To gain approval and support for Herefordshire’s Physical Activity strategy.

The board received a report on Herefordshire’s Physical Activity Strategy. Kay Higman (Associate Consultant at Strategic Leisure) explained that the purpose of the report was to gain approval and support from the Health and Wellbeing Board for Herefordshire’s Physical Activity Strategy. Partners across Herefordshire would work together to support, expand and deliver physical activity across the county, reducing health inequalities and promoting health and wellbeing. The vision was  ‘ In Herefordshire every person has the opportunity to: get moving, be active, feel better, keep well and enjoy healthier lives as part of everyday life in their local community. She then explained the process and methodology involved in putting the report together.

Board members were invited to comment, the principal points were:

·       The board welcomed and praised the strategy and felt it would be a key tool in tackling health inequalities within the county.

·       The board suggested that there was a need to prioritise deprived areas and communities where the facilities to engage in physical activity were limited or didn’t exist.

·       Talk Community’s work in promoting physical activity including holiday activity funds, swimming lessons and gym membership was highlighted a phenomenal success.

·       The work being done in the county and the strategy were applauded, but the board considered whether enough was being done and if there was room for improvement.

·       It was felt that the local council facilities such as Halo should be promoted more widely.

·       It was felt that there was a greater need for involvement with development planners to ensure that new projects and leisure were safe and convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to reach.

RESOLVED: That:

a) The Health and Wellbeing Board approves Herefordshire’s Physical Activity strategy; and

b) Health and Wellbeing Board member organisations support and engage in activity within the strategy.

c) The board will encourage the Herefordshire Council to promote Halo and other council facilities in line with the strategy.

d) The board will encourage the Herefordshire Council to be a facilitator of this strategy and use Talk Community to help local communities to help themselves.

e) Public Health will engage with the planning department to ensure infrastructure is in place to engage with the strategy and ensure active transport is one of its fundamental priorities in the planning application processes.