Agenda item

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Interim Director of Public Health, outlining the performance of services delivered to children and services which aim to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Ms K Sharp, Head of Public Health Commissioning, was in attendance for this item.

1.            Ms Sharp introduced the report and highlighted trends in performance across the various health improvement plan targets.  Although the number of women breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks had fallen in most areas in the last year, it was hoped that recent work on the community infant feeding service would soon start to show an impact. Ms Sharp, Mr Scott-Clark and Mr Ireland responded to comments from Members, as follows:-

a)     concern was expressed that performance on reducing childhood obesity had not improved, despite targeted investment and work.  The percentage of children who were overweight increased between the Reception year and Year 6, when the target was for this percentage to decrease over this time. Building better links to the school nursing service and giving families information and guidance on how to address the issue would all help;

b)      the increase in childhood obesity between the ages stated was caused partly due to the fact that children became less active as they grew older. Parents looked to professionals to address the issue, whereas they should be addressing the issue at home, by controlling meals and encouraging their children to be active rather than sitting in front of a television or computer screen; 

c)      it was suggested that the County Council could look into a scheme to offer discounts on scooters.  Children needed to have an incentive to be active.  The Chairman added that a school in her division had extended its scooter parking area and encouraged children to travel to school on scooters;

d)     the ‘walk on Wednesday’ initiative, in which parents were encouraged to walk their children to school one day a week, could be extended to every day of the week.  However, this would present a challenge to parents who could not take the time to walk due to their working hours.  Some parents were reluctant to allow their children to cycle to school, and to address the safety of cycling on Kent’s roads would help to reassure them, and encourage cycling;

e)     although the rate of childhood obesity was not as low as desired, it would be useful to imagine how high it might have been without the initiatives and projects which had been put in place in recent years.  The level of childhood obesity had plateaued, which was preferable to it increasing, but what was needed now was for it to reduce. A combination of diet and physical activity was important to address this, and could also benefit mental health, heart health and have general long-term health effects;

f)       the County Council could seek to influence food manufacturers to reduce the level of sugar and salt, preservatives and E numbers in prepared foods;

g)     dance classes could be offered in school. Children who did not enjoy traditional PE lessons may enjoy dancing instead;

h)     young people volunteering for community projects could be rewarded with discount vouchers for sports and activities such as swimming at their local leisure centre; and

i)       some local councils installed outdoor gym equipment in public areas, for the free use of the community.  Such facilities, once installed, had no ongoing costs.

2.         The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Mr G K Gibbens, commented that the breastfeeding figures were disappointing, in the light of the emphasis placed upon the importance of the first three years of a child’s life in addressing health inequalities.

3.         RESOLVED that the current performance and the actions taken by public health be noted.