The Health and Well-being Board meeting scheduled for 22 January 2026 was set to cover a range of public health and safeguarding matters. Key discussions were expected to include annual updates on health protection, tobacco control, and the use of health impact assessments in planning applications, alongside a review of safeguarding efforts for children and adults.

Annual Report of the Northumberland Health Protection Assurance and Development Partnership

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the activities of the Northumberland Health Protection Assurance and Development Partnership (HPADP) over the past 12 months. This partnership works to prevent and reduce the harm caused by communicable diseases and environmental hazards, and also considers cancer and non-cancer screening programmes. The report was expected to detail multi-agency activity and highlight key health protection issues and data from the region. Specific areas of focus were anticipated to include seasonal flu activity, rising rates of sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea and syphilis, and efforts to reduce chronic hepatitis C infection. The report was also set to cover the establishment of the Northumberland Vaccination Engagement Group, initiatives to improve flu vaccination uptake, and the introduction of varicella vaccination. Furthermore, it was expected to address emergency preparedness, resilience, and response, including the development of pandemic preparedness plans, and the work of the Northumberland Screening Inequalities Group. Environmental hazards, such as the monitoring of private water supplies and the implementation of the new Air Quality Strategy for Northumberland, were also on the agenda. The partnership's work aims to support the Director of Public Health's statutory oversight role and assure the Health and Wellbeing Board that adequate arrangements are in place to protect the local population's health, with a particular focus on understanding and reducing the impact of inequalities.

Northumberland Tobacco Control Partnership Annual Update 2025

An update on the Northumberland Tobacco Control Partnership's (NTCP) collaborative approach and actions to address tobacco and smoking during 2025 was scheduled for discussion. Smoking remains a significant preventable cause of death and illness in Northumberland, driving local health inequalities. The report was expected to highlight that while Northumberland's adult smoking prevalence is estimated at 8.0%, which is lower than the England average, this still translates to approximately 22,000 residents who smoke. The NTCP's ambition is to reduce smoking rates to 5% or less by 2030. The update was anticipated to cover national developments, including the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to create a smoke-free generation by preventing young people from legally purchasing tobacco. It was also expected to detail local actions taken under the NTCP's eight-strand strategy, focusing on areas such as local engagement, advocacy for evidence-based policy, reducing exposure to tobacco smoke, year-round media communications, supporting smokers to quit, raising prices and reducing illicit trade, tobacco and nicotine regulation, and data collection and research. A showcase example of multi-strand local activity in 2025, focusing on the Sorted young person's substance misuse service, was also planned.

Health Impact Assessment Update

This report was intended to provide an update on the use of Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) in major planning applications in Northumberland since June 2023. The built environment significantly affects health, and HIAs are used to identify potential positive and negative health impacts early in the development process. The Northumberland Local Plan requires all major schemes to submit a Healthy Planning Checklist, with larger developments needing to provide either a 'rapid' or a 'full' Health Impact Assessment. The report was expected to detail the number of major schemes reviewed and the associated HIAs received and analysed. It was also anticipated to provide examples of how HIAs have influenced development types and the recommendations made by the Public Health team, such as advisories, proposed conditions, or objections. The update was also to cover the ongoing review of the Local Plan, with a proposal for a closed session of the Health and Wellbeing Board to discuss how health considerations can be strengthened in future planning policies and to review the impact of HIAs on major schemes.

NCASP Annual Report (October 24 - April 25)

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the progress, achievements, and challenges of the Northumberland Children and Adults Safeguarding Partnership (NCASP) during the six-month period from October 2024 to April 2025. This report serves as a supplementary update to the previous annual report and reflects NCASP's commitment to safeguarding children and adults in line with statutory guidance such as Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and the Care Act 2014 . The report was expected to provide assurance on safeguarding effectiveness and guide strategic planning. Key areas of discussion were anticipated to include updates from NCASP's subgroups, such as the Practice Learning Group, Child Safeguarding Practice Review Group, Safeguarding Adults Review Group, Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People Group, Safer in Education Group, Performance Management Group, and the Strategic Partnership Reduction of Exploitation and Missing Group. It was also expected to cover learning from reviews, training initiatives, and the partnership's financial overview. The report was to highlight progress in strengthening safeguarding arrangements, including updated Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MASA) and information sharing protocols, as well as addressing emerging risks and challenges.

Health and Wellbeing Board – Forward Plan

The Board was scheduled to review its forward plan for the 2025/26 council year. This plan outlines forthcoming agenda items for future meetings, allowing members to note or discuss upcoming topics and potentially add new business. The forward plan indicated several regular reports and specific agenda items scheduled for future meetings, including updates on the Healthy Weight Alliance, the Northumberland Inequalities Plan, the Director of Public Health's Annual Report, and strategies related to sexual health, mental health, and gambling. It also listed planned annual reports from various bodies, including the Northumberland Children and Adults Safeguarding Partnership.