Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report on the progress and outcomes of the East Herts Community Health and Wellbeing Fund – Phase One projects. The Environmental Health Promotion Officer provided a summary of the report and gave an update on the 14 bids which had been supported by the Council and comprising three themes: Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Healthy Living. 

The Environmental Health Promotion Officer explained the background to the funding and that £170,000 remained in the combined health and wellbeing fund and the Members’ matched funding budget for health and wellbeing projects.  The Chairman thanked the Officers and acknowledged the extensive work which had gone into developing the projects and the successes achieved.  The Environmental Health Promotion Officer referred to the ‘Meet and Eat’ healthy eating scheme which could be a means of supporting those with malnutrition and supporting social networks for the elderly. The need to work with the community on this issue was recognised.  In response to a query from Councillor M Stevenson, the Environmental Health Officer provided an update on the project at Bircherley Court about the ‘Meet and Eat’ project work.

Councillor J Jones congratulated Officers in relation to the ongoing health initiatives.  He referred to the need to support projects such as the cessation of smoking.  The Environmental Health Promotion Officer and the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing reminded Members of the work it had already undertaken in relation to “Stop Smoking” initiatives both at a local level and in supporting county-wide and national campaigns.  

Councillor P Boylan sought clarification on how best to provide ongoing support to health initiatives and avoid duplication of effort.  He referred to the need to ensure that the Council developed health profiles for wards to ensure that projects were tailored to meet the health needs of those wards.  The Environmental Health Promotion Officer noted that the Council currently used ward level health data and the “tartan rug”, a health comparison table of health indicators which Hertfordshire County Council Public Health and East Herts regularly used in developing appropriate projects.

In response to a query from Councillor P Ballam regarding ward profiles, the Head of Housing and Health explained that Officers were able to drill down  data about health profiles to focus on what was needed in specific areasCouncillor S Bull referred to what he viewed as the  growing impact on health of excessive drinking.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing reminded Members that there would be a detailed report presented in March 2017 which would review the Council’s future agenda in terms of health and wellbeing. 

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that the effectiveness of the projects be noted and best practice shared.