At a meeting next week (July 11) Durham County Council’s Cabinet members are to be asked to take part in a Government consultation on future funding for public health services.
From 2013 responsibility for running these services will pass from Government to local authorities.  County Durham has very significant public health needs which will continue to require proper levels of support.
Members will therefore be asked to respond to the consultation to ensure that funds are sufficient to enable the council to tackle these important issues.
Council Leader, Cllr Simon Henig, said: “It is absolutely vital that the very specific health needs of County Durham are fully appreciated by central Government and that the necessary funds are protected so that we can properly serve those needs.
“On the face of it, it looks as though at some point we could see the money we have available reduce by as much as 50 per cent in an area with some of the most complex health issues in the country.
“Any reduction would put public health services under extreme pressure and it is absolutely right that we should speak up now and voice those concerns.”
Based on current resources the baseline budget for 13/14 should be £42.9 million.  The consultation is based on a reduction to £23.2m over time.

Update of the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (edition 3) (MTFP3)
Meanwhile members will also be asked to approve an update of the council’s MTFP which covers the period 2013 – 2017. MTFP3 outlines how the authority will continue to deliver high quality services to the people of County Durham whilst at the same time managing the significant reductions in spending it must make due to the ongoing reductions in Government grants.
Cabinet will hear that there are a number of uncertainties including the detailed impact of major funding changes in the Business Rates system and the Council Tax Benefit scheme.   Revised overall budget reductions for the period 2011 to 2017 are now expected to be in the region of £180m.

Coming up – Have Your Say on MTFP3
To ensure MTFP3 continues to reflect public priorities on spending as well as the required savings, members will also hear how the council intends to hold wide ranging public consultation and feedback exercises later his year and in early 2013.
Details of how you can take part in these exercises will be widely published nearer the time.