Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 30, 2025

Purpose:

Content:  The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health and Communities, which sought approval to accept and allocate £780,000 grant funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to support the implementation of GM Live Well Programme in the Rochdale Borough.   The Head of Planning and Improvement (Public Health) was in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   The Officer informed that Live Well was a cornerstone of the Greater Manchester 10-year Growth and Prevention Delivery Plan and the Greater Manchester Strategy, aimed at reducing health, social and economic inequalities across Greater Manchester.   Live Well was also the vehicle by which the Council would deliver the Prevention Demonstrator, highlighted in the NHS 10 Year Plan. The Prevention Demonstrator would aim to reduce higher level, complex demand and fully enable the shift to prevention.   In Rochdale, the Neighbourhood Programme and Cooperative Communities model was the way in which the Council was delivering Live Well, overseen by the Neighbourhood Programme Group, chaired by the Local Authority Chief Executive, and with representation including political leadership and Council Officers and representatives of the NHS, GMP and VCSFE sector.   To support the local roll-out of the Live Well Programme, GMCA and the NHS was  providing localities with a share of the combined £10 million Live Well Implementation Support Fund.   The Implementation Fund had been allocated per % of overall GM population in each locality as agreed with each GM Chief Executive. Rochdale Borough’s allocation was £780,000 for 2025/26.   The grant conditions stated that a minimum of 50% of the grant should go directly to the Voluntary, Community, Social and Faith Based Enterprises Sector (VCSFE).   A spend plan for the Implementation Fund had been developed and agreed by the Neighbourhood Programme Group. This could be found in Appendix 1 to the report.   Resolved: 1.     That it be agreed to accept the Live Well Implementation Support Fund (LWISF) 2025-26 and to allocate funding as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report; 2.     That authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health and Communities in consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal, Governance and Coroners and the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, to spend the LWISF as per plan outlined in Appendix 1 to the report and to enter into relevant agreements; 3.     That the modification of existing contracts (where applicable) as detailed in this report be approved to enable the delivery of functions funded via the LWISF 2025/26; 4.     That authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health and Communities to vire budget between allocated areas within the spend plan to ensure most effective spend and delivery; 5.     That it be agreed that any in year underspend be transferred to the Public Health Reserve as per the Reserve Policy. This reserve would contribute to the ongoing costs of delivering against the spend plan in accordance with the LWISF grant conditions.   Reason for decision: The proposed recommendation enabled the Council to receive much needed additional grant funding to support the successful implementation of the Live Well programme in the Borough. Live Well was a high-profile programme supported by the Mayor of Greater Manchester and all ten local authorities.   The proposed spend plan ensured compliance with the conditions set out in the funding grant agreement, including the requirement to invest a minimum of 50% of the grant with the VCSFE sector.   Alternatives considered and rejected: Alternatives had been considered when developing the spend plan for the grant. The spend plan proposed was deemed the most effective way to successfully implement the Live Well programme in Rochdale Borough and comply with the grant conditions.