The Health & Wellbeing Board meeting on 5 March 2025 was scheduled to review updates on the Better Care Fund, the State of the Borough, and progress on the Stockport Live Well initiative and the Active Communities Strategy. The Board was also due to consider future meeting dates and the forward plan for upcoming agendas.

Better Care Fund Q3 Update

A joint report from the Director for Finance and the Stockport Place Finance Lead provided an update on the Better Care Fund (BCF) for the third quarter of the 2024-25 financial year. The report detailed the BCF Q3 template submitted to the national BCF Team and the overall financial performance of the fund as of 31 December 2024. The Board was to consider the submitted Q3 Reporting Template and the financial performance.

The Better Care Fund is a national initiative aimed at integrating health and social care services to help people remain independent at home for longer and ensure they receive the right care in the right place at the right time. The Q3 update indicated that Stockport was on track to meet its BCF targets, with positive performance in hospital admissions and discharges. Financially, the report showed a slight underspend against the planned expenditure for the period.

State of the Borough

A presentation from the Director of Corporate and Support Services was scheduled to provide an update on the emerging State of the Borough report. This report aims to offer an overview of progress against the One Stockport: One Future ambitions and to highlight matters relating to health and wellbeing. The Board was to note the presentation.

The State of the Borough report is intended to identify areas for change, shape priorities, and provide information for partners. It tracks key measures for One Stockport: One Future and collates neighbourhood information. Emerging trends highlighted in the report included an ageing and more diverse population, improving health outcomes for children but persistent obesity rates, and high inequality in life expectancy. The report also noted an increase in demand for adult and children's services, alongside a positive trend in economic activity and business survival rates.

Neighbourhoods & Prevention Update: Stockport Live Well

This report, from the Director for Corporate and Support Services, provided an update on Stockport Live Well, the council's approach to neighbourhoods and prevention. It detailed progress made since January 2024, outlining steps for key elements to become operational and for practices to be integrated. The report also set out the next steps and key areas of focus for the coming year.

Stockport Live Well is designed to address inequalities by focusing on the strengths and needs of different neighbourhoods. It aims to make it easier for residents to access early help and support through integrated health and care services, community spaces, and a focus on prevention. The programme is driven by principles of working together, understanding communities, and putting people at the heart of services. It is structured around four pillars: Collaborative Health and Care, Connected Communities, Thriving Places, and One Neighbourhood Approach.

Active Communities Strategy

The Director for Public Health presented a report on the progress, challenges, and outcomes of the ONE Stockport Active Communities Strategy, branded as Stockport Moving Together. This strategy, launched in the summer of 2022, aims to encourage residents to be more active and to reap the associated health, social, and environmental benefits.

The strategy adopts a community-led, whole-systems methodology aligned with national, Greater Manchester, and local priorities. It highlights the significant health and economic benefits of physical activity, noting that investing in community sport and physical activity can generate substantial economic value. Despite this, a considerable number of children and adults in Stockport do not meet recommended physical activity levels. The report outlined the strategy's six priorities, which include promoting a supportive environment, reviewing the built and natural environment, partnering with various organisations, supporting community groups, developing community-based interventions, and ensuring programmes are tailored to individual needs. The Board was to comment on the progress, acknowledge challenges, note future opportunities, and consider the continuation of the whole-systems methodology.

Future Meetings and Forward Plan

The Board was presented with proposed meeting dates for the Health & Wellbeing Board for the 2025/26 period. These included dates in June 2025, October 2025, January 2026, and March 2026. The Board was to consider these dates.

Additionally, a report from the Assistant Director for Governance provided the Forward Plan of agenda items for future Health & Wellbeing Board meetings. The Board was invited to consider this information and suggest any additional items for future agendas.