Committee in Common between Cornwall Health and Wellbeing Board and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership - 18 November 2025

**Paragraph 1 – Meeting formalities and financial overview**

The Committee approved the minutes of the 9 September 2025 meeting of the Cornwall Health and Wellbeing Board and the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership, with no declarations of interest and no public questions. The Chief Finance Officer of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) briefed the Committee on a restructuring programme aimed at a roughly 50 % reduction in staffing costs through clustering, with full organisational consultation to begin in early January and a separate executive‑structure consultation in December. The Service Director for Strategy and Partnerships reported a projected council budget gap of £45‑£70 million for the next financial year, noting that a spending review and the development of a four‑year Council Priorities Plan are underway, with further clarification expected after the Government’s finance statements and the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

**Paragraph 2 – Health‑system planning and commissioning**

The Chief Medical Officer presented the draft Strategic Commissioning Framework for Neighbourhood Health, highlighting priorities such as mental‑health access, long‑term conditions, a life‑course approach (Start Well, Live Well, Age Well), and digital enablement. The Service Director for Integrated People confirmed council support for joint commissioning and the role of the Better Care Fund in neighbourhood models. The Committee resolved to note the forthcoming national Medium‑Term Planning Framework and to expect a draft neighbourhood health framework in November 2025, with final submission by 5 February 2026.

**Paragraph 3 – Performance and service delivery**

The Strategic Lead Commissioner for Partnerships and Pooled Funds gave a quarter‑2 assurance report on the Better Care Fund, noting progress on the Home‑Based Intermediate Care Business Case, the All‑Aged Carer Strategy, and the Housing Assistance Policy. He highlighted continued cost pressures in community equipment services and outlined a recovery plan focused on retrieval and reuse of high‑value equipment. The Committee was asked to support cultural change around equipment retrieval and to monitor the impact on intermediate‑care pathways and hospital flow.

**Paragraph 4 – Pharmaceutical needs, research and safeguarding**

The Advanced Strategic Intelligence Analyst presented the 2025‑2028 Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, which identified 12 pharmacy closures, reduced opening hours, and emerging gaps in West Cornwall and other rural areas. The Committee recognised the findings, supported the recommendations, and delegated ongoing monitoring to the Public Health Knowledge and Intelligence team. An update on the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) highlighted a £5 million NIHR award, new research roles, and partnerships with universities and the voluntary sector; the Committee endorsed continued investment and the integration of research outcomes into policy. The Safeguarding Adults Board Chair reported a doubling of adult‑safeguarding referrals, an increase in self‑neglect and psychological abuse cases, and improvements in recording individuals’ desired outcomes; the Board’s priorities and professional curiosity and collaboration were affirmed.

**Paragraph 5 – Mental‑health, suicide prevention and life‑course initiatives**

The Director of Public Health outlined the current suicide‑prevention strategy, noting that Cornwall’s suicide rate remains above the national average and that the mid‑term review suggests the 2027 target is unlikely to be met. The Committee discussed the potential use of AI‑driven risk‑stratification, the need for a whole‑system approach, and the importance of community‑based interventions. Finally, the Chairs of the Start Well, Live Well and Age Well steering groups reported progress on their respective priorities, with upcoming Department for Education and Ofsted engagements for SEND, the development of metrics for Live Well, and the Health Span Initiative for Age Well. The Committee resolved to note the latest steering‑group report and to receive Live Well metrics at the next meeting.