The Health and Wellbeing Board of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 16 July 2026 to discuss the end-of-year report for the Better Care Fund, progress on neighbourhood health initiatives, and updates from the Integrated Care Board. The meeting also included discussions on health provision for Armed Forces families and proposals to strengthen the Board's governance.

Better Care Fund End of Year Report 2025/26

The Board was scheduled to receive a report summarising Wiltshire's Better Care Fund (BCF) end-of-year return for 2025/26. This report was intended to highlight the overall position on compliance, performance, finance, and governance, and to identify key issues for oversight and future priorities. The report indicated that Wiltshire's BCF position was generally positive, with all four national conditions reported as achieved. Impact statements on integration and service delivery were also marked positively, and financial performance was broadly aligned to the plan. However, performance was mixed across key metrics, with stronger results on emergency admissions compared to discharge and residential admissions. The report recommended that the Board endorse the contents of the BCF End of Year Report and note that the Chair had approved its submission.

Neighbourhood Health Progress Update

A report was scheduled to provide an update on the Wiltshire neighbourhood health programme. Since the Board's approval of neighbourhood footprints in May 2026, the Neighbourhood Health Enabling and Mobilisation Programme had moved into procurement, and a workshop series was continuing. The Wiltshire Locality Planning Group was being established to take forward Stage 2 plan development. The update was expected to cover a revised timetable for the Stage 2 plan, with the initial plan now targeted for the end of 2026. It was also to address emerging refinements to footprint configurations in north and south Wiltshire and the ongoing development of the Wiltshire Place Board, including how neighbourhood health governance would be considered.

Integrated Care Board (ICB)/Integrated Care Alliance (ICA) Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the Wiltshire Integrated Care Alliance (ICA) End of Year Report for 2025/26 priorities. This report was expected to demonstrate increasing maturity in partnership working, with a strong emphasis on prevention, neighbourhood health, and reducing inequalities. The update was also to cover developments in Cluster ICB arrangements and emerging priorities, as well as notes on developing proposals for Wiltshire Place Board governance. The ICA priorities for 2025/26 included Children's Emotional Health and Wellbeing, Children's Oral Health, and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.

Armed Forces Health Update

This agenda item was planned to provide an update on progress following the publication of a Healthwatch Wiltshire report on the health needs and experiences of Armed Forces families in Wiltshire. Since the report's release, recommendations had been taken forward collaboratively, including the establishment of two working groups and the development of a localised platform called Belong in Wiltshire . This project had reportedly received national recognition and contributed to a successful regional bid to scale up activity. The update was intended to seek the Board's views on refreshing and expanding the Armed Forces Covenant Duty, including whether Wiltshire Council and health partners should collaborate on an updated checklist.

Strengthening Governance, Membership Engagement and Statutory Delivery for Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Board

A report was scheduled to outline options for strengthening the Health and Wellbeing Board's governance, membership engagement, and system leadership. This was in response to a maturity assessment that indicated Wiltshire had mature partnership arrangements but required clearer ownership of the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy, stronger accountability for neighbourhood outcomes, and more explicit leadership on the wider determinants of health. The Board was asked to consider how it wished to reposition itself as the authoritative place-based forum for population and neighbourhood health, ensuring a clear link from needs assessment to delivery and impact at neighbourhood level. The report recommended adopting a strengthened governance and accountability model, which would involve revised Terms of Reference and a System Governance Framework.

Roundtable Update

The Board was scheduled to undertake a discussion on issues relating to health and wellbeing that were impacting member organisations.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was to be confirmed.