Agenda item

Presentation by Beth Wolfenden, Public Health Development Manager, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Beth Wolfenden, Public Health Development Manager attended from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and gave a presentation on Healthy Place Healthy Future Trailblazer project. 

Earlier this year Pennine Lancashire had successfully been identified as one of the five national Trailblazer areas to tackle childhood obesity, as part Local Government Association's Childhood Obesity Trailblazer Programme.

The Childhood Obesity Trailblazer Programme seeks innovative action to tackle childhood obesity at a local level.  The programme is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and managed by the Local Government Association. The programme commenced in June 2019 with five sites selected to lead projects to implement their plans. In Hyndburn, Oswaldtwistle had been chosen to be the initial test area to tackle childhood obesity and this will commence soon. Over three years, Trailblazer authorities will develop, deliver, review and expand their plans. Each Trailblazer authority will receive £100,000 worth of funding and project support each year to progress their project. This will include government expert support, subject matter expertise, support from the Delivery Support Partner, FutureGov. Some support will also be provided to trailblazer authorities to develop their local evaluation plans in the early stages of the three year programme.

The approach will be to engage and work with Schools, the Community, Café’s, Hot Food Takeaways, Council staff and most importantly gaining support from Elected Members. Elected Members could play a key role in championing and promoting the importance of healthy weight in children at a local level, in effect giving high level visibility and leadership to the issue.

The Pennine Lancashire Childhood Obesity Trailblazer Programme, now known as Healthy Place, Healthy Future (HPHF) embraces four key levers for change:

·      Engage with system leaders and policy heads to drive system change

·      Develop a consistent planning approach across Pennine Lancashire

·      Support businesses to provide this change.

·      Understand how local communities can be supported to create a social movement to demand healthier food

The Chair commented to engage Lancashire County Council Education department about the Schools and School Governors being involved in the programme.

Councillor Walsh commented her delight of the programme, she would like to see engagement with communities, in particular Breast Feeding support groups and Healthy cooking classes for people to attend to encourage children to eat healthier.

Another key area to assist on this programme is the Planning system where local authorities could take action. It is important that planning applications had consideration to ensure facilities and infrastructures existed to give everyone the opportunity to live in a healthy weight environment.

The Chair would like to see some work explored with the Planning department to impose restrictions and exclusion zones on areas that have oversubscribed fast food takeaways.

The Committee acknowledged it would be a challenge to engage fast food businesses to sell healthier options but agreed with the programme.

The Chair thanked Beth Wolfenden for her attendance and the presentation delivered.

Resolved –   (1) That Members from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be involved in the Childhood Obesity Trailblazer Programme; and

(2) That Beth Wolfendale sends details of the Member training event in November to the Overview and Scrutiny Officer.