Agenda and minutes

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. A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors.

Minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2025, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2025  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.

This item was deferred to the next meeting.

Report of the Director of Public Health (PH25/04), attached.

The Board considered the Report of the Director of Public Health (PH25/04) and the accompanying presentation on Age Friendly Communities.

The Report stated that the Director of Public Health’s Annual Public Health Report 2023-24 set out the challenges faced for Devon, with its older population profile and faster population growth than national average.  This population change, coupled with the fact that people were spending more years in il-health, posed challenges in Devon in relation to the health, wellbeing and quality of life of the people of Devon. The Report emphasised the importance and benefits to all of tackling this through early proactive intervention.

The Report proposed that the Health and Wellbeing Board approve the recommendation for the adoption of Devon as an age-friendly community and thereby, in the first instance, progress an application for membership to the UK Centre for Ageing Better and World Health Organisation Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (WHO AFCC).  To make progress towards these memberships, a three-year strategy would then be established based upon the WHO AFCC four step programme cycle as detailed in the Report.

Responses to questions and discussion points with Officers and Board Members included:

• Dementia challenges: 50% increase in cases would strain resources; focus on prevention and NHS spending.
• Health Board monitoring: Align efforts to avoid duplication; ensure strategic fit; combine national and local partnerships.
• Aging in Devon: Address social isolation, urban-rural differences, and housing priorities with consistent, collaborative approaches.
• Existing resources and oversight: Utilise national models; loneliness impacts health; ensure Board and partner collaboration.

It was MOVED by Councillor Bullivant, SECONDED by Councillor Croad and

RESOLVED that the Board approves the adoption of Devon County Council as an age-friendly community, as recommended in the Director of Public Health’s Annual Public Health Report 2023-24.

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

The Board considered the Report from the Director of Public Health 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

Fourteen indicators had been updated with new data as set out in the Report.

Discussion points with Officers and the Board included:

• Contextual factors: coordinated efforts across organisations were needed; Devon County Council's actions alone may not be enough.
• Health, Education, and Social Care challenges:

·         Higher alcohol-related hospital admissions, especially in Exeter and North Devon.

·         Higher self-harm admissions among ages 10-24, with a slight overall decrease.

·         Early years development higher than national levels; GCSE attainment worse for children on free school meals.

·         Adult social care satisfaction similar to national average; lower coverage and effectiveness of reablement services.

• Strategic Plan and targets: need to understand progress versus 2025 strategy targets and identify mitigation actions for red areas.
• Board's role: focus on actionable items; consider contextual factors like workforce sufficiency and rural challenges.

The Board were happy to note the Report.

Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (IASC/25/11), attached.

The Board received the quarterly update Report of the Deputy Director of Integrated Adult Social Care 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 details on the BCF 2024/25 Q3 return, approved by Councillor Bullivant in his capacity as Chair of the Board on 13 February 2025, to align with national timescales.

The Board were asked to note that the BCF End of Year return was due on 30 May 2025, which fell outside the Board’s meeting schedule and, as previously, the Chair would be asked to approve the return before submission, before being brought to a future meeting for endorsement.

The Board also noted that on 31 January 2025 notification of changes to the BCF policy framework for 2025/26 were received, and the submission of Devon ICB plans were due 31 March 2025, with the Chair being asked to approve prior to submission, to be brought to a future meeting.

The Board’s questions and discussion points covered:

• Community Equipment Store: funding gap due to underinvestment and rising costs. Recommissioning aimed to improve sustainability.
• NHS Budget Cuts: significant reductions required prioritisation of services. Devon NHS system faced financial strain, with more clarity expected soon.

It was MOVED by Councillor Croad, SECONDED by Councillor Saywell and

RESOLVED that Better Care Fund Q3 submission be endorsed.

Report of the Director of Public Health (PH25/03), attached.

The Board received the Report of the Director of Public Health (PH25/03) on the One Devon Suicide Prevention Action Plan, together with an accompanying presentation.

The report stated that currently each Local Authority in the Devon ICS 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 strategic approach and priorities of the national suicide prevention strategy for England 2023-28 and therefore there was significant overlap between plans.

The report recommended, in concert with Plymouth and Torbay Public Health, transitioning to a single ICS wide action plan with core system partners. This shared action plan would continue to be based on the national strategy but importantly would maintain the focus on the local elements of each area based on local priorities.

Further, the national suicide prevention strategy provided a platform and framework to facilitate a One Devon Suicide Prevention Strategy, with local collaboration across key partner organisations, including the NHS, VCSE, employers and individuals.

