The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult
Services presented the Barking and Dagenham Partnership Health and
Wellbeing Strategy which is being presented for adoption to all
constituent organisations within the Partnership.
The Health and Wellbeing Strategy establishes
ten health and wellbeing priorities for the next three years which
are aimed at addressing the health inequalities of borough
residents. The Cabinet Member explained
that while there have been improvements
over the past decade, for example in relation to the life
expectancy of borough residents, there continues to be a disparity
with the UK average in a number of areas.
Issues raised
during the discussions included:-
- The need for the Council’s
licensing and planning policies to support the aims of the
Strategy. In respect of licensing,
reference was made to the increase in the number of licensed
premises in the borough and their hours of opening. It was noted that a review of the Council’s
Licensing Policy was currently being undertaken and would be the
subject of a future report to Cabinet.
- The need for more effective
advertising, with the example given of men’s health adverts
being sited in toilets across Council and commercial
premises. The Corporate Director of
Adult and Community Services undertook to take this matter
forward.
- The importance of physical
activity. The Leader referred to the
popularity of the Council’s ‘Summer Sorted’
project for children and the range of other community activities
available.
- The reduction in the level of repeat
domestic violence incidents as a result of new initiatives such as
the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service.
- The importance of retaining local
control over local health spending which the Corporate Director
confirmed would be the subject of further reports.
- The need to learn lessons from
previously unsuccessful initiatives and strategies.
- The need to promote healthy
workplaces and the issuing and monitoring of sick notes issued by
GPs.
- The steps being taken to promote a
consistent food labelling regime on a national level.
- The importance of ensuring that the
relevant agencies are promoting breast feeding.
Agreed, in order to assist the
Council and its partners in achieving the Community Priority
“Healthy”, to:
(i)
Adopt the Health and Wellbeing Strategy appended to the report;
and
(ii)
Note that the Health and Wellbeing Board will monitor progress
against action plans and key performance indicators.