Decision details

Annual Report of the Director for Public Health

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Committee welcomed the Councillor Helena Hart, the Cabinet Member for Public Health, and the Director of Public Health, Dr Andrew Howe, for the item. 

 

Dr Howe advised the Committee that the Report was a top level overview rather than a detailed performance report.  It was noted that statistics and trends were set out in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and detailed performance targets were set out in the Health & Well-Being Strategy and Public Health Outcomes Framework.  As such, the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report was a call to action on physical activity rather than a detailed strategy and action plan. 

 

Responding to a question, the Cabinet Member for Public Health reported that the Council’s outdoor gyms would have a variety of equipment to cater for all abilities and that the existing one at Oak Hill Park was well used.  She advised the Committee that there was an average of eight to 10 pieces of equipment in each outdoor gym. 

 

A Member questioned how physical activity in schools was being monitored.  The Director for Public Health reported that Barnet had a Healthy Schools Programme.  The Public Health team undertook outreach work to provide materials and review the school’s curriculum.  It was noted that this was primarily targeted at primary schools.

 

Members questioned how successfully public health had been integrated into the Council, particularly in relation to the design of residential developments and urban spaces.  Dr Howe reported that integration into the Council had progressed well, adding that he had been in discussions with the Regeneration team regarding integration of the public health agenda into strategic planning.  A Member highlighted that Health Impact Assessments should be integrated into planning at the correct stage.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.         The Committee note the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2013 as set out above.

 

2.         The Committee request that the Director of Public Health present a report to a future meeting to provide an update on the call to action on physical activity and delivery against targets in the Health and Well-Being Strategy.

 

Report author: Dr Andrew Howe

Publication date: 11/04/2014

Date of decision: 12/03/2014

Decided at meeting: 12/03/2014 - Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Accompanying Documents: