Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The Stockport Health Promise is a set of commitments entered into by various departments of the Council and other agencies to improve health. The Promise has recently been revised. A range of promises have been agreed which cumulatively represent an important contribution to the health of the people this includes a range of new promises implementing the physical activity strategy. The draft Promise is included in the agenda.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment.

Officer contact: Dr Stephen Watkins, 0161 474 2436, stephen.watkins@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the commitments proposed by the Council and partners that would form part of the Stockport Health Promise for 2015/16.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was disappointing that there were not more commitments relating to mental health and promoting mental wellbeing. In response it was stated that the Promise did not capture all the work being done by the Council and partners in this area. The Public Health Business Plan contained significant activity to promote mental wellbeing.

·         In relation to commitments relating to spatial planning, disappointment was expressed about there not being reference to limit the proliferation of fast food establishments near schools. In response it was commented that the legal framework within which such decisions were taken was complicated and this could not easily be achieved. It was commented that the commitments in this section were nevertheless significant.

·         Councillors discussed the importance of interventions in schools, including the vital role of teachers and staff in identifying concerns and making appropriate referrals to other agencies. It was commented that some schools used their resources to provide additional support for students.

·         While the commitments made by the Council and other partners were welcomed, the success of efforts to improve the health of the public was also heavily reliant on individuals taking responsibility for their own health.

·         Assurances were given that inequalities was a key consideration in the development of service delivery models and specifications, although it was acknowledged that the commitments contained in the Promise did not easily lend themselves to addressing inequalities specially. The idea of an inequalities matrix to accompany the Promise would be explored.

·         It was clarified that Stockport Homes had given a specific commitment to providing dementia awareness but this did not prevent other partners from providing this, although there may not be a specific commitment within the Promise.

·         Concerns were expressed that some of the commitments were based on subjective aesthetic judgements, where judgements of success would be divisive.

·         Assurances were given that suicide prevention was part of public health activity.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Stockport Health Promise 2015/16 be noted.

(2) That the Director of Public Health be requested to consider the comments of the Scrutiny Committee, in particular their comments about the need for more commitments relating to mental health and more general commitment from partners in relation to dementia awareness and training.