Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to present Members of the Task Group with the draft final report in relation to the Childhood Obesity Review. Members are asked to consider whether they wish to gather evidence and if so what information they require.

Members considered the draft final report in relation to the Childhood Obesity Review, contained at Appendix 1. It was confirmed that if Members felt that they had sufficient evidence then they should identify some key findings and formulate recommendations for inclusion within the draft final report.

Discussions were undertaken on the findings arising from the vast amount of information they had received and Members pointed out that it appeared there was a need for a joined up approach to tackling these issues.

Members received additional information on changes in the role of the School Health Nurse in relation to childhood obesity and the work presently being undertaken in Leeds together with the related pathways.

Members went onto consider the findings, particularly those detailed in the report, paragraphs 24, 25, 50 and 75 and made a number of comments including:

• From data available an assessment of the impact of work being undertaken at the present time and the likely impact of any additional measures put in place was required;
• Various pathway issues;
• Joined up thinking was required to promote a healthy diet, the education of parents and the need for regular exercise;
• Cost of school meals was a disincentive;
• Questioned PCT financial input in relation to obesity issues;
• Measured PE activity time in schools could include travel time to swimming baths and the desk based teaching of new skills;
• Designation of a lead officer who could work with Head Teachers;
• Again stressed that children were more aware of a healthy diet than were their parents;
• Need for exercise provision to be accessible locally;
• Noted that there was a tendency for girls between the ages of 13-15 years to move away from physical activity;
• Need to feed into the Safe Routes to School Programme and School Travel Plans Scrutiny Committee’s work.

The Scrutiny Officer agreed to obtain the following additional information for inclusion in the final report:

• Details of how many of the schools accredited with National Healthy Schools Status had progressed to the enhanced programme and which priority had they chosen e.g. obesity;
• Clarification required from NHS North Yorkshire and York in relation to Annex P ‘How funding is spent tackling Childhood Obesity in York’, in particular a breakdown of funding related to childhood obesity.

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that a copy of the final draft report would be sent to Task Group members by email towards the end of August 2010 for their information.

RESOLVED:    i) That the following recommendations be included within the draft final report:

1. That a dedicated lead Officer within the City of York Council (jointly commissioned with the PCT) be appointed with the responsibility of leading the Childhood Obesity agenda forward this to include:

·        The establishment of pathways of intervention throughout childhood, young adulthood and continuing into adulthood to prevent gaps in provision.

·        The exploration of good practice in other authorities.

·        Emphasis on all forms of physical activity for all ages in particular girls aged 13-15 years.

2.   There should be a revision of what NHS North Yorkshire and York commission from school nurses to include more work on supporting families and the childhood obesity programmes.

ii)That the documents received as part of the review (Annexes A to P) not be included as annexes to the draft final report but published online for information only.

REASON:                  In order to progress this review.