Apologies were received from:

Councillor Tom Anderson

Councillor Yvonne Nolan

Tony Bennett and Karen Howell, Wirral Community Health Care Foundation Trust

Sue Higginson, Wirral Met College

Sir David Henshaw and Janelle Holmes, Wirral University Teaching Hospital

Members of the Board are asked whether they have any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any application on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

There were no declarations of interests.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2022.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2022 be approved as a correct record.

No questions, statements or petitions were received.

The Interim Director for Regeneration and Place introduced her report which detailed part of the Wirral Ways to Work programme and the Wirral Worklessness Support Service to increase opportunities for people, particularly from deprived communities, to allow local people to benefit from the regeneration programme. Officers from Involve Northwest, the incumbent suppliers of the Council commissioned Worklessness Support Service contract, then presented the report. Their work had originally focussed on people on benefits but since the Covid-19 pandemic had broadened, although it still aimed to enable clients to achieve sustainable, long-term employment. Over the previous year, 836 people had been helped into employment and 87% of people tended to remain so. As well as direct placements they helped people overcome barriers with goal setting, confidence building and advice. They had noted trends including people searching for second jobs for financial reasons, a reduction in zero-hours contracts, increase in carers seeking work, and people seeking sociable work rather than working from home.

Resolved – That the report and supporting information contained in Appendices 1 and 2 of this report be noted.

The Place Director, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside/Wirral, presented his report which provided an update on the development of Wirral as a “place” within the Integrated Care System (ICS) and of the working arrangements of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in the borough. It detailed the formation and meeting of the Place Based Partnership Board. It also detailed the drafting of the Health and Care Partnership Strategy and that it was decided to utilise existing documents. The biggest challenge for the body was the lack of capacity in domiciliary care, although it was noted that the Council had led on this with recruitment campaigns.

Resolved – That

1. this report be noted and similar updates be received at future meetings.

2. the Place Director be endorsed to co-ordinate the submission of the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership Strategy in consultation with the Director of Public Health, and that the submission be based upon the information contained in the Wirral Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2027 and Outcomes Framework.

3. the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership Strategy be considered at a future meeting.

The Interim Director of Place and Regeneration introduced this report which provided an update on the conditional grant of £25 million to deliver the Town Investment Plan, which supported the delivery of growth and regeneration of Birkenhead. The objective of Town Deal, a programme from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ (DLUHC) which provided the funds, was to contribute towards the ambitions for a thriving and inclusive economy, creating jobs and opportunities for all. It was intended that there would be significant health and wellbeing outcomes as a result of the projects being delivered. 12 local projects had been approved including the Joy project which had a defined focus on health and wellbeing with associated outputs.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The Senior Public Health Manager presented this report which provided an update on the development of the Wirral qualitative insight team and outlined a proposed workplan for the team to support the delivery of the Wirral Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The team consisted of expertise to enable the generation of qualitative insights and applying scientific analysis to inform policy, improve public services, and deliver positive results for people and communities in Wirral. Their work recognised the importance of communities to help shape and deliver services.

Resolved – That

1) the development of the Wirral qualitative insight team be noted;

2) the proposed work programme aligned to the Wirral Health and Wellbeing Strategy Priorities be approved.

Resolved: That the proposed work programme for the remainder of the 2022/23 municipal year be noted.