The Health and Wellbeing Board of Stockport Council met on Wednesday 1 October 2025 to discuss the Better Care Fund (BCF) Monitoring Report for Quarter 1 of the 2025-26 financial year, the proposed plan for the Stockport Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for 2025/26, and the Stockport Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for 2025. The Board approved the BCF Q1 Reporting Template and noted the financial performance, considered and commented on the JSNA proposals, and approved the PNA for publication.

Better Care Fund Monitoring Report Q1 2025-26

The Board considered the Better Care Fund (BCF) Monitoring Report for Quarter 1 of the 2025-26 financial year, presented by Paul Graham, Strategic Financial Advisor for Adult Social Care and Health. The report detailed the BCF Q1 template submission and provided an update on the overall financial performance as of 30 June 2025.

The BCF's overarching objectives for 2025/26 are to support the shift from sickness to prevention and to enable people to live independently, facilitating a move from hospital to home-based care. National conditions for the BCF were confirmed as being met.

Financially, the actual spend for the period was £10.784 million, representing an underspend of £764,000 against the planned expenditure of £11.548 million. The forecast outturn expenditure is £45.273 million against an annual plan of £46.182 million, resulting in a forecast underspend of £909,000. This underspend is largely attributed to a reduction in the commissioning of unmet need beds within the Discharge to Assess (D2A) pathway, reflecting a conscious effort to support more individuals in their own homes with enhanced home care services. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), while showing an underspend to date, is expected to be fully committed within the financial year due to increasing demand and costs for adaptations.

The Board was asked to approve the BCF 2025-26 Q1 Reporting Template and note the financial performance. Councillor Wendy Meikle commented positively on the underspend, noting the benefit of keeping people in their own homes. Councillor Grenville Page raised questions about potential collaboration with housing associations regarding adaptations and the future of the BCF in supporting the shift towards community-based and preventative services. Philippa Johnson, Deputy Place Base Lead for Stockport Locality, NHS GM ICB, and Sarah Dillon, Director of Adult Social Care, provided further detail on ongoing work with housing providers, the development of extra care housing, and the virtual house initiative. They also highlighted the significant progress made in reducing pathway two discharges to pathway one (home).

The Board formally approved the BCF 2025-26 Q1 Reporting Template and noted the financial performance.

Stockport Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) 2025/26 Plan

Gilla Burgess-Allen, Director of Public Health, presented the report on the Stockport Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) 2025/26 Plan. The report provided an overview of JSNA activity in 2024/25 and outlined the proposed work plan for the forthcoming year. JSNAs are a statutory duty, providing an evidence base for commissioning health and care services to improve population health and reduce inequalities.

In 2024/25, completed JSNAs included those on Specialist and Supported Housing, Mortality Review, and Frailty and Falls. The Mortality Review highlighted a slowed improvement in life expectancy and persistent health inequalities. The Frailty and Falls JSNA indicated a falls rate significantly higher than the national average. The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment was also completed and presented as a separate agenda item.

For 2025/26, the proposed JSNA work plan includes a focus on inequalities (delayed from the previous year pending the publication of the Index of Multiple Deprivation), adolescent health and wellbeing, long-term conditions, vulnerable and excluded groups, and learning disability. A review of the JSNA process itself, learning from Manchester's methodology, is also planned to improve effectiveness and impact.

Councillor Dan Oliver highlighted the terrifying stark difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas of Stockport, emphasizing the need for this data to inform anti-poverty and equalities work. He also expressed keen interest in the proposed JSNA on adolescent health and wellbeing, noting its relevance to the Youth Advisory Board. Councillor Grenville Page inquired about plans regarding Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), particularly in relation to multi-academy trusts. Gilla Burgess-Allen confirmed that the SEND JSNA is part of the work programme and that discussions are ongoing to potentially bring forward its timeframe.

The Board considered and commented on the proposals for the 2025/26 JSNA and approved the priorities for the work programme for the year.

Stockport Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025

Gilla Burgess-Allen also presented the Stockport Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025. This is a statutory requirement, due for publication by 31 October 2025, and assesses the provision of pharmaceutical services to determine if it meets the population's needs and identifies any gaps. The PNA will be used by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB) in its approval process for new pharmacy applications.

The key findings of the PNA indicate that Stockport has sufficient service provision to meet essential pharmaceutical needs. There are 59 community pharmacies, 3 internet pharmacies, and 1 dispensing appliance contractor. Over 92% of the population have access to a pharmacy within 1km of their home, and 96% have access to three or more pharmacies within 2km, ensuring choice. Essential services are deemed adequate across the borough, with excellent provision during normal weekday hours and good provision on Saturdays.

While overall out-of-hours provision is considered adequate, opportunities for improvement in access have been identified in three specific areas during weekday evenings: Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme (18:30-20:00), Marple (18:00-20:00), and Stepping Hill (18:30-20:00). However, as sufficient provision is accessible by public transport from these areas, these are not classified as gaps in provision but as opportunities to improve access.

Sue Carroll, Chair of Healthwatch Stockport, shared positive anecdotal evidence of the excellent service provided by local pharmacies. Dr. Simon Woodworth, a GP, highlighted the frustration of limited pharmacy availability during out-of-hours periods, particularly in the Stepping Hill area. Councillor Dan Oliver and Councillor Wendy Meikle also spoke about the importance of pharmacies and the need for extended hours, especially in light of current economic conditions.

The Board reviewed the findings and formally approved the Stockport Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025 for publication.

Forward Plan for Health & Wellbeing Boards

Caleb Harris, Clerk for the meeting from Democratic Services, presented the Forward Plan for future Health & Wellbeing Board meetings. The Board was asked to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings, and to approve the Forward Plan as presented.

During the discussion on the forward plan, several members raised points about the effectiveness and frequency of board meetings, the duration of contracts with the voluntary and community sector, and the potential for merging the Health and Wellbeing Board with the Health and Care Locality Board. Concerns were also raised about the number of items scheduled for meetings and the potential for duplication of reports presented to multiple boards. The Chair acknowledged these points and thanked members for their valuable contributions.

The Board was asked to approve the Forward Plan, with discussions indicating that items not covered in this meeting would be rescheduled.