnership with local government. As set out in the 10 Year Health Plan, the Neighbourhood Health Service presents a significant opportunity to radically change how resources are deployed across health, social care and wider services in local communities. This must include a strengthened partnership between NHS and local government, to better join-up health and care services. Over time, the Neighbourhood Health Service will work hand in hand with a National Care Service. The first step in this journey will see the development of neighbourhood health plans led by health and wellbeing boards in collaboration between local government, the NHS, and its partners. These will in turn inform strategic commissioning decisions made by ICBs. The 10 Year Health Plan also commits to making mayors of strategic authorities members of ICBs to support strategic planning between the NHS and local government, giving local people a say over how their critical public services are run. 51. To facilitate closer partnership working, the Government’s ambition is to align the boundaries of ICBs and strategic authorities wherever feasibly possible. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is working closely with NHS England and MHCLG to ensure any changes to ICB boundaries offer the best outcomes for patients and citizens. The Government will also work with partners to consider democratic oversight and accountability for the NHS, the role of mayors and reforms to local government. DHSC are working with NHSE on progressing with ICB mergers and we recognise that this will interact with HMG plans for devolution and local government reorganisation. We will make sure that changes are managed as smoothly as possible so that we deliver on HMG’s ambition to align boundaries where feasible and deliver the best outcomes for service users.