The Health and Wellbeing Board of Southwark Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss the development of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, progress on neighbourhood health initiatives, and the annual air quality report. The Board was also scheduled to receive updates on preventing suicides in Southwark and the healthy communities programme.

Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2027-2032: Development Plan

The Board was asked to approve the development plan for the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2027-2032. This strategy is a statutory item, with local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) having a joint duty to develop it. The plan outlines an approach to redevelop the strategy under the assumption that a single strategic document will be required, integrating neighbourhood health plans. The process for strategy development will include evaluating progress against the current strategy, analysing needs assessments, community engagement, and stakeholder engagement. The proposed themes for shaping development include healthy start, healthy lives, healthy ageing, healthy environments, and healthy neighbourhoods, with a strong focus on reducing health inequalities. The strategy will utilise a Drive – Sponsor – Observe framework to refine strategic priorities and identify key aims and corresponding actions.

Southwark Neighbourhood Health & Integrated Neighbourhood Teams: Progress and Next Steps

This item aimed to update the Board on the progress made in developing Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) and consider how the Health and Wellbeing Board can work with Partnership Southwark to develop and implement a Neighbourhood Health plan. Neighbourhood Health is a central component of the NHS Long Term Plan, focusing on transforming care delivery at a neighbourhood level in response to increasing population need, growing health inequalities, and rising pressure on services. The report noted that national guidance has been delayed, but Southwark is proactively progressing planning. Progress has been made in agreeing neighbourhood footprints, appointing an Integrator, and securing a place on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. The Board was asked to consider how neighbourhood health plans can converge with wider council and public sector plans, where the greatest opportunities lie for addressing health inequalities, how to remove system barriers, and how to build meaningful resident involvement.

Air Quality Annual Status Report 2024: Briefing Note

The Board was asked to note and approve the Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) 2024. This report is a mandatory submission to Defra and the GLA and summarises Southwark's air quality monitoring results for 2024, progress against the Air Quality Action Plan, and updates to the plan. The report indicated continued improvement in air quality across Southwark for most measured pollutants, with all monitoring locations meeting the annual mean nitrogen dioxide objective for the first time. The report also highlighted that Southwark does not meet the revised WHO guideline for PM2.5. Actions set out in the Air Quality Action Plan contribute to the council's climate emergency commitments, delivering co-benefits for public health, environmental protection, and carbon reduction.

Healthy Communities Progress Update

This update focused on the Healthy Communities theme of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy action plan 2025-27. This theme aims to build resilient communities by supporting the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and creating healthy places, environments, and homes that promote wellbeing and social connection. The Board's priority aim for Healthy Communities is to Ensure Southwark residents have access to good quality homes, streets and environments that promote good health and wellbeing. The report detailed progress on various actions, including developing an anti-poverty plan, launching a five ways to wellbeing campaign, supporting VCS organisations promoting good mental health, establishing an approach for identifying and tracking localised funding opportunities for VCS organisations, building skills in community research, developing Trust and Health Creation Partnerships, strengthening air quality monitoring, developing community engagement programmes for the Air Quality Action Plan, delivering behaviour change campaigns on damp and mould, adopting a data-driven approach to prioritise damp and mould interventions, establishing co-located housing and health support sites, and ensuring the revised Local Plan addresses health inequalities.

Preventing Suicides in Southwark 2023-2028: Progress Update

This report provided an update on the progress made against the action plan of the Preventing Suicides in Southwark Strategy 2023-2028. The strategy outlines five priority areas: reducing risk in high-risk groups, preventing suicide in high-risk locations, supporting children and young people, monitoring data, and supporting sensitive media reporting. The report indicated that most actions are complete or on track, with key successes including the launch of a Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention Training Programme, the operationalisation of the Southeast London Suicide Bereavement Service, and the launch of a Mental Health Self-Harm Pilot for young people. Some actions have experienced delays or have been closed after consideration due to financial or superseded priorities. The Board was asked to acknowledge the progress made, provide comments on next steps, and agree to receive the next progress update in approximately 18 months.

Southwark Council Neighbourhoods Programme Update

This supplemental agenda item provided an update on the Council's Neighbourhoods Programme, aiming to strengthen how the council works with communities, empower residents, and better join up services at a local level. The programme aims to strengthen community voice, join up council services with community-led activity, work at a scale that reflects local identity and need, and simplify access to funding and support. Each neighbourhood is developing a community plan shaped through resident engagement and aligning with borough-wide priorities. A new single neighbourhood grants application has been introduced, and funding decisions will be taken through neighbourhood community meetings. The report also highlighted the appointment of five Neighbourhoods Champions and the replacement of multi-ward forums with neighbourhood community meetings. The Board was asked to note the update, discuss opportunities to align neighbourhood working with NHS neighbourhood health plans, and provide feedback on how neighbourhood approaches can best support improved health and wellbeing outcomes.

Southwark Health & Wellbeing Board – Vision and Priorities

This item provided an overview of the Board's vision and priorities, which are set out within the Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy. The vision is that people in all our communities can live healthier and longer lives by reducing health inequalities. The Board focuses on four aims within themed areas of the strategy. The Board also has statutory duties including overseeing the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, Joint Local Health & Wellbeing Strategy, Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, and the Better Care Fund and Health & Care Integration. In addition, the Board receives updates on the Local Health & Care Plan, NHS Joint Forward Plan, Annual Public Health Report, Annual Health Protection Report, Healthwatch Annual Report, Suicide prevention strategy, and the Air Quality Annual Status Report.

Health and Wellbeing Board Action Log

The Board was presented with an action log to review actions and provide updates. This log tracks actions raised, their status, lead officers, and update dates. Key actions included those related to the Healthy Work & Lives progress update, the Impact on Urban Health Financial Shield project, and the Neighbourhood planning update.

Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting held on 11 December 2025

The Board was asked to agree the open minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 December 2025 as a correct record. The minutes covered items such as welcome and introductions, apologies, confirmation of voting members, notification of urgent business, disclosure of interests, public questions, and the action log. Key discussions from the previous meeting included updates on 'Healthy work and lives', the 'Financial Shield Project', the 'SC1 London Life Sciences Innovation District', 'Neighbourhood planning', and the 'Health Protection Annual Report'.