260313 - IJB Minute
North Ayrshire Council · 30 April 2026
Back to Integration Joint Board — 30 April 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Minute of Integration Joint Board meeting held on Friday 13 March 2026 at 2.00 p.m. involving participation by remote electronic means and physical attendance within the Council Chambers, Irvine. Present (Physical Participation) Voting Members Joyce White, NHS Ayrshire and Arran (Chair) Councillor Chloe Robertson, North Ayrshire Council (Vice-Chair) Councillor Nairn Angus-McDonald, North Ayrshire Council Councillor Tom Marshall, North Ayrshire Council Tom Hopkins, NHS Ayrshire and Arran Linda Semple, NHS Ayrshire and Arran Councillor Margaret Johnson, North Ayrshire Council (Substitute) Professional Advisers Caroline Cameron, Director of Health and Social Care Partnership Thelma Bowers, Head of Service (Mental Health) (NAHSCP) Eleanor Currie, Chief Finance and Section 95 Officer Scott Hunter, Chief Social Work Officer Sharon Hackney, Lead Allied Health Professional Julie Barrett, Associate Nurse Director/ Lead Nurse Lisa Davidson, Public Health Representative Wendy Van Riet, Director of Psychological Services Stakeholder Representative Lynda McFarlane, Staff Representative Also Present (Physical Participation) Councillor Cameron Inglis, North Ayrshire Council Councillor John Sweeney, North Ayrshire Council Council Stewart Ferguson, North Ayrshire Council Present (Remote Participation) Voting Members Marc Mazzucco, NHS Ayrshire & Arran Stakeholder Representative Vicky Yuill, Third Sector Representative In Attendance (Physical Participation)
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Elizabeth Stewart, Head of Service (Children, Families & Criminal Justice) Kerry Logan, Head of Service (Health and Community Care) Karen Andrews, Team Manager (Governance) Loretta Galloway, Unity Enterprise Stuart MacMillan, Principal Manager (Planning, Performance and Transformation) Annie Johnson, Principal Manager (Business Support) Raymond Lynch, Senior Manager (Legal Services) Ruth Wilson, Team Leader (Litigation) John Hutcheson, Senior Communications Officer Hayley Young, Senior Committee Services Officer Apologies Councillor Anthea Dickson, North Ayrshire Council Lorna Sim, Staff Representative NHS Ayrshire and Arran Aileen Craig, IJB Monitoring Officer 1. Apologies for Absence and Chair Remarks Apologies for Absence were noted. The Chair thanked Paul Smith, Carers Representative to the Board for his valuable contributions to the work of the IJB following his resignation. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest in terms of Standing Order 7.2 and Section 5.14 of the Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies. 3. Minutes The accuracy of the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2026 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7(10 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 4. Director’s Report Submitted report by Caroline Cameron, Director (NAHSCP) on the developments within the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Noted. 5. 2025-26 – Month 10 Financial Performance Submitted report by Eleanor Currie, Chief Finance Officer and Section 95 Officer (HSCP) on the Integration Joint Board’s financial performance as at Month 10 (January). Appendix A to the report detailed the financial overview of the Partnership position, while Appendix B provided an overview of the service changes that did not have financial savings attached and the BRAG status around the deliverability of each saving. Appendix C highlighted the movement in the budget position following the initial approved budget, with further detail on the reserves set out at Appendix D. Appendix E highlighted information on the costs of bank and agency staff. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report.
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The Board agreed to (a) note the overall integrated financial performance report for the financial year 2025-26 and the current overall projected year end overspend of £2.802m reducing to £2.251m after assumed funding for the reduced working week; (b) note the progress with delivery of agreed savings; (c) approve the budget reduction in para 2.10; and (d) note the remaining financial risks for 2025-26. 6. Transformation Plan Update Submitted a report by Stuart Macmillan, Principal Manager (Planning, Performance & Transformation) on the Transformation Plan, set out at Appendix 1 to the report. Appendix 2 provided an example of what a benefit tracker looks like for projects, with Appendices 3-5 detailed the progress within each of the three Services: Children, Families and Justice, Health and Community Care and Mental Health and Learning Disabilities. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. Noted. 7. Revenue Budget 2026-2027 Submitted report by Eleanor Currie, Chief Finance Officer and Section 95 Officer (HSCP) on the financial position for the Partnership for 2026-27, including the proposed delegated funding, service budget pressures, plans developed to set a budget and the associated risks. A summary of the 2026-27 budget and net budget increase was set out at Appendix A to the report, while Appendix B set out the proposed service pressures. Appendix C to the report detailed the proposed savings and Appendix D set out the Scottish Government Finance Settlement letters. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. The Director of Health and Social Care Partnership provided clarification that the Revenue Budget 2026–2027 report and the Budget Consultation and Eligibility Criteria for Social Care Services report were presented separately to allow the Partnership adequate time to consider and scrutinise the significant decision required in respect of eligibility criteria. The Chair agreed that the meeting be adjourned at 4.00 p.m. for a short comfort break following comments from members, reconvening at 4.20 p.m. with the same Members and officers present and in attendance. The Chair advised that the recommendations to the Revenue Budget 2026-2027 report had been updated as follows, meaning the substantive budget decision would be made after consideration of item 8: “That the Board: (a) notes the proposed budget for 2026-27 for the Partnership inclusive of all pressures, savings and reserves, noting that the funding position is subject to
