The Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday 28 July 2026 to discuss proposals for the Board's terms of reference and governance, alongside updates on the development of Neighbourhood Health across Lincolnshire. The meeting also included discussions on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy annual assurance report and the Lincolnshire Better Care Fund.

Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference and Neighbourhood Health Governance Proposals

The Board was scheduled to consider proposed changes to its terms of reference and core membership, with a view to recommending these to Full Council for approval. These changes aim to reflect evolving Integrated Care Board arrangements and the transition to cluster-based working. The Board was also asked to approve associate membership arrangements for the upcoming year and to agree governance structures for Neighbourhood Health, including the establishment of a Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Partnership (LHWP) to oversee the implementation of the Neighbourhood Health Plan. The report highlighted that the Health Bill, if passed, would see Health and Wellbeing Boards taking on responsibility for developing Neighbourhood Health Plans, replacing the current requirement to publish a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Neighbourhood Health – Update on Progress in Lincolnshire

This item was scheduled to provide an overview of the national Neighbourhood Health Policy Framework and outline the local steps being taken to meet its requirements. The report indicated that Lincolnshire partners had been working collaboratively to develop a locally appropriate neighbourhood model, including the establishment of a Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Health and Care Board. The Board was asked to agree the Vision and Design Principles for Neighbourhood Health in Lincolnshire, which included principles such as Neighbourhoods as Meaningful Units of Organising and Accessing Services, Vibrant Communities are Critical, and Pragmatism and Simplicity. The report detailed progress in areas such as urgent and community care, admission avoidance, and digital innovation, with a focus on scaling neighbourhood working and strengthening partnerships.

Neighbourhood Health Centres

The Board was scheduled to receive a report on the development of Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs) as part of the Government's 10-Year Health Plan. NHCs are intended to be community estate resources, either through refurbishment or new builds, serving as focal points for Neighbourhood Health model delivery. The report indicated that NHS Lincolnshire ICB had submitted a draft list of potential NHC schemes to NHS England for review and was awaiting feedback. The Board was asked to note the contents of this report.

Neighbourhood Health Plan – Requirements and Timescales

This report outlined the proposed approach to developing a Neighbourhood Health Plan for Lincolnshire, which would become the Board's responsibility subject to the Health Bill receiving Royal Assent. The plan is required to set out a shared vision and priorities for improving population health and reducing health inequalities at a neighbourhood level, reflecting local needs and community engagement. The Board was asked to agree the high-level approach and outline timeline for developing the plan, which was projected to take 14-15 months, with a finalised plan expected by the latter half of 2027.

Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Annual Assurance Report 2025/26

This report provided the annual assurance updates for each of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy's five priority areas: Carers, Healthy Weight, Homes for Independence, Mental Health and Dementia, and Physical Activity. Each priority area's report included an update on planned activities for 2025/26, what worked well, outcomes achieved, and delivery plans for 2026/27. The Board was asked to note and comment on the information provided and to approve the Priority Delivery Plans for 2026/27.

Lincolnshire Better Care Fund

The Board was asked to retrospectively approve the 2026-2027 Lincolnshire Better Care Fund (BCF) plan. The report indicated that the plan had continued with minimal changes from the previous year, focusing on aligning with neighbourhood health and supporting integrated delivery in key areas such as discharge, intermediate care, rehabilitation, and reablement. The report detailed the narrative, metrics, and income and expenditure for the BCF plan, and highlighted an additional metric to be monitored regarding the proportion of people aged 65 and over discharged into reablement who remained in the community after 12 weeks.

Log of Previous Decisions

The Board was scheduled to note the log of previous decisions made at meetings held on 11 June 2024, 1 October 2024, 10 December 2025, and 10 March 2026.

Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board Forward Plan

The Board was scheduled to note the Forward Plan for the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board, covering the period from 28 July 2026 to 3 February 2027. This plan outlined future agenda items and discussions anticipated for upcoming meetings.