Bill on partnerships between councils and other public bodies progresses in Commons

A bill designed to tighten partnership arrangements between councils and other public bodies receives its second reading in the House of Commons today.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill would place duties on councils and named partners to co-operate in drawing up and having regard to local area agreement targets.

Partners include primary care trusts, youth offending teams, police authorities and local probation boards.

The bill is designed to help deliver the closer integration of health and social care envisaged in last year’s care services white paper.

However, the Local Government Association has objected to the exclusion of NHS and foundation trusts from the list of partners.

The bill would also strengthen local overview and scrutiny committees, and provide shire counties and districts with the opportunity to become unitary authorities, with responsibility for all council services.