Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The Annual Public Health Report is an independent professional report of the Director of Public Health to the Council, the NHS and the people of Stockport which the Council is statutorily required to commission and to publish.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Dr Stephen Watkins, 0161 474 2450, Stephen.watkins@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted his draft 24th Annual Public Health Report (copies of which had been circulated) that provided commentary and analysis of significant issues affected this health and wellbeing of residents in Stockport and providing recommendations for improvement to the Council and other partners. The comments of the Scrutiny Committee were sought before the finalisation and publication of the report and the submission to partners for their formal consideration.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         Suggestions included in the report in relation to the universal design of new homes were welcomed, as this would not only provide better quality of life for residents but reduce the financial costs to the Council of retrofitting or modifying properties. It was also commented that there were insufficient numbers of two bedroomed bungalows being built that many with people with disabilities needed as they provided a room for carers.

·         There were good examples from countries of to encourage active lifestyles and social interaction in an ageing population that could usefully be explored for local needs.

·         Greater emphasis was needed in Council policy on making the public realm more people and walking friendly, particularly through making new developments and the highway ‘greener’. In response it was stated that there was evidence that walking in green environments had an even greater benefit than walking in an urban environment due to its positive psychological impact.

·         A reconsideration of the how traffic could be slowed was needed as the use of speed humps created air quality concerns. In response it was stated that placing speed humps closer together was more effective at reducing traffic speed and reducing deceleration and acceleration between humps, which would also reduce emissions.

·         There was a need to raise public awareness of the dangers of anti-biotic resistance and the need to reduce the expectation of their prescription for minor ailments where they had little or no effect.

·         The restatement of the Hyperloop proposal was welcomed.

·         The commentary on homelessness in the report was welcomed as it provided a useful antidote to negative media coverage. It needed to be remembered that for each statistic there was an individual and their family. The work of Stockport Homes in this area was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be welcomed.