Agenda item

a)  Overview by Val Miller

b)  Sports and Physical Activity by Kevin Day

c)  District Discussion on:

·  Weight management programmes

·  Healthy Eating Award

·  Community initiatives that link with weight management

Presentation by District colleagues

The Chairman agreed to take this item first due to one of the presenters having to leave at 6.00 p.m. to attend another meeting.

Val Miller, Public Health Specialist, presented an overview of adult excess weight rates (overweight and obese combined) calculated by Public Health England as part of the Public Health Outcomes Framework.  It was noted that:

·  The England rate is 63.8% and the West Kent Districts are statistically similar which means that only one third of the population in West Kent is a healthy weight.  Being obese substantially increases the chances of a person developing a wide range of medical problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many common cancers.  Overweight and obese adults are also likely to have children who are overweight.  If levels of obesity continue to rise at their present rate, there will be unmanageable pressures on the NHS and adult social care and implications for the whole economy.

·  Excess weight is a complex issue, influenced by a range of factors including social and economic deprivation and age.  With the new health and wellbeing agenda in local government, there are new opportunities for working with colleagues in disciplines such as sports and play, environmental health, trading standards, licensing and planning to tackle the problem.

Sarah Robson, Community Partnerships Manager, Maidstone Borough Council, presented a snapshot of obesity in Maidstone, which showed that 10.7% of 4-5 year olds and 20% of 10-11 year olds are obese.  Children who live in more deprived areas are more likely to be overweight and obese than those from the most affluent areas.  Access to healthy food and adopting healthier life styles is more difficult in deprived areas.

A map of the Borough was displayed which showed the location of hot food takeaways in clusters near schools and in deprived areas.

Rob Jarman, Head of Planning and Development, Maidstone Borough Council, gave a presentation on the contribution that Local Planning Authorities can make to improving public health and wellbeing, including shaping an urban environment that encourages people to adopt healthier lifestyles.  He explained that:

·  It is common place in developments above a certain size for the Local Planning Authority to seek contributions for healthcare.

·  There is potential to work with the Board and other partners on a Supplementary Planning Document, the purpose of which would be to explain the Council’s approach as Local Planning Authority towards encouraging better access to healthy food.  There are two main elements to this: Restricting the development of new hot food takeaways particularly in deprived areas and areas of poor health and promoting the creation of more allotments and encouraging community growing opportunities.

·  There is guidance relevant to this in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the draft Local Plan, which is being put out to consultation, sets out ways in which public health principles and planning can be integrated to reduce health inequalities.

·  Existing Local Plan policies aim to protect retail streets from being diluted by non A1 uses where this would harm the vitality and viability of the centre or the shopping character of a particular street.  A number of Local Planning Authorities have adopted Supplementary Planning Documents which include a 400m exclusion zone around shops and leisure centres etc. designed to deter people from submitting planning applications for hot food takeaways in these zones. 

·  To date, five Local Planning Authorities have had their policies tested at appeal, but there are no examples of appeals where a Planning Inspector has cited the exclusion zone as the only consideration (fear of crime and highway safety have been cited).  It is necessary to produce an evidence base to justify the formulation of policies to be followed when determining planning applications for hot food takeaways.

Members of the Board commented that:

·  In terms of the evidence base, it would be necessary to demonstrate a direct link between access to unhealthy food and the long term health outcomes, and this might not become apparent for some years.

·  Planning alone will not provide the solution, but has a role which could be developed in conjunction with the Board and other partners.

·  There is an opportunity to influence the design of developments to include access to open space and trim trails etc. and also to promote walking and cycling as alternative forms of travel.

Kevin Day of Kent Sport gave a presentation on how sport and physical activities can have a positive effect on those who are considered overweight or obese.  It was noted that:

·  Kent Sport can provide advice and support regarding funding opportunities for sporting activities.

·  The Active People Survey commissioned by Sport England continuously measures the number of people taking part in sport across the nation and in local communities.

·  Kent Active People data shows an increase in adults doing 3 x 30 sport and active recreation since 2005/6 of 5.2% across Kent.  Inactive People data for 2012-13 shows that 44.9% of people in Kent are physically inactive and the cost of physical inactivity in Kent is £21m per year.  This date could be shared with health partners with a view to pooling resources, sharing intelligence and piloting activities.

Members of the Board commented that:

·  Tools are being developed to target those at risk due to inactivity and to direct effective intervention.

·  Physical inactivity has implications for social care in terms of the provision of adaptations and equipment etc.

Val Miller gave a short presentation on Kent’s Healthy Weight Pathway for adults to receive treatment for obesity.  Specific reference was made to the four tiers of service provision, barriers to effectiveness and the financial implications in terms of commissioning weight management services.  Val concluded by commending the in-house tier 2 programme at the Balmoral Surgery, Deal as a model for primary care.

Members of the Board commented that:

·  Consideration should be given to the impact of obesity on employers in terms of lost productivity etc. and the role employers can have in tackling obesity and promoting healthy living.

RESOLVED:  That the presentations be noted with interest and that the slides be circulated to all Members of the Board.