Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 9

16 September 2004

Healthy Lifestyles - Healthy Hampshire

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Jo Hale ext. 7717 [email protected].

Julie Amies ext 6029 [email protected]

1. Summary

The following decisions are sought:

(i) To welcome the principle of a Healthy Hampshire Project,

(ii) To support the proposed 2005 Healthy Hampshire Festival as part of the Hampshire Youth Games, Parallel Games and Mini Games.

(iii) That partnerships with other relevant agencies and voluntary bodies be strengthened and promoted

(iv) That the report be drawn to the attention of the Health Review Committee.

2. Reason

By working in partnership to provide a range of opportunities for people to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle the Recreation and Heritage Department contributes towards the corporate aims of both Aim 1 - Maximising life opportunities and Corporate Aim 4 - Building strong and safe communities.

3. Other options considered and rejected

- do not undertake Healthy Hampshire Project

- undertake Healthy Hampshire Project without a pilot in 2005

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive

Member consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: (signature) Date: (date of decision)

................................. ...............................

Councillor J. Waddington

Contact: Jo Hale, ext. 7717 [email protected].

Julie Amies, ext 6029 [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The importance of encouraging the residents of Hampshire to adopt an active healthy lifestyle is recognised in the vision and themes of the Community Strategy for Hampshire 2004-2007. The Recreation and Heritage Department already provides a number of services, particularly through Sports, Arts and the Countryside Service, that aim to increase the number of people, and the time that they spend, taking part in an active lifestyle. This report outlines a proposal to build on our current activity and work in partnership to encourage more people to adopt an active lifestyle.

1.2 By working in partnership to provide a range of opportunities for people to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle the Recreation and Heritage Department contributes towards the corporate aims of both Aim 1 - Maximising life opportunities and Corporate Aim 4 - Building strong and safe communities.

2. Purpose of the report

2.1 The purpose of this report is to seek Member support for the proposed Healthy Hampshire Project for 2005-2007.

3. Background

3.1 Hampshire scores well on many indicators of health compared to the rest of the country although there are still public health challenges facing the county. In particular there is a close relationship between income inequalities and poor health, with some districts, in Hampshire, among the worst 30% in England for circulatory disease. Hampshire is similar to the rest of the UK in terms of mental health problems, obesity and drug and alcohol abuse.

3.2 It has been shown that physical activity can address some of these issues by reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and obesity as well as contributing to mental wellbeing.

4. Walking and Cycling

4.1 Walking and cycling offer people a low cost opportunity of building exercise into their daily routine, as a mode of transport or leisure pursuit. In addition to the health benefits, increased levels of walking and cycling improve social interaction, sense of community and contribute to improving the environment and quality of our green space.

4.2 The Recreation & Heritage Department in Hampshire County Council plays an extremely important role in the development and promotion of walking and cycling within the county, including:

_ Responsibility for managing rights of way and other access routes across the county,

_ Production of a twice yearly guided walks and cycle rides brochure and web information with over 1,150 walking and cycling activities. This promotes walks led by volunteers and officers on rights of way, Hampshire County Council countryside sites and other sites across the county (including healthy walks, see below)

_ Off road and on road cycle route maps, leaflets and web information,

_ Developing and improving the walking and cycling network,

_ Promoting more sustainable transport solutions including linking walks to bus routes and improvements to cycle parking

_ Developing self guided healthy walks as a specific project in partnership with New Forest District Council.

4.3 To date Hampshire County Council's Hampshire Paths Partnership project has developed a total of nine independent health walks in Fawley, Hythe & Dibden and Marchwood in partnership with New Forest District Council. This work is continuing and walks are now being developed in Ringwood and Fordingbridge.

4.4 The Countryside Agency's Walking to Health Initiative aims to get more people walking in their own communities. The Initiative funds many local projects that are delivered by local authorities and Primary Care Trusts. In Hampshire a number of health walks have been developed by local authorities, primary care trusts and community organisations these include:

_ Over seven health walking schemes have been developed by East Hampshire Health Promotion in partnership with HBC and EHBC. This includes self guided and guided walks.

