Agenda item

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 Weights, Healthy Futures document which showcased a number of actions being undertake across the country to tackle childhood obesity.

The recommendations from the Board would be reported to the Local Action Group for consideration.  The actions agreed at the Local Action Group would be reported to the Progress Group.  A progress report on the actions would be compiled which would be monitored by the Progress Group and any substantive issues would be reported back to the Board.