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confirmation of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran budget. Defer further consideration to item 8. (b) approves the new hourly rates for commissioned providers and Personal Assistants; and (c) notes the risks associated with this budget.” Accordingly the Board agreed to (a) note the proposed budget for 2026-27 for the Partnership inclusive of all pressures, savings and reserves, noting that the funding position is subject to confirmation of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran budget. Defer further consideration to item 8; (b) approve the new hourly rates for commissioned providers and Personal Assistants; and (c) note the risks associated with this budget. 8. Budget Consultation and Eligibility Criteria for Social Care Services Submitted report by Caroline Cameron, Director (NAHSCP), on the extensive consultation undertaken since December 2025 on “Delivering Social Care Services within Budget. The final report from Phase 1 was set out at Appendix 1 and Phase 2 report set out at Appendix 2 to the report. The Eligibility Policy was set out at Appendix 3 to the report and the full Equality and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment set out at Appendix 4 to the report. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. The Chair advised that the recommendations to the Budget Consultation and Eligibility Criteria for Social Care Services report had been updated as follows: “It is recommended that the IJB: (a) note and consider the extensive engagement with and feedback from our communities on how we Deliver Social Care Services within budget; (b) approve the Eligibility Policy – Critical Only Access to Funded Adult Social Work and Social Care Services (Appendix 3); (c) approve the budget for 2026-27 for the Partnership (as presented fully to IJB at Agenda Item 7) inclusive of all pressures, savings and reserves; (d) note that the policy does not alter the HSCP’s statutory duties to assess need, make inquiries, provide protection, or offer SDS options where an eligible need is being met; and (e) note that the HSCP will monitor implementation and impact and will provide an evaluation report which will include data on demand, risk patterns, unmet need, and impact on service sustainability. A formal review of the policy will be undertaken alongside budget planning for 2027-28.” Joyce White, seconded by Councillor Johnson, moved the approval of the recommendations, as amended, set out in the officer’s report. An amendment by Councillor Angus-McDonald, seconded by Vicki Yuill, proposed the following: “IJB notes the financial position of the HSCP for 2026/27; recognises the welcome additional £4.9m contribution from North Ayrshire Council approved by elected members at the recent budget; but acknowledges that a projected overspend for 2025/26, financial pressures and no additional funding for social care in the Scottish budget leaves a substantial gap.
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The IJB notes with concern the proposals contained within the report which would move the IJB from a policy of Critical & Substantial Eligibility to Critical Only for care packages. IJB further notes the risks, impacts and concerns raised in the Equalities Impact Assessment which shows a severe negative impact across multiple demographics. And the IJB notes the results of the public consultation; the officers analysis of which shows that 61% are against changing our eligibility policy to Critical only. As a result, the IJB therefore resolves to : 1. Instruct the Chair and Vice-Chair of the IJB to write to NHS Ayrshire and Arran and the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Social Care and Sport to request that both parties provide additional funding (including full funding of national policy commitments) to match the Council’s additional contribution in order to avoid the devastating impact of moving to a Critical Only eligibility policy. 2. Continue consideration on the move to "Critical Only" eligibility criteria. 3. Instruct officers to prepare alternative options to moving to “Critical Only”, outlining the financial and operational risks such as an increase in waiting lists, to be presented alongside the response to the funding request so the IJB can consider the full range of options to manage health and social care services within the funding envelope provided by partners, whilst mitigating the impact on those who require our services. 4. Reconvene to consider the matters so resolved prior to 31 March 2026.” The Director of Health and Social Care Partnership advised that, in the absence of a strategic decision by the Partnership, the financial position would require to be managed operationally from 1 April 2026. Consequently, the Partnership would be unable to commit expenditure, and access to care would require to be paused, other than for those with the most critical needs. Linda Semple left the meeting during consideration of this item. There followed debate and summing up. On a division and roll call vote, there voted for the amendment, Councillor Angus- McDonald (1) and for the motion, Councillors Robertson, Johnson, Marshall, Joyce White, Tom Hopkins and Marc Mazzucco (6) and the motion was declared carried. Accordingly the Board agreed to (a) note and consider the extensive engagement with and feedback from our communities on how we Deliver Social Care Services within budget; (b) approve the Eligibility Policy – Critical Only Access to Funded Adult Social Work and Social Care Services set out at Appendix 3 to the report; (c) approve the budget for 2026-27 for the Partnership (as presented fully to IJB at Agenda Item 7) inclusive of all pressures, savings and reserves; (d) note that the policy does not alter the HSCP’s statutory duties to assess need, make inquiries, provide protection, or offer SDS options where an eligible need is being met; (e) note that the HSCP will monitor implementation and impact and will provide an evaluation report which will include data on demand, risk patterns, unmet need, and impact on service
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sustainability. A formal review of the policy will be undertaken alongside budget planning for 2027-28. The meeting ended at 6.00 p.m. The full meeting proceedings can be viewed at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home