Agenda item

•       To update the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) on achievements made against the theme Tackling the Wider Determinants of Health in the Northumberland Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS) 2018-2028 and

•       To review and agree priorities and actions for this theme and describe proposed amendments for the remaining period of the strategy from 2023 to 2028.

•       To review indicators used to measure progress against this Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy theme

•       Comment on the national indicators aligned to this theme and other measures for understanding the qualitative impact of actions within this Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy theme

Members received a report updating them on the achievements made against this theme and were requested to review and agree priorities and actions for the period 2023-28, to review indicators used to measure progress and comment on national indicators and other measures to understand the qualitative impact of actions.

The report was presented by Rob Murfin, Director of Housing and Planning, Place and Regeneration, and Liz Robinson, Senior Public Health Manager.

The following key points were raised:-

•       The ‘Tackling the wider determinants of health’ theme in the current Strategy included the following four priorities:-

•       Tackling fuel poverty by increasing the number of households with access to affordable warmth’ and

•       Supporting people to live independently for as long as possible by maximising the use of building regulations.

•       Increasing the number of people with long term health conditions into and sustaining work.

•       Ensure local transport policy delivers on providing resilient, flexible and sustainable transport options across the county, particularly in rural area.

•       The aims relating to the priorities were outlined, along with the success against indicators.

•       Covid-19 had re-focused attention on inequalities and the building blocks of a good life.  This along with the cost of living crisis had disproportionately impacted on those with lower incomes as a larger percentage of their income was used for housing, food and energy.  There was a caveat regarding the data for the Covid-19 period as the Northumberland average masked inequalities.

•       Proposed Changes

•       Change the name of the theme from ‘Tackling the Wider Determinants of Health’ to ‘Building Blocks of Good Life’.

•       Priorities for housing broadened to include impact on health of wider strategic housing and planning issues and remained ‘Healthy Housing and Planning’.

•       Fuel poverty indicator to be supplemented with Energy Efficiency Measures, housing affordability and overcrowding indicators.

•       Closing gap in employment outcomes for people with long term physical and mental health conditions and reducing economic activity linked to poor health/disability.

•       Refreshed Priority 1 - Healthy Housing and Planning

•       Supporting Healthy Neighbourhoods through Planning

•       Blyth Deep Dive Housing and Healthy Housing Hub

•       Hirst Housing Masterplan Phase One Implementation

•       Available, Quality Housing

•       Refreshed Priority 2 – Inclusive Economy

•       Supporting the economically inactive with long term health conditions to obtain and sustain good quality work.

•       Increase access to Good quality Work.

•       Maximise the economic levers of Northumberland’s Institutions to reduce inequalities.

•       Increase in impactful, volunteering and training opportunities for economically inactive.

•       Refreshed Priority 3 – An Inclusive Transport System

•       Public and Community Transport is equitable, accessible and appealing.

•       Increase children and young people’s active travel.

•       Ensuring the built environment is conducive to active travel.

•       Measuring Progress

•       New indicators – affordability of home ownership, overcrowded houses % of properties EPC Band C and above, % economic inactivity rate

•       Retained indicators – fuel poverty, % gap in employment rate between those with long term physical or mental health conditions and overall employment rate, % adults walking for travel at least 3x per week, % adults cycling for travel at least 3x per week.

The following comments were made:-

•       Countries such as Holland and Belgium had quite aggressive policies for the provision of good cycling networks.  These should also be provided as part of developments in the UK and Local Authorities should feel confident in refusing planning permission if they were not included.

•       The Government was consulting on a new approach regarding S.106 agreements.

•       Some provisions such as cycle paths were obviously welcomed by regular cyclists but it was important to also encourage others who may not already be active.

•       There could be a knock-on effect on the price of houses if more community benefits had to be provided as part of planning approval.

•       Design of environmental space must ensure that it is safe for the public to use.  By planning ahead, the police force could ensure that it had resources in the right place.  The police would be happy to work along with planners to ensure this happened.

•       The change of name of the theme was welcomed.  It was stressed that it was important to avoid the perception that this theme related only to healthcare facilities but instead related to a ‘good life’ in a broader sense.  It was the conditions within which people were born, grow, live, work and age that had a much bigger impact on health and inequalities than healthcare services and health behaviours.  Good life included having good health.

•       There was a sub population of people including early retirees and a wealthy aging population living in rural areas.  Cycling to work etc. was not relevant here and in some rural areas was not feasible for anyone.  The occupancy of large houses was also an issue as in rural areas there was often just a token provision of affordable housing.  There needed to be affordable, downsizing opportunities.  It was acknowledged that there were different issues affecting rural areas. 

•       Consideration should be given to the indicators beyond the national statistics which may suit Northumberland’s population better.

RESOLVED

(1)    to agree to the proposed amendments to the name of the theme, priorities, and associated actions; and 

(2)    to note the comments on the national indicators aligned to this theme and other measures for understanding the qualitative impact of actions within the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Theme.