Issue - meetings

The strategy sets out the priorities for physical activity which have been determined using existing provision, consultation, research, other strategies and plans and emerging trends and issues.  It shows the Council’s commitment to improving opportunities to get more people active and healthy and enable greater involvement from all sectors to develop services which promote and facilitate an active lifestyle for all our residents.  A key function of the strategy is to form the basis for a procurement process for a new leisure contract, which is outlined in the built facility section of the strategy.

Councillor David Dixon introduced the item by welcoming to the meeting Chris Scullion and Emma Savage, who had set up two teams to engage the community in healthy activity and who were examples of the thrust of the new leisure strategy.  He felt that the emphasis should be on getting people to be a little active now and then.  He referred to paragraph 5.19 of the report, which explained that the four main themes of being fit for life were active lifestyle, active travel, active design and active environment.  He asked Cabinet to approve the strategy for further consultation.

Councillor Simon Allen seconded the proposal.  He referred to paragraph 5.17 of the report which listed the challenges people face which might prevent them from becoming or staying fit for life.  He reminded Cabinet that the strategy linked into the Health and Wellbeing Board and in the area of health inequalities there was a particular common interest.

Councillor Tim Ball supported the policy and agreed that sometimes planning policies can be unhelpful in this regard.  He welcomed however the emerging design of the Fox Hill development, which would have ample open space planned into the area.

Councillor Paul Crossley welcomed this very important paper, including the working with the NHS.  He regretted that 26% of reception children were overweight but felt that the Council and its partners had begun to take some very positive steps to design in safety, access and facilities which would encourage healthy living.

On a motion from Councillor David Dixon, seconded by Councillor Simon Allen, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To APPROVE the draft ‘Fit for Life’ strategy for further public consultation.