Tim Higgins

Inside The Decisions Shaping Life Across Cheshire East

Below is a summary of one of Cheshire East’s committee meetings, showing the range of services and responsibilities the Council looks after.

It does not represent the views of RoW, it is intended to inform readers.

The summary below has been generated by AI from the full public meeting minutes, for which a link is given at then end of this page.

Cheshire East Health & Wellbeing Board – One‑Page Summary

Meeting Date: 17 March 2026
Meeting Time: 2:00–4:02pm
Location: Committee Suite, Delamere House, Crewe
Chair: Cllr Sam Corcoran

Key Attendance

Board Members included representatives from Cheshire East Council, Healthwatch, CVS Cheshire East, NHS Cheshire & Merseyside, Public Health, and Cheshire Police.
Apologies were recorded from senior officers including the Executive Directors for Adults and Children’s Services.

Main Items & Decisions

1. Loneliness & Social Isolation JSNA – Update

  • JSNA published Feb 2026; updated March to clarify living‑alone data.
  • Identified protective factors: physical activity, social connection, transport access, volunteering, good health.
  • Recommendations focus on: promoting protective factors, reducing stigma, cross-sector professional curiosity, stronger partnerships, targeted support.
  • Concerns raised about youth loneliness, role of social media, bullying, data limitations, and lack of volunteering referral pathways.
  • Outcome: Board noted the update.

2. Joint Outcomes Framework 2026

  • Dashboard shows improvements in:
    • Smoking status at delivery (now better than England).
    • Alcohol‑specific hospital admissions (now similar to England).
    • Early child development (now significantly better).
  • Concerns: falling male healthy life expectancy, youth vaping, and cost‑of‑living impacts.
  • Outcome: Board noted the update.

3. Local Plan Briefing

  • New Local Plan aligned with planning reforms and regional Spatial Development Strategies, including statutory public health considerations.
  • Issues raised: care homes/children’s homes policy, affordability in north borough, poor-quality stock in older Crewe terraces, housing for disabled people.
  • Need for integrated planning: transport, green space, connectivity, health infrastructure (including Leighton Hospital area).
  • A new Design Code to be developed using international best practice.
  • Outcome: Board noted the update.

4. Better Care Fund – Q2 2025/26 Update

  • ~60% of expenditure committed; 27 schemes reporting monthly.
  • Strong performance: fewer emergency admissions for older people; improved discharge delays; reablement (4,000 packages).
  • Slightly higher care‑home admissions linked to data lag.
  • Outcome: Board noted the update.

5. Better Care Fund – Year-to-Date Analysis 2025/26

  • 41,000 episodes of support delivered (projected 55,000).
  • Estimated £5 system-wide cost avoidance per £1 spent.
  • Highlights: improved winter planning, updated Section 75, improved discharge pathways.
  • Concerns: risks of early discharge, ED pressures, national trends.
  • Outcome: Board noted the update.

6. Digital Inclusion Plan 2026–2030

  • Updated plan reflects new national policy and digital inclusion research.
  • Recognises digital exclusion affects affordability, skills, and confidence.
  • Emphasis on multi‑sector partnership and keeping non‑digital access routes for residents.
  • Concerns about switch from analogue to digital telephony for older residents.
  • Outcome: Plan approved.

Leave a Reply