In the absence of the Chairman, Councillor David Thomas and the Vice-Chairman, Matt Fox, Councillor Tranter was elected Chairwoman for the meeting, in accordance with Standing Orders H3.2.

To receive any apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor David Thomas, Paul Phillips, Paul Northcott, Tara Harris, Pat Harris, Roy Linden and Matt Fox.

The Board were informed that Matt Fox had stood down from the Health and Wellbeing Board.  The Chairwoman on behalf of the Board, requested the Board’s thanks be formally recorded, recognising Matt’s valuable contribution to the Board and providing a GP and primary care perspective to discussions.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 12 December 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 12 December 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairwoman.

No interests were declared.

To consider any other items that the Chairman/woman decides are urgent.

The Chairwoman informed the Board that there was one urgent item, that being the delegated sign-off of the Better Care Fund (BCF) 2025/26 Planning Submission.  Members considered a paper that outlined the process for ensuring the Torbay Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB) met the required deadline to submit a Better Care Fund (BCF) 2025/26 Planning submission to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) by 31 March 2025.

The Board was informed that the guidance and supporting plans and templates to complete the submission had only recently been shared by the Department for Health and Social Care. Since then, colleagues in both Torbay Council, NHS Devon, and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT) had been working in partnership to complete the plans and get them signed off within the challenging timescales that had been set.

Following representations from local authorities, a decision had been made by national Better Care Fund partners based on feedback from local areas that the final Health and Wellbeing Board submission could be signed off by Health and Wellbeing Boards post submission.  However, to meet the 31 March 2025 deadline it was recommended that the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board be given delegated authority to sign off the Better Care Fund 25/26 planning documents, alongside the council’s Chief Executive, Section 151 Officer, and Director of Adults and Community Services, subject to these plans being formally approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board on the 19 June 2025.

By consensus, the Board resolved that the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board be given delegated authority to sign off the Better Care Fund 25/26 planning submission, subject to these plans being formally approved by Health and Wellbeing Board on the 19 June 2025.

To consider a report that monitors the delivery of the Torbay Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Members noted a report on the six-monthly monitoring of the delivery of the Torbay Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.  The report highlighted the latest developments and any risks or challenges that had been flagged by individual programmes. 

In relation to the Healthy Ageing Programme, Pat Teague provided an update on the work of Torbay Citizens Assembly (TCA).  TCA had around 700 online members with 50 to 60 members who regularly attend the quarterly meetings held around Torbay.  The vision of TCA was to provide an independent platform for residents to voice their interests and concerns, achieving change, and making Torbay the best place it can be to grow older.  During 2025 TCA would be focusing on 3 themes, housing, transport and health.  Meetings would have speakers, information, discussions and consultations on current aspects of the three key themes with members newsletters also being used to disseminate information on these themes.

Julia Chisnell, Consultant in Public Health sought views on the development of the next iteration of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, with the Board expressing the need for the principles of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy to take Torbay forward as a place, with a delivery plan, that helps drive delivery of the wider place shaping work being undertaken in Torbay.

To consider a report that provides an update on the Torbay suicide prevention action plan 2024-27 and a proposal to develop a One Devon Integrated Care System suicide prevention action plan.

The Health and Wellbeing Board considered a report that provided an update on the Torbay suicide prevention action plan 2024-27 and a proposal to develop a One Devon Integrated Care System suicide prevention action plan. 

Members were advised that Torbay had been selected to host the South West leg of the 2025 Baton of Hope charity tour on Tuesday 30 September 2025. The tour supported priority three of Torbay’s suicide prevention action plan – Harness passion, commit to collaborate and pool resources to reduce suicides.

Members welcomed the Office of National Statistics reporting that the suicide rate had continued to decline since last reporting at the Health and Wellbeing Board.  Members noted in 2022 Torbay’s suicide rate was 16.6 per 100,000.  There was a decreasing trend, however, rates are still significantly above national and regional rates.  Members were advised that the suicide rate for 2023 had been reported to show a radical reduction to 12.5 per 100,000 – similar to the regional suicide rate.  However, with Officers recognising that large yearly shifts in population rates were uncommon further investigation found that lengthy Coroner Service delays have meant that the number of deaths registered within the year were not reflective of the actual number of deaths that would be expected.  Therefore, the data had been triangulated with local real time surveillance data which indicates that the number of suspected suicides is unlikely to have fallen to the extent suggested by the national data and was in keeping with the typical numbers we have been expecting. The Health and Wellbeing Board was therefore advised to base prioritisation and decision making on previous Office of National Statistics data from 2022 and to assume a similar rate until such time future figures were available.

Members were advised that currently, each Local Authority in the Devon Integrated Care System area had its own suicide prevention action plan that was accountable to their respective Health and Wellbeing Boards.  Each local plan was based on the priorities of the national suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028 and therefore there was significant overlap between the plans across Devon.

