How we make decisions

To support the Clustering of the two ICBs, the Birmingham and Solihull and Black Country ICB Boards have established a Joint Committee.

The Joint ICB Cluster Board which has been given delegated responsibility for matters relating to the delivery of each ICB’s responsibilities for the planning and commissioning of healthcare services, allocating resources to deliver services and monitoring the quality of those services across the ICB cluster footprint. This includes the primary oversight of financial management, operational performance, workforce management, the quality and safety of services, and transformation and transition of these services as dictated by the evolving operating model of ICBs both nationally and locally.

Our Board meetings are held in public, and members of the public are invited to attend and observe if they wish.

Board meetings (including AGM)

Our governance structure is set out below. Further details can be found in our Governance Handbook.

The Joint Cluster Board is supported by the following other committees:-

Audit and Governance Committee

Each ICB has retained an Audit Committee, which are meeting together in common and continues to report to the ICB Boards but also reports key assurance and oversight information into the ICB Cluster Board.

Joint Transition Committee

This reports to the ICB Cluster Board, overseeing and gaining assurance of the transition process, including the transfer of functions to other parts of the system. The Committee also oversees the implementation of the new ICB cluster organisational structure.

Joint Remuneration Committee

Reporting to the ICB Cluster Board agreeing remuneration arrangements across both organisations.

Joint Finance and Performance Committee

Reporting to the ICB Cluster Board maintaining oversight of financial performance and planning across the cluster. This will focus both on current delivery of 2025/26 plans as well as the ‘payer function’ of the new ICB cluster.

Joint Quality Committee

Reporting to the ICB Cluster Board maintaining oversight of quality and safety across the cluster. This also focuses on the outcomes delivered as a result of the commissioning cycle.

Joint Strategic Commissioning Committee

Reporting to the Joint Committee overseeing cluster strategic planning and exercising strategic commissioning functions. This includes oversight of neighbourhood/place arrangements across the cluster delivered through Place committees. This committee includes a focus on addressing health inequalities and driving social value through strategic commissioning.

Place Committees

Six Place committees covering Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. These will report to the Joint Strategic Commissioning Committee with responsibility for providing a place-based perspective to joint commissioning (areas such as Better Care Fund, Joint Packages of Care, Fairer Futures Fund. (where applicable) as well as delegated functions.