Discussion points included:

• Reduce interfaces in health programmes; highlight ICP’s role.
• Promote zero tolerance for suicide; ensure prevention was a shared responsibility.
• Address gaps in support for mental health and substance abuse issues.
• Plan future discussions and involve relevant representatives for updates.

It was MOVED by Councillor Bullivant, SECONDED by Councillor Croad and

RESOLVED that the development of an Integrated Care System (ICS) level suicide prevention action plan be supported, and to provide annual reports to the Board.

Report of the Chief Medical Officer, attached.

The Board considered the Report of the Chief Medical Officer, NHS Devon on the refreshed Devon Joint Forward Plan (JFP).

The JFP was a mandatory five-year plan for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and their trust partners, setting out how they proposed to exercise their functions over the next five years. The plan had to be reviewed and/or revised annually before the start of each financial year.

This year’s NHS planning guidance stated that ICBs and trusts were required to undertake a limited, light-touch refresh of their JFPs in 2024-25 ahead of the anticipated publication of the NHS 10-year plan.

NHS Devon was required to submit an updated version of the JFP to NHS England by 31 March 2025.

It was MOVED by Councillor Bullivant, SECONDED by Councillor Croad and

RESOLVED that the updated Joint Forward Plan 2025-30 be endorsed and its alignment with the priorities identified in the latest Health and Wellbeing Strategy be confirmed.

Update from NHS Devon, attached.

The Board noted the update from 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.

Updates were included on Seasonal vaccinations; the Big Brush Club; and Devon 10-year plan programme.

Report of the Director of Public Health, attached.

The Board noted the Report of the Director of Public Health providing an update on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) and timeline.

The PNA was an assessment of the current and future pharmaceutical needs of the local population. It differed from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment as it looked at how pharmaceutical needs could be met by pharmaceutical services commissioned by NHS Devon Integrated Care Board.

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Board had a legal duty to ensure the production of the PNA.  The Board were required to publish a revised assessment within three years of the previous publication. The last publication was 1 October 2022.

An update report would be brought to the July 2025 Board meeting, with the final version being presented to the October 2025 meeting.

The Board resolved to approve the proposed development timeline for the PNA 2025-28 for Devon.

Annual Assurance Report, attached.

The Board received the Health Protection Committee Annual Assurance Report 2023-24, which provided a summary of the assurance functions of the Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly Health Protection Committee for the Health and Wellbeing Boards of Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council, Cornwall Council, and the Council of the isles of Scilly, and reviewed performance for the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

The report considered the following key domains of health protection:

-       Communicable disease control and environmental hazards

-       Immunisation and screening

-       Health care associated infections and antimicrobial resistance

-       Emergency planning and response

The report further set out:

-       Assurance arrangements/structures

-       Performance and activity during 2023-24

-       Actions taken against health protection priorities identified for 2023-24

-       Priorities for 2024-25.

Follow-up discussion.

The Director of Public Health provided a verbal report to the Board following the LGA-facilitated Workshop held on 14 March 2025.

The purpose of the Workshop was to explore and refine objectives for Board development and future ways of working.  Workshop discussion included the following:

• Focus on Impactful Actions: Shift from reviewing historical information to prioritising initiatives that could make a difference.
• Changes in Governance Landscape: Introduction of ICP, ICB, and health and wellbeing boards had created some role ambiguity.
• Aligning Priorities: Engaging with ICP and ICB to establish their focus areas and aligning work programs accordingly.
• Strategic Focus: Prioritise a few key areas rather than spreading resources thin across numerous concerns.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: ICP and ICB to provide insights on how best to work together.
• Operational Structure: Define work programs, identify advisory resources, and organise committee operations.
• Utilisation of Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: Use JSNA to guide priority-setting and influence the Joint Health and Well-being Strategy.
• Refining the Health Strategy: Current strategy is broad and lacks specific targets or KPIs—needs a more actionable approach.
• Focused Agenda Development: Restructure Board meetings to allocate more time for priority areas rather than administrative formalities.
• Roadmap for Execution: Establish a clear plan detailing approval processes, required information, and stakeholder involvement.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Define progress tracking mechanisms and ensure accountability.

These discussions aimed to shape a plan of action for the Board while contributing to the refresh of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy in 2025.

The Board were content with this approach.

In order to prevent duplication, the Board will review the Council’s Scrutiny Work Programme.

The Board’s Forward Plan was noted.

To review and agree the Board’s Forward Plan, attached.

The Board’s Forward Plan was noted.

Next meeting: 10 July 2025

Future meeting dates are included in the Council’s Meetings Calendar.

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

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Next meeting – 10 July 2025.