Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

No apologies were received.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on the 14^th January 2026.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2026 be approved as a correct record.

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

No interests were declared.

Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Panel.

All agenda items were considered in public session.

The Panel will receive any petitions and/or deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

No deputations or petitions were received.       

To receive any public questions.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the period for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

No public questions were received.

To receive a report on Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust’s strategy to the NHS 10 year plan.

Contact: Nicola Sylvester, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer.  Tel: 01484 221000.

The Committee received a presentation from the Chief Executive of Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust outlining the national context of the NHS 10?Year Plan and its implications for the Trust. The presentation highlighted the significant shift towards preventative, community?based, digitally enabled and patient?centred care. The panel noted the three strategic shifts underpinning the plan: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention, with a strong emphasis on tackling health inequalities.

The Committee was informed about the Trust’s strategic direction under Delivering MY Future 2023–28, including its strategy deployment approach and alignment with the Improving Together programme.  It was noted that the approach aimed to empower teams through clearly defined breakthrough objectives, supported by strategic initiatives, divisional drivers and Trust?wide projects.  Progress was being monitored through structured governance arrangements, with a focus on continuous improvement, quality, safety and access.

The presentation outlined the development of Neighbourhood Health and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) within Kirklees, aligned to national neighbourhood health guidance.  The panel noted the focus on key population cohorts including frailty, mental health, and children and young people, and the phased rollout of INTs across borough neighbourhoods. The aim was to improve care coordination, reduce hospital admissions, and support care closer to home through integrated, multidisciplinary working.

The Committee also considered Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust’s role as an anchor organisation within Kirklees and the wider Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield system.  The Trust described its responsibility to contribute to social value, economic wellbeing and community resilience, including through partnership working, employment, volunteering, and the MY Community Promise.  The panel noted the Trust’s involvement in the Place Provider Partnership model and its contribution to system?wide transformation and population health management.

The presentation also provided updates on quality and safety, including the Trust’s position on temporary escalation spaces, learning from reported incidents, and ongoing clinical safety reviews. The panel noted service activity and performance at Dewsbury and District Hospital, including access, reconfiguration impacts, maternity services and volunteering. The Committee was advised of several major reviews and improvement programmes underway, including the implementation of a new electronic patient record, service reconfiguration reviews, and support for provider collaborative arrangements.

Members were advised that the Trust was reflecting on whether its current five?year strategy required reframing in light of national operating model changes and Integrated Care Board reforms.  While the strategic framework remained valid, the Trust indicated that it was considering how best to adapt its focus to ensure alignment with emerging place?based partnership arrangements and Integrated Health Organisation principles, and confirmed that engagement with partners and stakeholders would form part of this work.

Further detail was provided on neighbourhood health delivery in Kirklees, including foundational work already underway despite Kirklees not being a national pilot site. The Committee noted that partnership working across primary care, community health services and wider system partners was progressing.  It was reported that early pilot neighbourhood sites had gone live, with others operating in shadow form or under development, supported by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To receive a report on the changes relating to NHS England, Integrated Care Board and Healthwatch from Kirklees Health Partners.

Contact: Nicola Sylvester, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer. Tel : 01484 221000.

The panel received a presentation outlining proposed national and regional changes affecting NHS England, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and Healthwatch, and the implications for Kirklees. The presentation had been requested to provide assurance on governance, accountability, resource allocation, risk, finance and performance, and to clarify how relationships, local knowledge, and influence at place level would be maintained through the forthcoming reforms. The panel noted that the changes were intended to support strategic commissioning, population health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities.

The panel was advised of the future health and care landscape, including the evolving role of the ICB as a strategic commissioner, system convenor and integrator of services across West Yorkshire. Details were provided on the planned organisational redesign, including the move to three integrator teams and the consolidation of corporate and strategic commissioning functions. The panel noted that the future model would involve a significant reduction in establishment and that some functions would ultimately transfer to regional, national or provider-level organisations in line with national blueprints.

The presentation set out proposals for the development of the Kirklees Place Provider Partnership, including its vision, priorities and operating model. The panel noted that the partnership was intended to provide a stronger place-based approach, with greater collaboration between providers and increased autonomy over service delivery, while statutory accountability would remain with the West Yorkshire ICB. It was confirmed that the partnership would operate in shadow form from 1 April 2026, with no change to existing schemes of delegation or legal responsibilities during 2026/27, and that formal contracting arrangements were not expected to begin until April 2027.

The panel also considered the proposed governance arrangements for the Place Provider Partnership. It was reported that the approach aimed to reduce duplication, streamline decision?making and clarify accountability, while preserving arrangements that were working well. The panel noted that the Kirklees ICB Committee would continue in a streamlined form, alongside the shadow operation of the Place Provider Partnership, with collaborative

discussion taking place in advance of formal assurance and decision?making.

Finally, the panel received a presentation on proposed national changes to Healthwatch, including government intentions to abolish Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch networks, with legislative change expected from March 2027. The panel noted the risks highlighted if the independent patient and public voice were lost, including reduced trust, weaker challenge and reduced visibility of inequalities. Assurance was provided that Healthwatch Kirklees intended to continue operating as an independent charity and was actively exploring alternative funding to ensure that local people’s voices continued to inform health, social care and wellbeing services in Kirklees and Calderdale.

Questions and comments were invited from Members of the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel, and the following was raised:

·       The panel asked when the governance documentation for the Kirklees Place Provider Partnership (including terms of reference and memoranda of understanding) would be available for scrutiny review.

In response, it was confirmed that the documents had been developed at West Yorkshire level, were in draft form, and were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

The Panel to review its work programme and agenda plan for 2025/26.

Contact: Nicola Sylvester, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer.  Tel: 01484 221000.

The Panel reviewed the work programme for 2025/26 and suggested that the changes relating to changes with NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and Healthwatch be considered at an early future meeting of the Panel.

RESOLVED - That the work programme be noted.