Decision

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health and Communities seeking approval to accept the Live Well Implementation Support Fund (LWISF) for 2026/27 and 2027/28 and to approve the allocation of the funding as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Head of Planning and Improvement (Public Health) presented the report and responded to questions and comments from Cabinet Members.

The Officer informed that Live Well was a key element of the Greater Manchester 10-Year Growth and Prevention Delivery Plan and the Greater Manchester Strategy, aimed at reducing health, social and economic inequalities across Greater Manchester.

Members noted that Live Well would also provide the vehicle through which the Prevention Demonstrator, identified within the NHS 10-Year Plan, would be delivered, supporting the shift towards prevention and reducing reliance on higher-level and more complex services.

Cabinet noted that, in Rochdale, the Live Well agenda was being delivered through the Neighbourhood Programme and Cooperative Communities model, overseen by the Neighbourhood Programme Group. The group was chaired by the Council's Deputy Chief Executive and included representation from elected Members and partners from the Council, the NHS, Greater Manchester Police and the Voluntary, Community, Social and Faith Enterprise (VCSFE) sector.

Members were informed that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and NHS Greater Manchester were providing localities with a share of the combined £20 million Live Well Implementation Support Fund to support local delivery of the programme. Rochdale Borough's allocation of £780,000, originally awarded in 2025/26 based on population share, would continue at the same level for both 2026/27 and 2027/28.

Cabinet noted that the grant conditions required at least 50% of the funding to be allocated directly to the VCSFE (Voluntary, Community, Social and Faith Enterprise Sector) sector. A spend plan had been developed and approved by the Neighbourhood Programme Group, including elected Member representation, and was set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

During discussion, Members sought clarification regarding the allocation of funding to the voluntary sector, the outcomes expected from that investment and the arrangements for monitoring expenditure.

Cabinet was advised that the funding would support the objectives of the Live Well programme by strengthening the local support ecosystem and improving access to services. Members were informed that all funding arrangements would be subject to grant agreements or contractual requirements, supported by regular monitoring and review.

Further clarification was provided regarding governance and oversight arrangements. Officers advised that monitoring responsibilities would be undertaken through Public Health commissioning processes, supported by appropriate reporting and assurance mechanisms. In response to questions regarding the allocation of funding to VCSFE organisations and the management of grant awards, Cabinet was informed that Action Together would support the administration of elements of the grant process, with robust review and assurance arrangements in place. Officers also confirmed that appropriate measures were in place to manage potential conflicts of interest and ensure transparency, fairness and accountability in funding decisions, including engagement through established community governance structures.

Resolved:

1. That the Live Well Implementation Support Fund (LWISF) 2026/27 and 2027/28 be accepted;
2. That the allocation of the funding as set out in the appendix 1 to this report be agreed;
3. That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Public Health and Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, to undertake any necessary procurement exercises, award the contracts and enter into any other agreements necessary to spend the funding in line with the spend plan, subject to the necessary due diligence having been undertaken;
4. That it be agreed that the Director of Public Health and Communities has the ability to vire budget between allocated areas within the spend plan to ensure most effective spend and delivery.

Reason for decision:

The proposed recommendation enabled the Council to receive much needed additional grant funding to support the successful implementation of the Live Well programme in the Borough. Live Well is a high-profile programme supported by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, GMCA and all ten local authorities. The proposed spend plan ensured the Council is compliant with the conditions set out in the funding grant agreement, including the requirement to invest a minimum of 50% of the grant with the VCSFE sector.

Alternatives considered and rejected:

The Council could not accept the grant funding. However, as the grant would provide much needed funding to resource the Live Well programme, and vital funding for the voluntary sector, this option was not recommended.

Alternatives had been considered when developing the spend plan for the grant. The spend plan proposed was deemed the most effective way to successfully implement the Live Well programme in Rochdale Borough and comply with the grant conditions.