Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Croad be elected Chair for this meeting, in the absence of Councillor Bullivant.

This item was deferred to the next meeting.

Members of the Council will declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered at this meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

The other registrable interests of Councillors of Devon County Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors.

The Chair reminded Members they should declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2024, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2024  be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

There were no items requiring urgent attention.

Report of the Director of Public Health & Communities, which reviews progress against the overarching priorities identified in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Devon 2020-2025.

The Board noted the Report from the Director of Public and Communities (CX/PH24/10) on the performance for the Board, which monitored the priorities identified in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Devon 2020-25.

The latest Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Report was available on the Devon Health and Wellbeing website.

The Report monitored the four Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-25 priorities, and included breakdowns by local authority, district and trends over time. These priorities areas included:

·          Create opportunities for all

·          Healthy safe, strong and sustainable communities

·          Focus on mental health

·          Maintain good health for all

Six indicators had been updated since the last report to the Board, namely:

Adjusted antibiotics prescribing in primary care by the NHS (per STAR-PU) (Persons) 2023

Estimated dementia diagnosis rate (Persons) 2024

Fuel poverty (low income, low energy efficiency methodology) (%) 2022

Low birth weight of term babies (%) (Persons) 2022

Population vaccination coverage – Flu (aged 65+) (%) (Persons) 2023/24

Population vaccination coverage – Flu (at risk individuals) (%) (Persons) 2023/24

In discussion, concern was raised at the low dementia diagnosis rates across Devon, and the Board RESOLVED that this issue be examined at a future meeting to better understand the data, working with the NHS and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy.

Report of the Head of Integrated Adult Social Care, Commissioning.

The Board received the Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (IASC/24/15) on the Better Care Fund, covering latest performance.

The Better Care Fund (BCF) was the mandatory policy to facilitate integration between Health and Social Care, providing a framework for joint planning and commissioning.  The BCF brought together ring-fenced budgets from NHS allocations, ring-fenced BCF grants from Government, the Disabled Facilities Grant and voluntary contributions from local government budgets, including the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund.  This Health and Wellbeing Board had oversight of the BCF and was accountable for its delivery.

The report provided information on the BCF 2024/25 Quarter 1 return for the Additional Discharge Fund, noting that under delegated powers Councillor Bullivant in his capacity as Chair of the Board, had approved the submission on 14 August 2024.

RESOLVED that the Better Care Fund Quarter 1 submission be endorsed.

Report of the Director of Public Health & Communities.

The Board received the report and presentation of the Director of Public Health and Communities (PH24/09), which provided an update on the Smokefree Devon Alliance progress; requesting that the Board considered its contribution in supporting the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill; and continued to consider opportunities for reducing harm caused by tobacco through existing linked programmes of work.

The Smokefree Devon Alliance strategy was launched in 2023, promising annual progress reports to review progress towards the Alliance’s priorities to:

1. Protect children and young people from the harms of tobacco and de-normalise tobacco use to help prevent uptake.
2. Reduce health inequalities caused by smoking, by supporting high quality evidence-based interventions, with a focus on achieving equity and fairness.
3. Ensure cross-sector, strategic collaboration around tobacco control, and support the development of a smokefree culture within key organisations.

The report and presentation outlined the key findings of the annual review, including:

-       A reduction in smoking prevalence in Devon, with the rate decreasing from 13.9% in 2022 to 10.8% in 2023.

-       The importance of addressing smoking in priority groups, e.g. pregnant women, children and individuals with mental health conditions, to reduce health inequalities.

-       A Smokefree NHS steering group had been established to focus on encouraging strategic prioritisation of treating tobacco dependence within acute and mental health trusts.

-       That Government would soon be introducing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which stood to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation.

It was reported that the Government had just announced plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes from June 2025.

The Board discussed the report and presentation and were happy to note its contents.

Report of the Director of Public Health & Communities.

The Board noted the Report of the Director of Public Health and Communities on the Health Impact Assessment of the draft Local Transport Plan 4

The report explained that transport had the potential to greatly influence the public’s health, both positively and negatively. The next Local Transport Plan would set the strategic direction of travel for investment in transport in Devon and Torbay over the next 10-15 years. This presented a significant opportunity to promote a transport system that would support health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.

The Rapid Health Impact Assessment attached to the report provided a summary assessment of the potential impacts of the draft Local Transport Plan 4 and considered a range of health impacts and identified population groups that required specific consideration.

The Board were invited to contribute their comments and any relevant intelligence for inclusion in the Health Impact Assessment of the Local Transport plan, by no later than 8 November 2024.  The Board could also submit responses to the public consultation on the Local Transport Plan, which ran until 30 November 2024.

Report of the NHS.

The Board received the Peninsula Acute Sustainability Programme (PASP) paper on Developing the Case for Change, presented by Chief NHS Officers.

The paper covered the following:

-       Context and Background of the PASP Programme

-       The outputs from Phase 1

-       Our plans for Phase 2

-       A summary of the Case for Change

-       How we plan to work with local populations during Phase 2 to develop a Case for Change.

Chief Officers explained that the Peninsula Acute Provider Collaborative aimed to develop a clinical strategy that ensured sustainable acute hospital services, focused on clinical and workforce sustainability and financial viability.  The importance of public engagement in developing the clinical strategy was emphasised. The collaborative planned to use the DARZI review as a platform to gather public input on what a good, sustainable acute hospital service should look like. 

The Board welcomed the paper and the request for Board Members to support raising awareness locally and to encourage local people to take part in the engagement.

Update report from NHS Devon, attached.

The Board noted the update presented by the Chief Medical Officer, NHS Devon, which provided Devon-wide and national developments within the NHS. It was intended to provide the Board with summary information to ensure Members were kept abreast of important developments.

Highlights of the update included:

-       Winter Vaccinations – there had been a strong start to the Winter campaign, which included additional offers to protect pregnant women and young children from respiratory viruses like RSV.

-       Dental Services – emphasis on the importance of oral health and the efforts to address the challenges in providing dental care in Devon.

-       Homeless Service – Inclusion Health Devon was a new community interest company formed to provide services for the homeless, aiming to support this vulnerable group and address their healthcare needs.

The Board requested a further update on Pharmacy closures at a future meeting.

Update report attached.

The Board noted the Healthwatch Devon update report, which provided updates on various initiatives, including the unpaid carers’ action plan; engagement with children in care; and a pilot project with Libraries Unlimited to gather feedback on social care.

The Board welcomed the informative report.

Report of the Chair of the Board.

(Councillor McInnes attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item.)

The Board noted the report of the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, as presented by the Director of Public Health and Communities.

The report discussed the need for a review and development of the Health and Wellbeing Board, considering the changes in membership and the evolving landscape. The Director emphasised the importance of identifying priorities and holding parties accountable for delivering them.

The Board noted the report and welcomed participation in the development meetings and workshop planned for November/December 2024 to drive Board development and impact.

Report of the Director of Pubic Health & Communities.

The Board noted the report of the Director of Public Health and Communities on the proposed development timeline for the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025-28 for Devon.

It was explained that under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Board had a legal duty to ensure the production of the PNA.  The Board was required to publish a revised assessment within three years of the previous publication, which was on 1 October 2022.

The Board to agree a representative to join the Carers Partnership Steering Group (Nominations: Councillor F Letch and Gavin Ellis).

The Board resolved that Councillor F Letch and Mr G Ellis be elected as representatives on the Carers Partnership Steering Group.

Next meeting:  9 January 2025

Next meeting:  9 January 2025 at the new time of 2.00pm

Future meeting dates of the Board could be found on the Council’s website -

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