The People Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss a preventative strategy for healthier communities, and to review the council's community meals service. They will also look at their forward work programme, and review minutes from previous meetings. The public are able to attend and speak at the meeting.

Living Well Monmouthshire Strategy

The committee is scheduled to scrutinise the draft strategy, Living Well Monmouthshire, which aims to support resilient and healthier communities across the county. The Living Well Strategy Scrutiny Sept 2025 report pack states that the strategy intends to enable residents, especially vulnerable and deprived ones, to live healthier and independently for longer, boosting their wellbeing and reducing their need for statutory services.

The strategy is scheduled to align with the council's Community and Corporate Plan, focusing on:

• A Fair Place, where the effects of inequality and poverty have been reduced
• A Connected Place, where people feel part of a community and valued

The Living Well Implementation plan App 2 sets out several workstreams that are scheduled to deliver the strategy:

• Data and Evaluation
• Practice models and service mapping
• Commissioning and the use of community assets
• Partnerships
• The provision of information and advice
• Communications

The Living Well Strategy App 1 states that the strategy is intended to align with the Welsh Government's ambition to become a Marmot Nation¹. The 2025 Future Generations Commission Report is quoted as saying the health and well-being mission is to transform how public bodies in Wales keep people healthy, shifting the focus towards prevention and long-term well-being.

The Impact assessment notes that the strategy is aligned to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act² through promoting a stronger long-term focus on prevention, early intervention, collaboration, and community involvement.

Community Meals Service

The committee is scheduled to scrutinise the first stage review of the Monmouthshire Meals Service. The Mon Meals Scrutiny Sept2025 report pack includes a report on the current service provision, MM Review Report -August 2025, which says that the review was undertaken to determine value for money and explore opportunities to improve and modernise the service, increase its sustainability, and reduce the net cost to the council.

The MM Review Report -August 2025 notes that the Community Meals Service has provided a subsidised service to vulnerable adults in Monmouthshire for many years, delivering nutritional meals and daily contact. Eligibility for the service is determined by a social care assessment under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014[^4].

As of June 2025, 226 service users were receiving meals. The total number of hot meals and packed lunch meals delivered in 2024/25 was 62,444 and is projected to be 69,547 in 2025. The unit cost of a meal is £11.41, with a £6.50 charge to the service user, meaning the council subsidises each meal by £4.91. This subsidy is projected to create a budgetary pressure of £341,147.

The MM Review Report -August 2025 identifies that the service provides social contact for vulnerable and isolated service users, good nutrition, reduces pressure on carers, and supports people to retain their independence.

The report also presents options for the service, including continuing as is, increasing service user charges, or implementing changes to increase efficiencies and service improvements.

The Integrated Impact Assessment MM Sept 25 notes that the Community Meals service provides a beneficial service to older people and people living with disability or ill-health, and that the review recommends seeking improvements and efficiencies to reduce the subsidy rather than increasing the charge or ceasing the service, to ensure the service remains affordable to people living on lower incomes.

People Scrutiny Forward Work Programme and Action List

The committee is scheduled to review and discuss the People Scrutiny Forward Work Programme 2025-26 and Action List for People Scrutiny Committee 22nd July 2025.

Council and Cabinet Work Planner

The committee is scheduled to review the Council Cabinet ICMD Forward Plan 9.

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

The committee is scheduled to approve the minutes from the following meetings:

• Minutes Public Pack 16072025 People Scrutiny Committee - held 16th July 2025 (Special Meeting)
• Minutes Public Pack 22072025 People Scrutiny Committee - held 22nd July 2025 (Ordinary Meeting)