Apologies were received from Councillor Nuala Young.

Councillor Campbell apologised for his expected late arrival.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have on items contained in this agenda.

None

Contact Officer: Lois Stock (Democratic and Electoral Services Officer), Tel 01865 252275, lstock@oxford.gov.uk

The Head of Law and Governance submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) introducing this Select Committee topic and providing a framework for questions.

The Select Committee would investigate the means by which City council owned Community Centres are, or can be, used as part of the local offer of programmes and activities aimed at well being and health improvement.

Introduction.

Councillor Graham Jones, as one of the two Lead Members (along with Councillor Dee Sinclair) introduced this item and welcomed all the guest speakers to the meeting. He explained that the aim of the Select Committee was to concentrate on what the City Council could reasonably achieve, and to find a course of action that would be both deliverable and measurable. It was hoped that recommendations could be drafted ready for submission to City Executive Board by early April 2012.

Councillor Jones clarified the three basic questions which guest speakers were invited to consider. These were:-

1.                  What is the position now?

2.                  Where are the gaps in service provision?

3.                  Can any gaps be filled by making better use of the City council’s Community Centres? If so, what should be our focus and if further investment is needed, how can funding be found?

The following witnesses were then introduced:

Jackie Wilderspin – Assistant Director of Public Health, Oxfordshire PCT;

Val Johnson – Partnership Development Officer, Oxford City Council;

Dr Peter Voneichstorff – GP, Bartlemas Surgery, and member of the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG);

Lucy Cherry – Leisure Manager, Oxford City Council;

Neil Holman – Active Communities Partnership Manager, Oxford City Council;

Angela Cristofoli – Communities and Neighbourhoods Manager, Oxford City Council;

Mark Spriggs, Locality Officer, Oxford City Council.

First witnesses: Jackie Wilderspin and Val Johnson

Introduction:

Jackie Wilderspin explained that public health was not solely the concern of health professionals, but that the City Council and Councillors also had a crucial part to play. There were many factors that influenced health, and the City Council in turn could influence some of these factors. These were:

• Age, gender, genetics
• Lifestyle choices;
• Community and social networks;
• Housing, employment, income.

(As shown in the diagram below)

The City Council was able to have a direct influence on many of these aspects of public health. Valuable work concerning “Breaking the Cycle of Deprivation” was already going on within the City, which, it was hoped, would give people the chance to make better choices about health in future. Councillor Val Smith was Vice Chair of the Health Improvement board, which focussed on prevention of chronic disease such as heart disease that was often caused by lifestyle. This Board would meet at the end of February 2012. It had been found that people in the most deprived parts of Oxford often died prematurely (that is, under the age of 75) of heart disease, stroke or cancer, and it was in the most deprived areas that there was the highest prevalence of smoking, obesity and lack of exercise. These areas had not even reached  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Contact Officer: Pat Jones (Principal Scrutiny Officer), Tel 01865 252191, phjones@oxford.gov.uk

Item deferred until the next meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on 17^th October 2011 attached

Resolved to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th October 2011.

The following dates have been agreed by Council:

7^th February 2012

2^nd April 2012

Please note that the Committee will meet at 6pm.

Resolved to note the following dates:-

7^th February 2012

2^nd April 2012.