COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Kelly, today chaired the first substantive meeting of the Reform Oversight Board at St Andrew’s House, the highest level of governance for the COSLA-Scottish Government programme of strategic reform for health and social care. Co-chaired with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, the Board oversees the delivery of a shift towards preventative and community-based approaches, as laid out in the joint Frameworks for Population Health and Service Renewal.

The meeting of the Reform Oversight Board focused on shifting the whole-system towards prevention, in order to create the conditions that enable people to live longer, healthier lives. The Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council, Des Murray, presented on how a local focus on preventative, whole-family approaches in areas such as housing and education led to significantly improved outcomes for communities.

Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, commneted:

“Health is created locally in the communities in which we live, go to school or work and access essential services. The Reform Oversight Board is a key forum to enable action on the building blocks of health, and support healthier, more resilient communities.”

5th March 2026