Issue - meetings

To discuss any action required following members briefing on 16th August 2018 from Dr Dixon, Dr Chandler and Ruby Entwistle, Advanced Public Health Practitioner from Devon County Council.

The Committee were given an overview from the Public Health Officer and discussed the recent Members briefing which had been held on 16^th August 2018 and included input from Dr Dixon, Dr Chandler & Ruby Entwistle Advanced Public Health Practitioner (DCC).

Discussion took place regarding the current public health campaigns that the Council were already promoting including Sugar Smart and the Small Step programme. The leisure centres were currently involved in the Active Start programme.

The Committee were mindful that there were limited options that the Council could do as Public Health was a statutory function of Devon County Council and that there was currently no budget available to put resources into formally signing up to all of the campaigns.

The Leader stated that the briefing was inspirational and the most important one he had attended during his time on the Council. He explained that he had attended the opening of the Culm Valley Surgery garden at the request of Dr Dixon. He explained that Dr Dixon was keen to be involved, as a medical expert, in the decisions made by Council and the Leader encouraged the Committee to include him in future discussions.

Discussion then took place regarding the on-line and social media options available to the Council to promote healthy living.

The Committee decided that the Public Health Officer would report back at the November meeting with a communication strategy for promoting public health initiatives to the residents of Mid Devon. It was specifically requested that the report include a scale of proposed resources and what would be achievable within different levels of funding.