Issue - meetings

Scrutiny Report to note.

Executive report for decision. 

ORDERED that the Executive:

1.      Note the report of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Panel on Healthy Placemaking with a Focus on Childhood Obesity and its accompanying recommendations; and

2.      Approve the Action Plan prepared by the relevant service areas in response to those recommendations.

The Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Panel submitted a report for Executive’s consideration.

The purpose of the scrutiny report was to present the findings of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Panel following its review of Healthy Placemaking with a Focus on Childhood Obesity. The Service Action Plan was developed in response to the Panel’s recommendations.

The Panel’s recommendations were:

A.       The Council should strengthen visible leadership on healthy weight by ensuring LMT members sponsor and champion Healthy Weight Declaration commitments.  A written progress update should be provided to the ASC and Health Scrutiny Panel within 12 months.

B.       The Council should build on the existing Public Health Service Level Agreements to formalise shared responsibility across all departments, ensuring health and equity considerations are applied in all decision making.  A progress update should be provided to the ASC and Health Scrutiny Panel within 6 months.

C.      A review of the implementation of the Council’s Advertising Policy should be undertaken to ensure it aligns with the emerging national restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy products, a progress update should be provided to the ASC and Health Scrutiny Panel within 12 months.

D.      A cross-departmental Steering Group should be established, supported by the Leadership Management Team, to review how the Council currently interacts with Unhealthy Commodity Industries (UCIs) through contracts, grants, sponsorships etc.  The Steering Group should undertake a 12-month audit and provide guidance to ensure consistent decision-making aligns with public health aims. Progress should be reported back to the ASC and Health Scrutiny Panel by April 2027.

E.       Public Health and Children’s Services should work jointly to increase the number of Middlesbrough schools participating in the Eat Well Schools Award, with a particular focus on schools located in the wards with the highest childhood obesity prevalence. A progress update should be reported back to the ASC and Health Scrutiny Panel by April 2027.

F.       The Council should continue to invest in safe, well-connected walking and cycling infrastructure, with a focus on improving access, safety and connectivity between homes, schools, green spaces and local amenities, particularly in more deprived areas.  Progress should be aligned with existing transport programmes and reported to the ASC and Health Scrutiny Panel within 12 months.

G.      Transport and Infrastructure should support school-led development of Active Travel to School Action Plans, identifying a small number of priority schools using relevant indicators (e.g. obesity prevalence, school gate congestion and existing active travel rates). As part of this work, the service should engage directly with all parts of the school community including pupils, parents/carers, staff and governors, to understand the key barriers to walking and cycling.  The findings should then be used to shape tailored interventions for each school and progress reported back to the ASC and Health Scrutiny Panel within 12 months.

H.      Opportunities should be sought to extend the Creating Active Schools model to enable more schools in Middlesbrough to develop their own whole school programmes to increasing physical activity, working alongside the Eat well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7