Plans to exclude councils from ICBs have been scrapped by the Government.

The u-turn was revealed in an amendment to the Health Bill tabled by health and social care Yvette Cooper yesterday.

The amendment restored the requirement for ICBs to contain at least one member nominated jointly by the local authorities as well as any new mayoral nominated member.

Former health and social care secretary James Murray was urged to rethink the plans to remove the statutory right for local government representation on ICBs during a grilling by the Health and Social Care Committee in July.

A Health and Social Care Committee spokesperson said: ‘After multiple encounters with this committee, the Government have seen sense and reinstated local authorities' essential role in scrutinising the spending and decisions of ICBs. Councils know the care and health needs of the communities they represent. Losing their oversight would have only made health services more siloed from social care and estranged from the patient's voice.'

Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, chair of the LGA's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: ‘Restoring local authority representation on ICBs is the right move, and one that the LGA has called for and supported.

‘Local authorities know and understand their communities. Giving a meaningful voice to councils through ICBs will support effective neighbourhood working, ensure decisions reflect local realities, and that services are strengthened and shaped around communities and the way local people live their lives, rather than around organisational boundaries.'

Lee Peart is editor of Hemming Group’s Healthcare Management magazine.