Two major multi-agency bodies in Southampton are not delivering enough for the city, according to the council’s chief executive.

Andrew Travers said both the health and care partnership board and safe city partnership needed “major reinvention”.

Southampton City Council’s interim chief executive gave the frank assessment in a progress report that was discussed by the governance committee.

The safe city partnership, which has various representatives including from police, health and the council, is responsible for delivering the safe city strategy and identify priorities.

Health and care partnership board brings together all provider health organisations to work as one.

At the governance committee on Monday, January 13, Mr Travers said: “Those two partnerships really do need continued attention, particularly around what are we getting out of it.”

In relation to the health and care arrangements, there had been an “inability” to get the benefit of collective effort for the city, Mr Travers said.

The senior council officer added: “I think what we have seen is the way that happens at the moment does not get the benefits we should get for integration in the city and that means we aren’t able to tackle health inequalities, the efficiency of the way the hospital operates and all of those things.

“What we are trying to do there is to improve the way that partnership works.

“Partly that is about proposing a slightly different way that the health and care partnership board should work and that will be coming through for member approval shortly.

“There is no magic there. It is really about making sure the right people are around the table to bring together those budgets and the decision-making abilities around those budgets.”

Mr Travers, whose fixed term contract ends in April, said the most important aspect was collectively having a better view of what was trying to be achieved, with a plan on how this could be done.

He told councillors the safe city arrangements had a similar set of issues.

“Partly it is about getting a better arrangement, which we have now got (for safe city),” Mr Travers said.

“That’s been through cabinet and council. Now we are on to trying to be clearer about what we are going to get from that.

“We think that the challenge that we give ourselves collectively has not really been sufficiently demanding.

“We are going to try this time around to say what are we aspiring to achieve, particularly around issues like violence in the city, violence against women and girls, and domestic abuse.

“We think we can do better if we work together more effectively.”