The Bury Council Locality Board met to discuss a range of issues, including the financial position of the council and its partners, updates on key programmes, and the approval of a new SEND strategy.

Financial Performance and Budget Approvals

The board was scheduled to discuss the financial positions of Bury Council, NHS Greater Manchester, the Northern Care Alliance, and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. Bury Council reportedly forecasted an overspend of £4.15m for quarter 1, with the intention to mitigate this through increased savings or use of reserves. NHS GM reported a £9.7m adverse unplanned variance, driven by pressures in NHS providers. The Bury locality budgets were reportedly £2.9m overspent, forecasting a £2.5m overspend at year end.

The board was asked to approve the 2025/26 operating cost budget of £3.76m and give delegated authority to the Place Based Lead to agree these on behalf of the board.

Strategic and Partnership Updates

The agenda included several items focused on strategic updates and partnership working:

• North Manchester Redevelopment: Sophie Hargreaves, Chief Officer, Manchester Foundation Trust, was scheduled to provide an update on the North Manchester Redevelopment project.
• VCFE - Creative Living Centre: Lorna Wilson was scheduled to lead a discussion on the Creative Living Centre, a mental health and wellbeing charity in Prestwich.
• Integrated Delivery Collaborative Update: Clare Postlethwaite was scheduled to present an update on the Integrated Delivery Collaborative, and the board was asked to approve the update.
• Integrated Delivery Board Update: Kath Wynne Jones, Chief Officer, Bury Integrated Delivery Collaborative, was scheduled to provide an update on the Integrated Delivery Board.
• Performance Report: Kath Wynne Jones was also scheduled to present a performance report.
• Risk Report: Catherine Jackson, Associate Director of Nursing, Quality & Safeguarding Northern Care Alliance, was scheduled to present a risk report.
• Population Health and Wellbeing Update: Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health, was scheduled to provide an update on population health and wellbeing.
• Clinical and Professional Senate Update: Kiran Patel was scheduled to provide an update on the Clinical and Professional Senate.
• SEND Improvement and Assurance Board Minutes: Will Blandamer, Deputy Place Based Lead & Executive Director Health and Adult Care, was scheduled to present the minutes from the SEND Improvement and Assurance Board.

Service Delivery and Planning

Several agenda items focused on specific service areas and planning initiatives:

• PSR/Live Well: Will Blandamer and Chris Woodhouse were scheduled to discuss the Personal Support Record (PSR) and Live Well services.
• Clinical Led Model: Lorna Allan was scheduled to provide a verbal discussion on the Clinical Led Model.
• Mental Health Gap Analysis: Will Blandamer was scheduled to lead a discussion on a mental health gap analysis.
• Urgent Care: Jo Fawcus and Kiran Patel were scheduled to provide an update on urgent care, including a review of the urgent care plan by David Latham, a review of the Hospital at Home service by Katy Alcock, and winter planning by David Latham and Lindsey Darley.
• Strategic Finance Group: Simon O'Hare, Locality Finance Lead Director of Finance/Section 151 Officer, was scheduled to lead a discussion on the Strategic Finance Group, and the board was asked to approve the update.
• Locality Estates Development Update: Clare Postlethwaite was scheduled to present an update on locality estates development, and the board was asked to approve the update.

Declarations of Interest

The board was asked to receive the latest Declarations of Interest Register, consider whether there were any interests that may impact on the business to be transacted at the meeting, and provide any further updates to existing Declarations of Interest within the Register. The register included declarations of interest from Councillor Eamonn O'Brien, Leader of the Council, Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet Member Adult Care, Health and Public Service Reform, Councillor Lucy Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, and other members of the board.

Approval of Previous Minutes

The board was asked to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1st September 2025 as an accurate record, and provide an update on the action listed in the log.

The minutes from the 1st September meeting, included in the report pack, provided a summary of the discussions and decisions made at that time. Key items included:

• Place Based Lead Update: Mr Blandamer presented the key issues in Bury, including NHS Reform, Children's Services (Ofsted) inspection, Adult Services (CQC) inspection, SEND Stocktake, Primary Care Estate, Neighbourhood Bid, and the Greater Manchester VCSE Accord.
• Integrated Delivery Board Update: Ms Kath Wynne-Jones provided updates on the Primary Care Programme, General Practice Leadership Collaborative (GPLC), Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, and Complex Care.
• Cancer Update Report: Dr Liane Harris delivered a presentation on cancer performance across Bury.
• MOU with the Voluntary Sector: Ms Kath Wynne-Jones and Marie Wilson provided an update on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Voluntary Sector.
• The role of the VCSE in delivering Locality Board Priorities: Marie Wilson outlined the sector's vital contributions.
• Population Health and Wellbeing update: Mr Hobday submitted the latest update report.
• Clinical and Professional Senate update: Fin McCaul provided a verbal update on Pharmacy First.
• SEND Improvement and Assurance Board Minutes: Members received minutes from the SEND Improvement and Assurance Board held on the 28th May 2025.

SEND Strategy

The Locality Board were asked to note the Bury SEND strategy, which had been approved by the SEND Improvement and Assurance Board in September 2025. The strategy was co-produced by Bury Changemakers, Bury Youth Service and the SEND Improvement and Assurance Board, and is the result of conversations with young people about social reform and improvement to SEND for children and young people in Bury.

Sunnybank Clinic

The board was asked to approve the proposal to formally progress the vacating and related disposal of Sunnybank Clinic, based on additional information provided.