Policy and Project Advisory Board - Wednesday, 21st November, 2018 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

The confirm the Minutes of the Meetings held on 19th and 26th September, 2018 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meetings held on 19th and 26th September, 2018 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the data from the Rushmoor Healthy Weights Audit (copy attached) which examines potential influences within school catchment environments, which may be contributing to the above-average levels of younger years’ obesity in Rushmoor. 

Martin Sterio, the Council’s Health and Physical Activity Officer, to provide an update on the work being carried out by the Rushmoor Healthy Weights Local Action Group.  The Advisory Board are asked to consider the priority actions to be taken forward.

The Board received a copy of the Community Audit which studied the effects school and local environments had on childhood obesity rates in the Borough of Rushmoor which was published in October 2018.  The Council’s Health and Physical Activity Officer highlighted the key messages in the Audit and the Board was asked to consider the priority actions to be taken forward.

The purpose of the study was to examine potential influences within school catchment environments which could be contributing to the above average levels of younger years’ obesity in the Borough.  All 29 infant, junior and primary schools across Rushmoor were included in the audit which had received a 100% return rate.  The survey had asked schools for data around health and physical activity promotion, services or schemes that were provided relating to outdoor spaces, school and packed lunches, healthy eating education, extra-curricular sport activities and active travel to school.  The study highlighted that, in catchment areas where there was relatively high deprivation affecting children, the weights of Year R and Year 6 children were significantly above the Hampshire average.  Those school catchments with good open spaces and leisure facilities and a lower number of takeaway restaurants in the vicinity of the school had lower obesity rates.

There were a number of recommendations in the Audit that could be progressed in the short term, which included linking the Active Travel Team to schools not registered, encouraging all schools to sign up to the Daily/Golden Mile scheme, helping schools to access facilities to promote physical activity, and provide the survey outcomes so that best practice could be shared.  The short-term recommendations had already been actioned or were in the process of being actioned.  One of the medium/longer term actions was for the Council to establish a Local Action Group, with stakeholders to drive forward the work required to effect change within Rushmoor.

As a result a Local Action Group had been established with members from Public Health, representatives from six schools in the Borough and Hampshire County Council.  A workshop was scheduled to discuss the recommendations in the report around supporting communities and creating healthy environments, improving eating habits and increasing activity, and education and promotion.  The Local Action Group would aim to develop a series of ideas to be developed with the priority schools to reduce the obesity rates over the coming years.

The Board discussed the Audit data and recommendations and raised a number of issues for the Local Action Group and the Council to consider:

·      Accessible outdoor space recommendations to be fed into the Southwood Park Management Plan.

·      The policy on saturation of takeaways in one particular area to be addressed by Planning Services.

·      Include health visitors as a group able to advise new parents.

·      Work with takeaways restaurants to explore offering healthier alternative options.

·      Work with Rushmoor Healthy Living to address home and family life issues.

·      Run an achievement event at the end of the year for the most improved schools.

·      Reference the Local Government Association’s Healthy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider the Executive Director’s and Head of Regeneration and Property’s Joint Report No ED1808 (copy attached), which sets out options and issues regarding the Advisory Board role in the development of the Council’s policy, in relation to regeneration.

The Advisory Board considered the Joint Report ED1809 from the Executive Director and Head of Regeneration and Property which set out options and issues regarding the Advisory Board role in the development of the Council’s regeneration policy.  The Advisory Board had previously agreed that regeneration related matters should be considered by the Progress Group and/or the Advisory Board and then passed on to the relevant Task and Finish Group for further consideration.   However, the Progress Group requested further information on the key regeneration work expected over the coming 12 months to agree which groups should be involved in each area.

The areas where key regeneration decisions would be required over the coming 12 months were set out as follows:

·         Aldershot Town Centre Strategy

·         Farnborough Civic Quarter and Masterplan engagement

·         The Galleries scheme and other major planning applications by third parties

·         Rushmoor Development Partnership (RDP) site proposals for the RDP Business Plan

·         Farnborough Growth Package

·         Strategies supporting or related to regeneration e.g. parking, housing, electric vehicles, open spaces

The Advisory Board discussed each of the areas of work and agreed that the Aldershot Town Centre Strategy should be reported to the full Advisory Board early in the New Year.  The Galleries scheme was discussed and Members were concerned at the length of time it was taking for decisions to be made.  The Advisory Board was advised that regular meetings were being held with the developer and, once an application was agreed, it was proposed that the Members of the Advisory Board should be engaged with any consultation activities.  The Progress Group could then consider if any further action was required.

It was proposed that the Advisory Board should be consulted on the RDP business plan for key sites and could make recommendations to Cabinet where required.  It was expected that the outline of the business plan would be finalised in Summer 2019.

A workshop was being held on 3rd January on the Farnborough Civic Quarter and all Members of the Advisory Board were encouraged to attend, if required an item could be included on a future agenda if Members wished to recommend any matters to the RDP or Cabinet.  It was agreed that the Farnborough Civic Quarter Masterplan should also be reported to the full Advisory Board.  The public engagement on the Farnborough Civic Quarter Masterplan was discussed and officers were encouraged to ensure that public engagement was interactive and well publicised.  It was agreed that any strategies supporting or related to regeneration be reported to the full Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board supported that all issues relating to regeneration policy and consultation should be reported to the Progress Group and/or the full Advisory Board.  It was agreed, as a consequence, that the Farnborough Regeneration Task and Finish Group and the Aldershot Regeneration Task and Finish Group should be dissolved as the issues were of significant importance and of interest to all Members of the Advisory Board.