Issue - meetings

The Council on 9th April 2014 approved the Draft Fit for Life strategy for formal consultation prior to adoption. This consultation has now been undertaken and final changes made.  Cabinet is now asked to adopt the Policy.

Councillor David Dixon introduced the item by emphasising that fitness must not be only about leisure centres but was about lifestyle.  He said that the proposals before Cabinet would build on the work done by the Get Active Partnership.  He moved that Cabinet adopt the Fit for Life Strategy.

Councillor Simon Allen seconded the proposal.  He felt that the strategy would reap benefits for years to come.  He agreed that the proposals were not just about facilities but about lifestyle choices.  He regretted that 10% of the entire NHS budget was spent treating diabetes when 20 minutes activity per day would be more beneficial.

Councillor Dine Romero welcomed the investment in sports facilities but agreed that the important thing was to foster the normalisation of getting and staying fit through lifestyle.  She welcomed the fact that the strategy would link into other strategies and other partners.

Councillor Paul Crossley said that the proposals were essentially about enjoyable ways of staying well.  He referred to Appendix 6 of the Strategy which showed that Bath & NE Somerset outperformed the national average in every performance measure.  He also welcomed the news that the smoking cessation agenda was working and that smoking had been reduced to 16%.

Councillor David Dixon summed up by welcoming the “Park Runs” recently started by a member of the public and felt that this was an example of how the strategy worked best.

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

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ADOPT the ‘Fit for Life’ strategy.

The strategy sets out the priorities for Bath and North East Somerset for physical activity which have been determined using existing provision, consultation, research, other strategies and plans and emerging trends and issues.  The strategy 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.

The PDS Panel are asked to comment and approve the draft ‘Fit for Life’ strategy for further public consultation.

The Public Health Development Manager gave a power point presentation on “Fit for Life” – An Active Living Strategy which set out the priorities for B&nes for physical activity which have been determined using existing provision, consultation, research, other strategies and plans and emerging trends and issues. The Strategy showed the Council’s commitment to improving opportunities to get more people active and healthy and enable greater involvement from all sectors to develop services that provide and facilitate an active lifestyle for all B&nes’ residents. The vision for the Strategy was “to get more people more active, more often, leading to improved health and wellbeing and the creation of stronger, safer communities for all”. A hard copy of the presentation was circulated to Members.

The report provided by the Public Health Development Manager was considered by Members and requested the Panel to comment and approve the draft “Fit for Life” Strategy for further public consultation.

Members asked various questions to which the Officer responded. Comments were made by Members on the Strategy document. These included:

·  it could be difficult to incentivise people to exercise and perhaps more could be done on this aspect

·  allotments had a role to play in helping people to keep fit and perhaps one could be provided for disabled people in Keynsham if there is sufficient demand and appropriate funding

·  the Council has a statutory duty to protect public health and wellbeing but people did not always have, or make, the time due to everyday commitments. This could be overcome by promoting sports clubs etc which could encourage people to associate more and motivate them to keep active on a routine basis

·  the potential global savings could be indicated in the document

·  people could derive a lot of benefit mentally as well as physically from participation with others in trying to maintain an active lifestyle

The Chair thanked the Officer for her presentation and approved the draft Strategy for further public consultation.