Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sykes, John Patterson and Jayne Ratcliffe.

Urgent business, if any, to be introduced by the Chair.

There were no items of urgent business received.

To receive Declarations of Interest in any Contract or matter to be discussed at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To receive questions from the public, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no public questions received for the meeting to consider.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board, held on 30^th October 2025, are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on the 30^th October 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To note the report and the recommendations.

Alison Berens presented the item, noting that Quarter 2 had been submitted in October and that guidance was expected for next year’s BCF funding soon. It was noted that there was high level spend to date.

It was highlighted that targets were on track to be met, including on emergency admissions, residential admissions and discharge delays. The case studies and recommendations were noted.

RESOLVED: That the report and the recommendations be noted.

To note the report and the recommendations.

Alison Berens presented the report, noting that BCF was helping to plan for the future. The purpose of the BCF review was noted as well as capacity and demand.

It was noted that there was a new approach to metrics around the 3 Ps, ‘People, planet and prosperity’. The benefits of the approach were noted along with the outcome measures.

A discussion was had on the current governance and the future governance proposals. A summary of the impact of this was noted, which discussed the key strengths and challenges.

Members queried the future proposals, asking at what point the Health and Wellbeing Board would get involved for input, particularly as the Board was often asked to approve the BCF retrospectively. It was noted that the DHSC deadlines didn’t align with the municipal calendar and that it would be difficult to align the two. It was highlighted that a process needed to be built into this and that guidance was expected on this issue.

Members noted that a review around BCF was good news and queried how this tied in to commissioning work. It was noted that this was an opportunity to bring the work in line with the new guidance on commissioning and partnerships.

RESOLVED: That the report and the recommendations be noted.

To receive and note the presentation on BeeWell Oldham School Data

Natalie Williams presented the presentation on BeeWell Oldham Schools data. It was outlined what BeeWell was, a collaboration between the University of Manchester, the GMCA, The Gregson Family Foundation and Anna Freud.

Engagement with schools was highlighted, noting work to be done around NEET and non-school children.

The headline findings were noted, particularly around the themes of Happy, Healthy, and Safer and Stronger.

Members noted the usefulness of the resource, noting significant findings for Children and Young People, and asked whether BeeWell data could be presented again at a future meeting.

Members noted that conversations around this had taken place at district council meetings and it was queried what our offer was to mitigate some of the less positive data and whether the service was doing enough to promote these schemes.

Members asked what the most important thing was that could be changed. It was noted that it was to pause instead of jumping into things, especially around if work is actually the right thing for young people.

Members raised concerns around food security figures. Breakfast clubs were highlighted as a solution but it was noted that this was only part of the strategy for child poverty.

Members queried what ‘emotional difficulties’ entails, and it was queried whether schools have trauma-informed staff. It was advised that whilst there is some trauma-informed staff, there was limited capacity, but that the children’s service was trauma informed.

It was noted that ethnicity data would have been collected, even if not presented. Members also queried how certain questions in the survey were asked and it was noted that questions could be awkward for open-ended questions.

To approve the final Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment and grant permission to publish.

Charlotte Stevenson presented the report, noting that the assessment had been to the Board previously and that the Board was being asked for permission for the files to be released.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and agreed that files be published.

The Chair read out a response from the Department of Health and Social Care in relation to a letter sent previously.

To receive the presentation on the Oldham Town Centre Chaplaincy.

Jean Hurlston presented the presentation. It was noted that it would focus on the Town Centre chaplaincy and the Oldham Street Angels. It was noted that this was a local, boroughwide scheme, supporting the nighttime economy. It was noted that the service covers both daytime and nighttime activity. It was noted that the scheme had won several awards including the Queens award.

It was noted that the service has a different relationship to the community compared to groups like the police or licensing, and examples of feedback were presented to the board. It was noted that the team worked collaboratively with other services such as TFGM, the Council, the Police, and also provided food, hospitality and health work to those in need.

It was noted that the community chaplaincy was a broader project, primarily about providing emotional and spiritual support. It was noted that funding was currently being applied for. It was noted that the Board could help by enhancing its links to the Street Angels.

RESOLVED: That the presentation be noted.

To note the Children’s Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report.

Andrea Edmondson presented the report, highlighting the key priorities of: neglect, complex and contextual safeguarding, transitions, domestic abuse, child mental health and the impact of trauma, serious youth violence, multi-agency practice, and responding to need at the right time.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To note the development of Creating Healthy Lives in Oldham and to agree to regular reporting of progress going forward.

Lois Hall-Jones presented the item, noting that this was to note the development of the strategic approach. It was noted that a launch event had been held in December 2025. The current position was outlined and the opportunities that the scheme would allow.

Members queried what the Board could do practically on food. It was noted that this would be difficult and there were lots of partners involved. It was also highlighted that this would not be a one size fits all approach.

Members queried resident input into schemes, asking what the service does to involve people. It was noted that there were lots of partners involved in the launch event.

Members asked whether more specific actions would be useful for stakeholders and partners across the whole Health and Wellbeing board agenda.

Members queried what the attendee numbers were for the launch event and how information would be disseminated as well as the planned frequency of the events. It was noted that there were around 25 different partners present at the launch event, that events would be held annually or more frequently and that suggestions would be welcomed for spreading the information to others.