Agenda item

To review performance against the Council Plan 2015-20 for the period 1st April 2015 – 31st March 2016.

Mrs Ruth Henshaw, Corporate Development Officer advised that Council Plan key performance indicators (KPIs) had been set by the Corporate Leadership Team. The report covered performance for 2015-2016 in relation to health KPIs. These had previously been reported to the Resilient Communities Scrutiny Committee who had been responsible for health scrutiny functions.

Overall performance was good but there were three exceptions where performance was not on target. These were non-opiate drug users completing treatment successfully and sustaining progress; numbers of overweight children aged 10-11 years old and the percentage take-up of NHS Health Checks (adults aged 40-74 years old).

The Chair queried why there was a significant difference in non-opiate and opiate drug users completing treatment successfully and sustaining progress. Councillor Cain explained that a drugs strategy was being developed and suggested that detailed information could be provided for the Committee’s next meeting.

Members referred to tackling the problem of overweight children and raised concerns that vending machines selling unhealthy snacks were located in some health centres, and that with the high levels of tourism a large number of unhealthy snacks were readily available.  The Committee also commented on the importance of parental responsibility and queried what work was being done with parents.

Councillor Cain noted the issue of overweight children and unhealthy snacks being sold in health centres and undertook to take the issue forward through the Health and Wellbeing Board. He added that there were various initiatives underway to support young people such as the Better Start Programme and the Head Start Programme supporting teenagers.

Mrs Lynn Donkin, Public Health Specialist explained that developing better health for people was a complex area with a range of work required. She gave the example of a successful campaign ‘Give up Loving Pop’ (GULP) which had encouraged young people to give up fizzy drinks for at least a month. There was no direct work with parents although there were initiatives such as Better Start, an Outreach Strategy and healthy choices were promoted through an awards scheme for healthier catering.  She added that the Council and partners had signed up to a ‘Healthy Weight Initiative’ and joint work had been developed through the Healthy Weight Steering Group.

Members queried why the percentage take-up of NHS Health Checks (adults aged 40-74 years old) had decreased. In response, Mrs Liz Petch, Public Health Specialist explained that this was mainly due to more accurate data recording at GP practices rather than a real drop in health checks. Some GPs had been recording health information in the wrong data fields but data quality had improved. She added that Blackpool was one of the top ten areas in the country for levels of health checks.

Members noted that one of the key projects in the 2015-2020 Council Plan period was the ‘New Business District’ which aimed to attract more professionals to work in Blackpool town centre.  Members recognised that previously there had been an increase of professionals with a higher than average disposable income working locally and considered that professionals would have a positive impact on the wider wellbeing of the town.

The Chair queried how much confidence there was that red indicators would have improved for the next performance report in September 2016. In response, Councillor Cain explained that a lot of work needed to be undertaken in partnership and that all partners wanted to tackle areas of concern. He added that continuous improvement was always sought and best use needed to be made of resources including extra resource when viable.

The Committee agreed:

1.      To receive detailed information on the significant difference in non-

       opiate and opiate drug users completing treatment successfully at the next 

       meeting.

2.      To receive an update from the Cabinet Secretary concerning progress with tackling overweight children with particular reference to unhealthy snacks being sold in health centres.