The Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Friday 01 May 2026 to review the financial outturn for Adult and Health Services, discuss performance against the Council Plan, and receive an update on the Shotley Bridge Hospital redevelopment.

Shotley Bridge Hospital Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the Shotley Bridge Community Hospital (SBCH) redevelopment project. This project, part of the New Hospital Programme (NHP), has been ongoing since 2020. The redevelopment was approved by the Secretary of State for Health in January 2025 as a wave 1 scheme, with a budget of £63.4 million. The identified land is located in Consett, and planning approval is in place. The programme was reinstated in 2025 with a focus on updating the Outline Business Case (OBC) in preparation for land acquisition and construction by February 2029. Progress included the Trust Board approving a Short Form Business Case in March 2026 to progress land acquisition and soft strip of the site, with the OBC approval scheduled for June 2026.

Q3 Revenue and Budget Outturn 2025/26

A report was presented detailing the forecast outturn budget position for the Adult and Health Services (AHS) service grouping for the year ending December 2025. The forecast indicated an underspend of £0.895 million against a revenue budget of £162.808 million, representing a 0.55% underspend. This was a decrease from the quarter two underspend of £1.540 million. The report detailed reasons for variances in spending, with the Head of Adult Care projected to be under budget by £0.765 million, primarily due to staff turnover. The AHS capital budget for 2025/26 comprised one scheme, the upgrade of Hawthorn House respite centre, which reported an underspend following completion, with the original budget of £34,000 being used for other projects.

2025/26 Q3 Performance Management Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on progress towards achieving the strategic ambitions and objectives set out in the Council Plan 2025-30. This report, based on data available as of 31 December 2025, covers the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The report highlighted that the Reform UK administration, elected in May 2025, had set out its ambitions in the revised Council Plan. Progress is monitored through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and a performance and reporting framework. The report noted that the council remains a financially stable organisation with a strong culture, and a robust performance management framework is in place. Areas of focus included Caring for our people, with positive indicators such as a reduction in permanent admissions to residential or nursing care for adults aged 65+ and an increase in service users achieving desired outcomes from the adult safeguarding process. Issues being addressed included rates of self-reported anxiety and suicide rates, with plans in place to reduce these. The report also detailed performance against various KPIs related to adult social care, public health, and the provision of care services.