Agenda item

To consider the proposed Place Provider Partnership arrangements for Kirklees. 

Report to follow.

The Health and Adults Social Care Scrutiny Panel received an update from representatives from the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Kirklees ICB and partner NHS Trust on governance changes, establishment of Place Provider Partnerships (PPPs), and the implications for Kirklees.

It was highlighted that national NHS reforms required significant changes to the governance and operating model of ICBs. A shadow Place Provider Partnership would be established from April 2026 with full contractual delegation from West Yorkshire ICB to Place Provider Partnerships intended for April 2027. Kirklees was unique in having three acute providers across the footprint.

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

Governance and Decision making

• The Sponsor Group was not a decision?making body; it would oversee development work only.
• The Design Group would operate at place level and would include representatives from all major partners.
• The Panel raised concerns regarding the clarity of Kirklees representation at officer level, transparency around legal advice, and whether council processes and local authority voice were adequately understood.
• It was confirmed that the Memorandum of Understanding and governance structures remained draft, with further iteration required and that public health was being added as a formal member. Voting arrangements and quorum would be reviewed following panel and joint scrutiny feedback.

Shadow year arrangements

During the shadow year:

• Decisions would remain with West Yorkshire ICB, not the PPP.
• PPPs would influence, shape, and recommend, but would not hold financial accountability.
• The PPP would evolve from the existing Health & Care Partnership arrangements.

Involvement of Partners

• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise representation would continue via Third Sector Leaders and Compact arrangements.
• Partners such as Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Fire Service and Police Service would continue to engage primarily through the relevant programme boards (e.g., ageing well, urgent care), not via formal PPP membership.
• Pharmacy involvement would be strengthened over time, but no immediate membership changes were planned.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

• There was no requirement to sign the draft MOU before April 2026.
• Existing Healthcare Professionals MOUs remained valid during the shadow period.
• Revised documents would return to scrutiny following a legal review, place?based feedback and joint scrutiny recommendations.

Children’s Services and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

• SEND remained a key area for improvement following inspection outcomes.
• The ICB was strengthening children’s health capacity, including recruitment to new designated roles, improved service specification, alignment with continuing healthcare functions, and outcome expectations that were to be consistent across West Yorkshire, though delivery models may vary by place.

Resources and Staffing

National requirement for ICBs to reduce running costs had led to:

• A reduction from 1000 to 650 staff at West Yorkshire level.
• A consolidation of place teams, including a combined Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield (CKW) integrated function.
• 120 staff would continue to be place?based across West Yorkshire.
• Concerns about capacity were acknowledged, transformation capacity at place level has been protected wherever possible.

Dental Commissioning

• Dental commissioning would continue at Yorkshire & Humber level.
• No major changes were expected to Kirklees local work to improve access.
• Progress in children’s dental access and urgent care services were noted.

Fairness and Equality across Place Partnerships

• The West Yorkshire ICB would contract with PPPs based on improved healthy life expectancy, reduced inequalities and service improvement outcomes.
• Consistency would be maintained across all five places, while allowing for local flexibility.

Transparency and Public Access

• PPP meetings to be held in public were still under consideration.
• Patient/public voices would be embedded in agenda planning.

• Scrutiny requested regular updates, early engagement, and avoidance of further “surprise announcements”.

Contingency Planning

• Existing contractual frameworks (Section 75, 256, NHS contracts) provided safeguards if a provider become insolvent or withdrew from provisions.

• West Yorkshire ICB would retain responsibility for ensuring continuity of provision.

RESOLVED-

1)    That the officers of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (WYICB) be thanked for attending the meeting,

2)    That the WYICB provide the workplan for the Design Group and plan for organisational change,

3)    That the Health and Adults Social Care Scrutiny Panel receive assurance from the Council’s Executive team and Portfolio Holders of continued collaborative working on the proposals to introduce the Place Provider Partnerships (PPP) and associated Integrator Teams,

4)    That the Health and Adults Social Care Scrutiny Panel receive regular updates from the WYICB, the Council’s Executive Team and Portfolio Holders.  These updates to take the form of-

                    (i)        Briefing notes

                  (ii)        Informal meetings

                 (iii)        Formal meetings

5)    That the Health and Adults Social Care Scrutiny Panel reserves the right to formally consider whether the proposed introduction of PPP and Integrator Teams constitutes a substantial variation in service,

6)    That the WYICB and Council’s Executive Team incorporate learning into future engagement with scrutiny, ensuring key structural or operational change supporting documents are provided at the earliest opportunity,

7)    That the Health and Adults Social Care Scrutiny Panel concurs with the views of the West Yorkshire Joint Health Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25^th February 2026.