Agenda item

This report provides an update on the development of an Active Wellbeing Strategy for the Borough, which supersedes the Sport & Physical Activity Strategy, reflecting up-to-date policy at national level in this sector. 

Nigel Court, Interim Lead for Sport and Active Wellbeing, introduced the report which provided an update on the development of an Active Wellbeing Strategy for the Borough. This superseded the Sport & Physical Activity Strategy and included a national policy update.

The following points were noted:

• Details on the development of the Active Wellbeing Strategy.
• The strategic themes of getting people who were inactive or minimally active to become more active through:

1.     Active People (and it’s aims)

2.     Active Communities (and it’s aims)

3.     and Active Environment ( and it’s aims)

• Local Public Health data and the specific challenges for Hammersmith and Fulham.
• Information on a life course to public health.
• The importance of physical activity and national recommendations.
• Key considerations: Barriers to participation (to physical activity) and the benefits of participation.
• Details on the Next Steps including:

1.     Establish Governance (April 25)

2.     Develop key actions with Partners (May 25)

3.     Strategy draft and Action Plan ready for approval (July 25)

4.     Final Strategy (Dec 25 latest)

Councillor Ashok Patel commented there were a significant number of positive points to take from the report, including the uptake of physical activity and 73% of residents achieving the recommended minimum of 150 minutes per week of physical activity. However, he remained concerned about the time spent by young people on smart phones / online gaming and asked what action could be taken to reduce this. He asked if there was a campaign whereby the Council went into secondary schools to explain the benefits of being active in sports and physical activity. In response, Nigel Court confirmed that part of the action plan was ensuring the best people delivered that message to pupils in schools. From the Council’s point of view, it had the challenge of making the opportunity to be physically active something that young people wanted to do.

Nigel Court explained that young women at secondary school were a key a target group and the Council needed to listen to feedback, stakeholders and to select key role models from community groups to encourage the uptake in physical activity.

Councillor Jackie Borland commented on the life expectancy statistics and asked about the Playing Pitch Strategy which she urged was completed as quickly as possible. Speaking about the three parks in her ward, Councillor Jackie Borland commented that the all-weather pitch and some of the rugby pitches were in need of renewal (at Hurlingham Park). Although it was admirable to be reaching out to everyone to become more active, the Council needed to have sight of its current users and facilities that required attention. Councillor Jackie Borland highlighted that green spaces were limited and these had to contend with often conflicting uses, and it was a case of striking the right balance.

In response, Nigel Court explained that Hurlingham Park did have a Master Plan which had been developed to deliver improvements. Referring to other resources in the borough, he highlighted that the Linford Christie Stadium was being refurbished, and schools were already booking slots in April so they could use the facility from September 2025. Nigel Court also explained the Parks Team also actively explored Section 106 funding opportunities to ensure funding was invested in local infrastructure / green spaces.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang highlighted the value of case studies and asked if several examples of best practice could be incorporated into the strategy, He highlighted the importance of engaging with particular groups, such as schools, on health and well-being and the benefits of exercise.

In response, Val Birchall confirmed that the Council had tried to expand the group of providers it was speaking to, and recently had held a day-long event which included the Sands End Arts and Community Centre (SEACC), Dance West and a wide range of providers. One of the key messages was that these groups wished to see improved co-ordination between them so that they could share practices that worked, as well as enhancing the referral process for users to different activities. Nigel Court highlighted the three football clubs in the borough and cited these as a good example of partners working together, rather than competing against each other.

In response, Councillor Adam Peter Lang commented that the strategy needed to include some more evidence about what approaches worked and those that did not. In response, Nigel Court confirmed that there was scope to improve communications from the Council so that groups knew what activities were taking place in communities throughout the borough. He confirmed this had been integrated into the Action Plan.

The Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan, commented he was encouraged by the progress which had been made. He noted there were some actions that were ready to be implemented to improve physical activity levels amongst the 18 to 20% inactive category. The Chair asked what the communications were in the next 6 months for inactive groups, who were they and what actions could be taken to encourage them to become more active. He noted there were national strategies to address inactivity and also the benefits of introducing (popular) more women-only sessions to improve activity levels.

In response, Nigel Court explained the Council would be contacting community leaders to help identify those sectors with the greatest inactivity levels, so that tailored plans could be created to address the issue. In relation to women-only sessions, Nigel Court confirmed the Council would be looking at Leisure Centre opening hours and identifying those times where more sessions could be delivered at off peak times in conjunction with the Council’s partners.

Val Birchall added the Council was part of a National Wellbeing Network which was working with health professionals at a national level. She highlighted there were ongoing concerns about the state of national health and a number of campaigns were ongoing to address inactivity, such as ‘the more ball games’ campaign (replacing ‘no ball games’) to encourage children to participate in active play. Val Birchall also explained the Council was working in partnership with Public Heath as another way of reaching people, and taking a systems-based approach, the Council could identify where people were and how to reach them.

Concluding the item, the Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan commented he would be interested to learn more about the wider communications strategy but also how the tailored plans for certain groups were working (in future reports). The Chair noted that the outdoor gyms across the borough were well used and where facilities had been upgraded, such as at Hammersmith Park, the facilities were excellent. It was also encouraging to hear there was a wider roll-out of improvements to park facilities across the borough. The Chair was pleased that work was ongoing, and action was being taken ahead of the formal approval of the strategy. In terms of future reports, the Chair asked for these to incorporate details on how pitches were being maintained and upgraded and encouraging children, and especially young girls going into secondary school to remain physically active. He also requested future reports to include details on the identification and implementation of good practices and how the strategy was working for inactive groups.

RESOLVED

1. That the Committee review the report and provide comments.