The Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on developing the Board's purpose and working principles, the role of residents in neighbourhood health, and the development of a Neighbourhood Health Programme for Tower Hamlets.

Developing the Health and Wellbeing Board's Purpose and Working Principles

A significant portion of the meeting is scheduled to focus on the development of the Health and Wellbeing Board itself. Following a previous session on 15 June 2026, the Board is expected to discuss and agree on a clearer shared purpose, outlining its distinctive value and the outcomes it aims to achieve. This includes defining its role as a strategic forum for oversight, influence, collaboration, and constructive challenge, aiming to embed health considerations across all council policies.

The Board is also set to consider a concise set of working principles designed to guide its operations. These principles are intended to address issues identified in a previous bad Board exercise, such as overloaded agendas, jargon, and siloed working. The aim is to foster focused discussions, openness to different perspectives, constructive accountability, and clear ownership of decisions and actions. The Board will be asked to agree on principles that will shape agenda-setting, paper content, chairing, member conduct, and the tracking of actions.

Furthermore, the meeting is scheduled to review a contributions map which aims to identify the expertise, influence, and decision-making authority that each member brings to the Board. This will help to highlight any gaps in representation, particularly concerning community and resident voices, and explore how these can be better integrated. Practical support needs for members will also be discussed, focusing on clarity of roles, accessible information, and meeting arrangements that facilitate full participation. The Board will be asked to agree on a package of practical changes, including a clear role description for members, standards for papers, and improvements to minutes and action tracking.

Community Voice and Neighbourhood Health

The role of residents in neighbourhood health is a key item on the agenda. The Board is scheduled to discuss Community Voice item: The Role of Residents in Neighbourhood Health . This discussion is expected to explore how community insight can be meaningfully incorporated into the Board's work and decision-making processes.

Following this, the Board will engage in a development session focused on Developing Our Neighbourhood Health Programme in Tower Hamlets . This session is intended to allow the Board to shape and take collective ownership of the borough's Neighbourhood Health Strategy. The discussion is expected to cover the national and regional context, alignment with the Council's neighbourhood plans and One Stop Shops¹, the role of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams², and the voluntary sector. A significant focus will be placed on resident engagement and learning from local progress to date. The Board will be asked to endorse a proposed direction of travel for developing an inclusive, partnership-led strategy, with a final version anticipated for approval by April 2027.