Officers recommended moving to a single, Integrated Care System wide, strategy action plan with core system partners.  A shared action plan would continue to be based on the national strategy and, importantly, it would maintain the focus on the local elements of each area based on local priorities.  The national suicide prevention strategy provided a platform and framework to facilitate a One Devon Suicide Prevention Action Plan, with local collaboration across key partner organisations, including NHS, voluntary, community and social sectors (VCSE), employers and individuals.

Mapping of the three existing suicide prevention action plans from Plymouth, Torbay and Devon local authorities had demonstrated the feasibility of a shared plan.  A single One Devon Integrated Care System suicide prevention action plan would maintain local elements key to suicide prevention as well as accountability to each Health and Wellbeing Board and would provide annual reports to the boards.  Local partners  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

To consider a report on the Joint Forward Plan (JFP) 2025–30 which sets out how the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) and its partners will deliver the One Devon Integrated Care Strategy over the next five years.

The Health and Wellbeing Board considered a report on the Joint Forward Plan (JFP) 2025–30.  The JFP set out how NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) and its partners would deliver the One Devon Integrated Care Strategy over the next five years. It aligned with national requirements, ensured the local health and care system met physical and mental health needs, delivered statutory commitments, and addressed the four core purposes of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs).

Members were advised that this year’s JFP refresh had been a light-touch update, in line with national guidance, as the system awaits the NHS 10-Year Plan. Members were informed that the strategic goals remain unchanged, and the refresh focused on aligning the JFP with emerging priorities, including the Devon Medium-Term Financial Plan (MFP) and NHS Devon Annual Plan and NHS operational planning guidance.

The JFP 2025–30 was structured around three key themes:

• Healthy People

• Healthy, Safe Communities

• Healthy, Sustainable System

The refresh of the JFP had been supported by a JFP Steering Group, which included representatives from health and local authorities and reported to the System Leadership Group (SLG). The draft plan would be considered by all three Devon Health and Wellbeing Boards and the One Devon Integrated Care Partnership before the final version was agreed by the System Leadership Group. It will then be submitted for approval by the NHS Devon and NHS Provider Boards in March, with a copy of the document submitted to NHS England by 31 March 2025.

By consensus, the Board resolved:

That the Joint Forward Plan (2025-30) was aligned with the priorities identified in the latest Health and Wellbeing Strategy and was endorsed.

To note the report.

The Board noted the Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly Health Protection Committee Annual Assurance Report 2023/24 which set out how partners, including Torbay Public Health, work together to protect the population from infectious disease and environmental hazards.

To consider the Torbay and South Devon Inequalities Strategy.

The Board noted a report that set out the draft South Local Care Partnership Strategy to Tackle Health Inequalities.

Members were advised that the Strategy had been developed following a review of our population health profile.  There were significant policy and data drivers to tackle inequality in our locality and an opportunity to come together and explore ways to make a difference to inequalities that, despite efforts by many, were becoming more sustained.

A Population Health sub-group of the Local Care Partnership (LCP) had sought to:

i.              develop and identify a shared vision for population health;

ii.            provide clarity on inequalities within the South LCP, recognising the difference between health inequalities and healthcare inequalities and how these linked to ambitions of the One Devon Partnership Integrated Care Strategy and 5 Year Joint Forward Plan and the 10 year NHS Plan; and

iii.           use the intelligence generated to ensure that population health, heath and healthcare inequalities, prevention, and early intervention, were centre stage in thinking, planning and actions across the South LCP.

The Strategy had been drafted to support that work and set out a number of areas for concerted action.

To note a verbal update on the above.

Members noted an update on the engagement undertaken on the 10 year Health Plan.  Members were informed that a number of events had been held at various locations and in various ways in order to target people, in the right place, at the right time.  The engagement activities had resulted in around 3,000 pieces of feedback from across Devon.  The themes coming out were:

·         how valued the NHS was, with staff seen as the most valuable but most vulnerable assets;

·         the need to address access to primary care, mental health and emergency care; and

·         better funding.

The Board welcomed the opportunity for the local engagement findings to be presented to the next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

To note the update.

Members noted a verbal update on the Local Care Partnership which had been focusing work around the Strategy to tackle health inequalities and gaining greater understanding of the roles of the Health and Wellbeing Boards and the Local Care Partnerships for implementing it.

To note the update.

Lincoln Sargeant, Director of Public Health informed the Board that to some extent winter concerns had been mitigated through the range of co-ordinated actions taken by partners. He noted that whilst interest rates had fallen issues remained in respect of fuel poverty, as demonstrated by take up of winter fuel payments made through Household Support Fund.  The Board were advised that despite easing of the Cost of Living Crisis there will still be segments of the population in food poverty in particular single men and single parents.  Torbay Council Cabinet had endorsed a Food Strategy developed by the Torbay Food Network with the action plan being developed.  As we move past  the Cost of Living Crisis, focus was beginning to shift to social mobility. Many families and individuals were doing their best but without resilience circumstances meant that options weren’t always there to weather crises as they arise.  The Health and Wellbeing Board workshop on 24 June 2025 would focus on a wholistic approach to the delivering our economic strategy and ensuring our regeneration programmes to shape the Bay was inclusive of all groups of people.