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.'

A DHSC spokesperson said: ‘We have listened to feedback about the removal of local authority board members from ICB boards, which is why we have proposed an amendment that will retain the requirement for each ICB to have at least one board member jointly nominated by all upper tier local authorities within the ICB footprint. 

‘This will ensure that an important expert voice on social care and public health will continue to inform ICB board discussions.'