The Isles of Scilly Council scheduled a meeting on 20 May 2025, which included electing a chairman and vice-chairman, considering reports from committees, and reviewing and appointing members to various internal and external bodies. A key focus was the Council's engagement with health and wellbeing initiatives, alongside a review of standing orders and constitutional matters. The meeting also addressed trustee appointments to the Isles of Scilly Charitable Trust.

Health and Wellbeing Board and Integrated Care Partnership

The council was scheduled to consider the terms of reference for both the Council of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board and the Cornwall Health and Wellbeing Board, as well as the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership (CIOSICP). The Monitoring Officer, Lia Musto-Shinton, was scheduled to present a report which recommended amendments to the quoracy of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board, suggesting it include one elected member, two other members, and one of the officers listed in the terms.

The report also recommended that either the Lead Member for Children, currently Councillor Mrs Fran Grottick, or the Lead Member for Adults & Public Health, currently Councillor Mrs Avril Mumford, be the Chair of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board. The report pack stated that the Governance Committee had already considered these points at their meeting on 29 April 2025, where they were content to recommend the changes to the Full Council.

The report pack noted that the Joint Health and Wellbeing Board (JHWBB) had provided the strategic vision for healthcare in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly since 1 January 2022. However, it also acknowledged concerns that local health issues specific to the Isles of Scilly were sometimes overshadowed by Cornwall-centric work. As a result, the report pack stated that a disaggregation of the board was proposed, reverting to two separate Health and Wellbeing Boards, one for Cornwall Council and one for the Council of the Isles of Scilly.

The report pack stated that the new arrangement of two council HWBBs and one ICP would still need to ensure that each fulfils its statutory duties and roles, but as stated above, they are complimentary and interconnected. The 5-year joint forward plan (produced by the ICB and NHS trusts and foundation trusts) should be used as a mechanism for delivering the Integrated Care Strategy, along with the Councils’ own plans across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The report pack also noted that the proposals were considered at Cornwall Council’s Constitution and Governance Committee on 6 March 2025 and approved by its Full Council on 15 April 2025.

Review of Standing Orders and Constitutional Overview

The council was scheduled to review its standing orders and constitutional overview. The Monitoring Officer, Lia Musto-Shinton, and Senior Officer: Licensing/Member Liaison, Andrew Thomas, were scheduled to present a report that recommended changes to the council's standing orders.

The report pack stated that the procedural standing orders, the Terms of Reference for Council and its Committees, the Lead Member Role Profiles and the Members’ Scheme of Allowances were reviewed and amendments suggested, whereas the other constitutional documents would be reviewed throughout the coming 12–18 months.

The report pack also detailed specific changes, including:

• Changing the time limit to receive a Motion in writing from 7 clear working days before the meeting to 9 clear working days.
• Changing the time limit to receive a public question from 48 hours before the meeting to two clear working days.
• Making clear that the new Health and Wellbeing Board will have its Chairman appointed by Full Council by approval of its Terms of Reference.
• Providing greater flexibility for adjournment of a meeting where quorum is a difficulty.
• Providing the Monitoring Officer with the ability to amend Standing Orders in specified circumstances.
• Providing clarity on the process when a Member declares an interest at a meeting.

The report pack also proposed combining all of the listed documents contained at paragraph 6 of the report into a single document called the Standing Orders of the Isles of Scilly.

Appointment of Committees and Other Forums

The council was scheduled to appoint members to various committees and other forums for the year 2025/26. The report pack listed the following committees for appointment:

• Licensing Committee
• Governance Committee
• Scrutiny Committee
• Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority (IFCA)
• Health and Wellbeing Board
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership
• Climate Emergency Working Group
• Communications Working Group

The report pack also noted that there were some external appointments which are de-facto appointments that arise by a Member or officer holding a particular position, and that Full Council were asked to ratify these appointments for completeness.

Trustee Appointments to the Isles of Scilly Charitable Trust

The council was scheduled to appoint two nominative trustees for a four-year term to the Isles of Scilly Charitable Trust (IOSCT). The vacancies were scheduled to occur on 20 May 2025 due to the expiry of the current four-year terms of Councillor Mrs Fran Grottick and Councillor Joel Williams.

The report pack stated that the IOSCT is an independent charitable trust (registered charity number 207551) formed in July 2022 by the merger of the Edward McDonald Fund and the Pilots Widows Fund. The charitable purposes of the IOSCT are drawn in extremely broad terms, with general funds applied 'for such charitable institutions, organisations or purposes within the Isles of Scilly as the trustees think fit'. The former assets of the Pilots Widows Fund are ring-fenced for charitable purposes associated with maritime endeavours on the islands.

The report pack also noted that the workings of the charity are governed by a Charity Commission scheme of 15 Feb 1974 as amended by trustee resolution on 5 Jul 2022, and that the body of trustees consists of four nominative trustees appointed for four-year terms by the Council of the Isles of Scilly, two ex-officio trustees, being the Chaplain to the Isles of Scilly and the Methodist minister, and one full co-opted trustee appointed for a four-year term by the other trustees.

External Appointments

The council was scheduled to make appointments to a number of external bodies, including:

• Isles of Scilly Area of Natural Beauty Partnership
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership
• SW Regional Flood & Coastline Committee
• Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Panel
• Medical Travel Transport Group
• Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Workforce and Skills Board
• Economic Prosperity Board Advisory Panel
• Cultural Centre & Museum Project Board

The report pack also noted that there were some external appointments which are de-facto appointments that arise by a Member or officer holding a particular position, and that Full Council were asked to ratify these appointments for completeness.