However questions have been raised over the political make-up of the board responsible for overseeing its implementation, after opposition councillors questioned a ‘Labour monopoly’.

The move is designed to help adults in Renfrewshire enjoy healthier lives in their own homes and was approved on February 28 at a meeting of the full council.

The council also says it will also help local services work together to deliver the Scottish Government’s nine national health and wellbeing goals at a local level.

Renfrewshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will now set up the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Integration Joint Board (IJB).

The IJB will be responsible for a £200m budget for local services.

Renfrewshire Council leader Mark Macmillan, said: “The council has taken a pioneering approach to partnership working and a number of joint social work and NHS teams are already delivering real benefits for Renfrewshire residents.

“Our Re-ablement Team offers a range of services designed to help people recover their independence and stay in their own homes. It includes occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, stroke nurses and home carers.

“The team is a one-stop shop for clients. It gives them easy access to a range of health care specialists, allowing all their needs to be addressed as efficiently as possible.

“Another example is our Integrated Alcohol Team which includes nurses, psychology, occupational therapy, social worker and family support staff. It follows the same model as the Reablement Team, bringing together all the specialists that people with alcohol problems need to address their addiction effectively. It also minimises duplication and uses shared resources more effectively.

“I fully expect that bringing all of Renfrewshire’s health and social care services together will build on these success stories and make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of local people.” However the make-up of the board was questioned by opposition councillors at the meeting.

Four existing committee members, Cllr Ian McMillan, Cllr Neil Bibby, Cllr Michael Holmes and Cllr Jacqueline Henry are all Labour party members. Under proposals substitute members must also be appointed in the event that any of the council’s elected members on the board are unable to attend a meeting.

Cllr McMillan proposed a motion, which was approved by the council, that fellow Labour councillors Bill Brown, Eddie Devine, Eddie Grady and Tommy Williams be appointed, much to the chagrin of opposition councillors.

SNP group leader Cllr Iain Nicolson highlighted that elsewhere in the country joint boards have cross-party representation and claimed Labour were politicising an issue which was meant for the good of the community. He went on to insist that almost 50 per cent of councillors were not being given the opportunity to represent their constituents.

Cllr Maria Brown, SNP for Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank, added: “I welcome the establishment of the Integration Joint Board as a key element of the initiative and bold initiative by the Scottish Government to integrate health and social care.

“However I feel it does not bode well for the success of the new Integration Joint Board which, I should remind you, should work on behalf of all Renfrewshire residents when, from the outset, it is tainted by inequity and unfairness.

“How can it possibly be fair when 45 per cent of the elected representatives of the people of Renfrewshire have been excluded from having any vote on the integration joint board.” David Leese, the Health and Social Care Partnership’s Chief Officer Designate, said: “In Renfrewshire, we are already seeing benefits from health and social care services working together. The creation of this new partnership will provide a platform to build upon so we can deliver the best possible services for the local community.”