The Bracknell Forest Health and Wellbeing Board met on 11 September 2025, and discussed a dementia needs assessment, an update on the Local Government Association (LGA) review of the board, a communities strategy, and the Frimley Integrated Care System (ICS) joint capital plan. The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting.

Dementia Needs Assessment

Charlotte Pavitt, Director of Public Health, presented the Dementia Needs Assessment, which examined the current and future needs of people living with dementia and their carers in Bracknell Forest. The assessment reviewed the prevalence of dementia, which is projected to nearly double by 2030, and analysed risk factors including age, genetics, lifestyle, and social determinants.

The assessment highlighted that two-thirds of adults in Bracknell Forest are overweight or obese, significantly above regional and national averages, while levels of smoking and physical inactivity rose during the Covid-19 pandemic. Diagnosis rates for dementia in Bracknell Forest fall short of the national target, with just over 63% of estimated cases formally diagnosed. Care plan reviews for those living with dementia are also below local and national averages. Support for people with dementia, particularly access to residential care and high-quality placements, is identified as an area needing development in Bracknell Forest. Social isolation remains a challenge, with less than half of adult social care users reporting sufficient social contact.

The assessment concludes with strategic recommendations to address these challenges and gaps, including expanding preventative public health programmes, improving early diagnosis, and enhancing support for both individuals and carers. The final needs assessment, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, will inform a new strategy and action plan, with publication and implementation steps set to follow.

The strategy will incorporate elements like financial planning, assistive technology, suitable housing, and extra care capacity for people with dementia, and will be overseen by the health and care committee and reported annually to the Health and Wellbeing Board. Completion of the strategy has been postponed and is now expected by March 2025.

It was suggested that the focus be broadened beyond dementia to living well, aging well, including early conversations and public health campaigns around healthy aging and planning.

Update on Local Government Association (LGA) review of Health and Wellbeing Board

Marcus Warnes and Jonathan McShane, representing the LGA, updated the board on the Local Government Association's review of the Bracknell Forest Health and Wellbeing Board.

The review focused on clarifying the board's role, its effectiveness as a strategic partnership, and how it adds value. Feedback gathered from board members emphasised both strong relationships and the need for clearer expectations of board members within and outside meetings, as well as more focused priorities that could achieve significant impact over one to three years.

Recommendations included narrowing the board's focus to one or two priorities, increasing engagement between meetings, and establishing clear metrics to measure impact, such as a concise outcomes dashboard. The review also suggested improving stakeholder engagement, particularly with neighbourhoods and the voluntary sector, and supporting ongoing partnership and leadership development.

A workshop had been planned in November 2025 to align insights from the review with the updated Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and the forthcoming Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The intention is to ensure both statutory responsibilities and strategic direction are coordinated, with co-design and external expertise supporting the process. Board members were encouraged to reflect on their roles, contribute actively to shaping agendas and priorities, and continue fostering strong collaboration to deliver better outcomes for the local population.

Communities Strategy

Abby Thomas, Assistant Director: Communities, updated the board on the Communities Strategy.

The new strategy aimed to foster strong, connected, and cohesive communities across Bracknell Forest. This strategy is being shaped collaboratively with local community organisations, focusing on resident engagement through surveys, events, and targeted workshops. To date, feedback has been gathered from more than 2,200 residents, helping to inform the strategy's vision, objectives, and action plan. The next stages will include a public consultation, finalisation of the strategy, and identification of quick wins to launch in the coming months.

Board members discussed aligning the community strategy with the refreshed health and wellbeing strategy, emphasising the importance of co-design, stakeholder engagement, and leadership development. There was broad agreement that community involvement is essential for delivering effective prevention and early intervention, particularly for issues like dementia and social isolation. Members highlighted the value of incorporating resident feedback into policies and practices, ensuring that the strategies reflect the needs and aspirations of the local population.

Frimley ICS Joint Capital Plan

Mark Young, Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities at Frimley Health Foundation Trust, gave an overview of the Frimley ICS Joint Capital Plan, outlining how annual capital allocations are distributed across the system.

The plan detailed the business-as-usual (BAU) operational capital provided to primary NHS providers, most notably Frimley Health Foundation Trust (FHFT), which receives a significant portion of the funding. The capital is divided between operational needs, improvements to premises, and IT upgrades for primary care. Mark Young clarified that the plan excludes additional funding from central government or external fundraising efforts, such as those for cancer centres.

The discussion also explored the shift towards neighbourhood health centre planning and the transition from annual to long-term strategic investment. Mark Young outlined the importance of aligning capital projects with population needs, referencing tools like JSNA and master-planning for future sites. He explained that robust business case methodology and post-project evaluation are essential in measuring the success and impact of investments. The board acknowledged the complexity of ensuring that infrastructure is both used effectively and delivers tangible benefits, emphasising the need for careful strategy and ongoing assessment.

Agency Updates

Claire Shropshall, Healthwatch, advised that Healthwatch had recently published their women's health report which was now available on the East Berkshire Healthwatch website, and that a follow up meeting was planned with Frimley Park Hospital to discuss follow up actions on the recommendations.

Claire Shropshall also advised that an Enter and View visit had been undertaken at Pinehurst Care Centre and a report on the visit would follow next month.

Phil Bell, Involve, advised that Involve now had a full complement of community development workers for the Thriving Communities initiative, in collaboration with the local authority and other partners. In addition to the pilot area in the town centre, the initiative would focus on Easthampstead, Wildridings, Priestwood and Garth.

Jonathan Picken, Safeguarding Board, advised that the Annual Report for the Safeguarding Board 2024-25 was being finalised for sign off later in the month and could be presented to a future Health and Wellbeing Board.