The Kent Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 23 July 2026 to discuss significant changes to its terms of reference and membership, and to endorse the development of the Kent Neighbourhood Health Plan. The Board also received an update on the Marmot Coastal Region initiative, aimed at reducing health inequalities in coastal communities.

Revised Terms of Reference and Membership for the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board

The Board discussed and endorsed proposed changes to its Terms of Reference (ToR) and membership, reflecting its evolving leadership role in health and wellbeing across Kent. These changes aim to make the Board a more effective strategic partnership, moving away from its previous passive and transactional nature. Key proposed changes include a revised role statement, updated statutory duties, and a significant expansion of membership to ensure broader representation and expertise.

The revised ToR will see the Board take a central leadership role in developing and overseeing the Kent Neighbourhood Health Plan and Better Care Fund arrangements. New priorities for the Board were identified, including mental health, the Marmot Coastal Region initiative, Neighbourhood Health, and the Better Care Fund.

Membership changes aim to reflect the strategic importance of wider determinants of health and local place-based approaches. New members will include representatives from NHS Provider Trusts, Kent's general practitioners, the VCSE Alliance, Health Alliances, and Chief Executives from Kent's district and borough councils. The Board will also include three elected members representing Kent District/Borough/City Councils.

The proposed changes were endorsed by the Board, with the understanding that they will be subject to further consideration by the Selection and Member Services Committee before formal approval by Full Council. Several amendments were discussed, including a proposal to increase the number of elected district/borough/city council representatives from three to four to ensure representation from each new local authority area post-Local Government Reform (LGR). Concerns were also raised about the clarity of voting procedures and the need to ensure that the Board's votes do not override the statutory authority of individual organisations. A specific suggestion was made to include a focus on combat veteran mental health within the Board's priorities.

Development of the Kent Neighbourhood Health Plan

The Board discussed the development of the Kent Neighbourhood Health Plan, which is a key element of the Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) Neighbourhood Health Framework. The plan, due for implementation in April 2027, aims to improve health and prevent hospital admissions by shifting focus towards prevention, community-based care, and digital services.

The plan will outline how NHS objectives will be met through three reform agendas: improved access to routine services, proactive care, and alternatives to hospital admission. It will also describe how Neighbourhood Health will support local goals around inequalities and health outcomes, linking to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and confirming geographies and organisational responsibilities. The plan will need to incorporate input from various local initiatives, including family hubs, housing, VCSE organisations, and employment support.

Concerns were raised about the ambitious timeline for developing and implementing the plan, particularly given the ongoing Local Government Reform (LGR) and the Board's own revised terms of reference not being finalised until September. Dr Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health, reassured members that established governance structures and existing workstreams would ensure progress, and that the Board could convene extraordinary meetings if necessary. Helen Woodland, Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Health, highlighted the importance of including non-statutory factors such as debt and housing in the plan, as these significantly impact people's health long before they interact with statutory services. Councillor Hannah Perkin raised concerns about the changing health needs of the population, particularly regarding mental health, the cost of living crisis, and digital isolation, suggesting these needed greater emphasis within the plan.

The Board commented on and agreed the outlined approach to the development of the Kent Neighbourhood Health Plan.

Update on the Kent Marmot Coastal Region

The Board received an update on the Kent Marmot Coastal Region initiative, a long-term project aimed at reducing health inequalities in Kent's coastal communities. The initiative is based on the Marmot Approach, which addresses the social determinants of health. The report highlighted evidence of poorer health outcomes in coastal areas, often referred to as a 'coastal excess'.

The Kent Marmot Coastal Region focuses on three key principles: enabling young people and adults to maximise their capabilities, creating fair employment and good work, and ensuring a healthy standard of living. The initiative has a three-tiered approach: long-term culture change, system alignment around work and pathways into work, and the Marmot Accelerator Programme, which supports local projects to help people into work and training.

Kent County Council has made three pledges to be delivered by April 2028: to support 200 young people into education and employment who would otherwise be Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET); to help 150 people on probation into education and employment; and to support 100 people with additional disadvantages (such as care leavers and those with mental ill health) into work.

Councillor Perkins praised the report for including tangible projects and expressed enthusiasm for the Marmot Accelerator Programme, particularly the initiative on the Isle of Sheppey. She also raised the issue of tackling racism within communities, suggesting that the Marmot programme could play a more proactive role in this area.

The Board noted the key components of the Kent Marmot Coastal Region and discussed how to support the initiative.

Other Matters Discussed

The Board also noted the Director of Public Health's verbal update, which included information on extreme weather preparedness, the rollout of the meningitis B vaccination programme for eligible students, and the national lead for the neighbourhood health model, Claire Fuller's, visit to Kent and Medway. Questions were raised regarding the NHS's future resilience to climate change and extreme weather. The Board also noted the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 March 2026.