Agenda item

We welcomed Dr Sarah Aitken, Consultant in Public Health Medicine from Aneurin Bevan Gwent Local Public Health Team who was in attendance to present a report on the Childhood Obesity Strategy for Gwent.

Context:

The purpose of the report was to introduce the Gwent Childhood Obesity Strategy to 2025, “Fit for Future Generations” to the Children and Young People Select Committee and to develop understanding of the significant impact of obesity and childhood obesity on people and the public service sector, the benefits of coordinated effective action and the recommended strategic approach to delivery.

The Committee were informed of the response across the Gwent / ABUHB area and heard suggestions that Members could take to support implementation of the strategy in Monmouthshire and to enable the Committee to input at the early stages of development of a Monmouthshire response.

Following a detailed presentation highlighting the key issues of the strategy Members were invited to comment.

Members Scrutiny:

A Member expressed that in order to develop a programme of obesity prevention there many areas that would need to be addressed, such as supermarket lay outs, access of leisure centre vending machines, lack of exercise adequate facilities.  Also it was though that there was no indication of children who were obese through illness.  Dr Aitken responded by noting that there were choices that families could be made in terms of supermarkets.  With regards to the environment it was recognised some aspects were more difficult but there were still things that could be done, such as walking.  It was important to focus on what we can do.  It was recognised that there are some genetic dispositions but this was a small part of what is recognised about people being obese.

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health expressed that this was a fascinating subject in terms of many social issues.  It was important to form understanding and to determine what could be done.  Education is key, and we need to address the issue in a simple way.  Every person who presents obesity issues would do so for individual reasons.  In context of the Social Care and Wellbeing Act being introduced in April 2016, was as an Authority we must be more informative to the community on what is available to them and understanding how people can be helped.  Developing education from an early age to understand the tendencies people have and what can be done to abstain in order to achieve a healthier and happier life.

A Member observed that many people think that eating healthily could be expensive and that more should be done to educate and develop cooking skills in young mothers.  It was suggested that this could be developed in more areas.

Dr Aitken noted that all suggestions were valid but should be part of a joined up plan.

Members expressed that the huge choices of food, low pay and low aspirations were all part of the problem.

It was suggested that Planning and Tourism and Leisure departments should be involved to determine the action plan, in terms of the development of fast food establishments, or to develop free swim programmes.  It was recommended that further discussions take place to a wider audience.

A Member suggested that a career line be developed to identify points where the organisation can intervene and make a difference.  A suggested starting point would be to address the healthy schools programme.

The Chair suggested that there should be wider membership and this could be addressed at full Council, to ensure maximum involvement.

In terms of what was required of the Committee we noted that a timeline was needed and a meeting should be held as soon as possible to establish an initial action plan.

Recommendations:

The Committee were asked to provide comment on the draft strategy: “Fit for future generations – a Childhood obesity strategy for Gwent to 2025” particularly noting the public service wide benefits if we tackle childhood obesity effectively.

The Committee were asked to note that Monmouthshire Local Service Board (in future the Public Service Board) have agreed to provide overall governance and accountability for delivery on the Childhood Obesity Strategy. Structures and processes for delivery of the strategy are at the early stages of development, and any input from the Committee at this stage is welcomed.

The Committee are asked to consider the following:

·         The role of Elected Members as leaders for this cross-government agenda

·         The role of Elected Members in scrutinising services and policies for impact on childhood obesity

·         How we can best engage with the population to change attitudes around obesity and the leadership role of Elected Members in facilitating this