The Health Select Committee was scheduled to meet to elect a chairman and vice-chairman, and to discuss and develop their work programme. The committee was also expected to receive updates from cabinet members. The meeting was preceded by a briefing for committee members about the role and processes of Overview and Scrutiny.

Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

The first items on the agenda were the election of a chairman and vice chairman for the Health Select Committee for the upcoming year.

Developing the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss the development of its section of the Overview and Scrutiny (OS) work programme. According to the report pack, the OS Management Committee had already agreed on topics recommended for inclusion. The Health Select Committee was expected to consider these topics and discuss the next steps for developing a comprehensive work programme that reflects the priorities of the council, its members, and Wiltshire residents.

The report included a list of topics recommended for further OS work by the Health Select Committee, as well as an embryonic work programme with some items already included.

The report pack stated that a face-to-face session was planned for all backbench members on 1 July 2025, including training in how to conduct effective scrutiny and an issue prioritisation exercise. The purpose of this exercise was for members to suggest and prioritise issues raised by residents during their election campaigns that may be suitable for OS attention.

The report pack also noted that the Health Select Committee work programme should provide space for topics proposed throughout the year by individual members, requested by the Cabinet and local NHS bodies, and raised by the public, and that the work programme should be viewed as a live document that is constantly reviewed and updated.

Appendix A of the report pack listed work areas recommended by the Health Select Committee under the previous council for further scrutiny, including:

• Adult Social Care KPIs: To receive an annual report on Adult Social Care KPIs.
• Adult Social Care Transformation: To receive an annual overview of the impact of the Adult Social Care Transformation Programme.
• Home First: To review the impact of delivering ‘Home First’ in house.
• Adult Safeguarding: Report from Wiltshire Safeguarding Adult Vulnerable People’s Partnership and a review of performance against Adult Safeguarding KPIs.
• Technology for Independence Pilot: Report once pilot completed (estimated Mar 2026).
• Older Person’s Accommodation Strategy (2025-2030): To review the delivery plan of the strategy, due Jan 2026.
• Wiltshire Pioneer Project: To consider how co-production has impacted work of Adult Social Care.
• Service User Engagement Contract: To receive an annual performance report.
• Implementation Plan of the Integrated Care Strategy: Progress and Performance Report.
• Dementia Strategy Update (2023–2028): An update report following presentation of strategy to Committee, 10 Sept 2024
• Community Health Services: Initially, to receive the outcomes framework of the new contract, the KPIs planned to measure performance and the involvement of stakeholders in shaping priorities.
• Urgent Care: To receive an annual report on urgent care.
• Hospital Transport: To consider arrangements for transport to hospital (non-emergency).
• Mental Health Strategy: Following rapid scrutiny, a report on the delivery plan of ICB’s new Mental Health Strategy.
• Primary and Community Care Delivery Plan: Annual Update on the delivery of Primary and Community Care.
• NHS Dentistry Update: An update on levels of access to dentists and the impact of community initiatives.
• Healthwatch Annual Report: To receive an annual report from Healthwatch.
• Pharmacy Update: A review of the Pharmacy Needs Assessment process to date (initiated Oct 2024)
• Health Inequalities: Report from Wiltshire Health Inequalities Group.
• Smoke Free Grant: Report on impact of smoke free grant in reducing smoking levels.
• Substance Use Grant: Review the succession plan at the end of the grant period (April 2025)
• Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant: Review the succession plan to support victims of domestic abuse before end of the grant period.
• Boater Community Survey- Actions taken: Update on actions taken following survey of Boater community

Appendix B of the report pack contained a template forward work programme for 2025-2026, including the following proposed agenda items:

• Community Health Services: A report on the embedding of a new community health care contract, started 1 April 2025.
• Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre: An update report on the development of the new Integrated Care Centre in Trowbridge.
• Pharmacy Needs Assessment: A report on the development of the Pharmacy Needs Assessment for Wiltshire due to be published in October 2025.
• SmokeFree Generation: A report on the implementation in Wiltshire of the government-funded smokefree generation initiative
• NHS Dentistry: A report on NHS dentistry in Wiltshire, including access to services.
• Adult Social Care KPIs: Annual Report on Adult Social Care performance against KPIs.
• Older Person’s Accommodation Strategy: A report to review the delivery of the strategy.
• Oral Health Promotion: An update report on the impact of initiatives to improve oral health in Wiltshire.
• Stakeholder Member briefing: An introduction to the work of Wiltshire Pioneers and how service users can inform the work of the Health Select Committee.

The report pack also suggested the re-establishment of Health Select Committee’s rapid scrutiny groups, if agreed by OS Management Committee, with the appointment of the rapid scrutiny memberships delegated to the Chair and Vice-chair following the invitation of expressions of interest from eligible members. These groups include:

• Urgent Care Reporting Rapid Scrutiny Exercise
• Continuing Health Care Funding Eligibility Rapid Scrutiny Exercise
• Mental Health Strategy Rapid Scrutiny Exercise

Cabinet Member Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a brief verbal update from attending Cabinet Members (or Portfolio Holders on their behalf) highlighting any news, successes, or milestones in their respective areas since the last meeting of the committee, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.