Agenda item

To review action taken to address childhood obesity in Westminster.

5.1       Sarah Crouch (Public Health), Gaynor Driscoll (Head of Public Health Commissioning) and Dr Alison Treadstone (Chief Nutritionist at Public Health England) introduced the report, which provided an update on childhood obesity in Westminster.

5.2       In response to questions the Committee was informed that the height and weight of schoolchildren in Westminster was measured annually. This data revealed that there had been a significant decline in rates of obesity amongst reception age children in Westminster since 2016/17. This was a positive outcome of local efforts to prevent obesity across maternity and early years services, however these trends masked a widening inequality between children of the most and least deprived wards.

5.3       Further information on the work undertaken in Westminster in response to the issue of obesity was requested. The Committee noted that Westminster’s Public Health Team had developed a new programme entitled Tackling Childhood Obesity Together, which aimed to halt and reverse the rising trend in childhood obesity across Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. As part of the whole systems approach taken in Westminster, opportunities were identified within the Council and with partners to make positive changes to the wider environment that contributed to reducing childhood obesity. The Committee discussed in detail the following areas of opportunity that had been identified:

·           Water Fountains – Members were pleased to note that Westminster’s leisure contractor had installed water fountains in entrance foyers that were accessible to the public and had banned price promotions on sugary drinks. Community Services was also improving access by installing water fountains in all WCC libraries. The Committee was also particularly keen to support the promotion of water fountains in schools to reduce consumption of sugary drinks and help combat obesity and tooth decay. The Committee agreed that a letter be sent to the Cabinet Member for Family Services and Public Health requesting that the installation and use of water fountains across Westminster as a way of helping tackle childhood obesity, as well as realising other benefits, be promoted.

·           Fast Food Outlets – 58 food businesses had achieved the Healthier Catering Commitment award, a joint initiative led by Environmental Health, which made it easier for residents to make healthier food choices. Work had also been undertaken with secondary schools to identify fast food outlets most used by schoolchildren. The Committee commended the work carried out to date but following a discussion requested that a letter be sent to the Cabinet for Place Shaping and Planning requesting that investigations be undertaken into the possibility of preventing new fast food outlets from opening within a reasonable distance of schools.

·           Physical Activity – The Committee noted the introduction of various physical activity initiatives to help combat obesity. These included the Council supporting schools to implement the Daily Mile initiative, of which approximately 50% of primary schools in Westminster were now actively participating in. Also, the implementation of a Junior Parkrun at Paddington Recreation Grounds was welcomed.

RESOLVED:

1)        That the Committee write to the Cabinet Member for Family Services and Public Health to urge that the installation and use of water fountains across Westminster be promoted as a way of helping tackle childhood obesity, as well as realising other benefits; and

2)        That the Committee write to the Cabinet Member for Place Shaping and Planning to investigate the possibility of preventing new fast food outlets opening within a reasonable distance of schools.