_ Five schemes operated by Portsmouth City Council.

_ Eastleigh Borough Healthwalks Scheme has a number of independent walks and guided walks are held every day of the week.

_ Gosport Borough Council have developed nine walks that are guided three times a week.

_ Test Valley Borough Council have schemes in Romsey and Andover with over seven self guided walks and led walks.

_ The Triangle Centre in Liss runs guided health walks three times a week.

_ Southampton City Council has produced a pack of self guided walks and walks are led every weekday.

5. Healthy Hampshire Project

5.1 The proposed Healthy Hampshire Project aims to inspire more people to walk and cycle as part of an active lifestyle and in doing so will contribute to the vision for Hampshire outlined by the Hampshire Strategic Partnership and contribute to the Healthy Communities target in Hampshire's local public service agreement.

5.2 Hampshire's country parks, countryside sites, coast, rights of way, canals, rivers and informal green spaces around villages and towns offers a natural resource, at little cost for Hampshire County Council to focus this project.

5.3 The Healthy Hampshire Project will achieve this aim through:

_ Holding targeted events around the county to show case the range of activities that contribute to peoples health,

_ Improving the infrastructure and accessibility of countryside and green space around towns,

_ Raising awareness of all the opportunities that already exist in the county and developing more activity with partner organisations,

_ Encourage residents in Hampshire to take up walking and cycling through promotions.

5.4 It is proposed to pilot the project in 2005 to include:

_ A Healthy Hampshire : Healthy You Festival as part of the Hampshire Youth Games held at Aldershot in June 2005. The Hampshire Youth Games is attended by over 1,500 young people from around the county who represent their districts in a range of sporting events including; netball, football, athletics amongst others. In addition the Parallel Games involves over 400 young disabled people across the county to take part in fun and enjoyable activities and sports and the Mini Youth Games attracts nearly 900 young people. All the Games have challenge zones for parents, spectators and children to take part in during the day, these could be extended to include:

- Guided walks and guided cycle rides to take place on the day.

- Stands, information and goodies to raise awareness of healthy eating, sustainable transport, healthy walking schemes, healthy schools and using the countryside to keep fit.

- Fitness testing - Hampshire County Council sports officers?

- Health checks

- GP surgery to discuss health/fitness issues.

- Local gyms, leisure centre discounts and taster sessions

_ The events and activities have a strong `Healthy Hampshire' identity and will be promoted through the local media.

_ Build on existing partnerships and develop more partnerships to identify requirements and opportunities to improve the walking and cycling promotions and infrastructure.

_ Develop the existing guided walks and cycle rides literature to include more healthy events with a wider distribution.

6. Anticipated Budget

6.1 The first year of the project 2005/06 will pilot the approach linking to events and opportunities that are already planned and funded. This ensures that revenue expenditure is kept to a minimum, however there may be capital costs incurred on improving facilities particularly where these meet the requirements of the Recreational Cycling Strategy or the Hampshire Countryside Access Plan. The likely expenditure additional to existing budgets for the pilot in year 1 is outlined below.

6.2 The Healthy Hampshire Project will contribute to Hampshire County Council's LPSA 2 target of increasing participation in walking and cycling as part of the Healthy Communities Main Priority.

6.3 The effectiveness and costs of this project will be monitored and evaluated and plans made for 2006/2007 are likely to include:

_ Extending the Healthy Hampshire : Healthy You Festival events to other parts of the county.

_ Undertake infrastructure improvements as necessary and practicable.

_ Further develop promotional ideas in collaboration with partners.

Recommendations

(i) That the principle of a Healthy Hampshire Project be welcomed;

(ii) That the proposed 2005 Healthy Hampshire Festival as part of the Hampshire Youth Games, Parallel Games and Mini Games be supported and submitted to the Executive Member for his consideration.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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