To present a five-year Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy for Cabinet approval to then be consulted on through a stakeholder and public consultation process.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    approves the Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy for public consultation;

(b)    agrees that Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, initiate a minimum eight-week consultation process and seek stakeholder comment on the Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy; and

(c)    agrees that following that consultation the final Health and Wellbeing Strategy be presented to Cabinet for its approval and adoption.

Cabinet considered a report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder (A.7), which presented a draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Cabinet’s approval to then be consulted on through a stakeholder and public consultation process.

Cabinet was presented with a new evidence-based Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy, to support delivery of the Council’s priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan.  This draft Strategy would set the direction for the Council’s focus on supporting residents to live a healthier, independent and fulfilling life. Evidence from data showed that although there were some improving figures, when compared to other areas in Essex, Tendring District still had higher than average levels of certain preventable long-term conditions, poorer mental health, overweight/obesity and lower physical activity levels.

It was believed that adoption of this Strategy and the action plan within it, would help support partnership working to deliver improvements around the wider determinants of health in the District which would have a direct impact on health and wellbeing outcomes.

Taking into account the data and partner feedback as detailed in the draft Strategy, the following strategic objectives were considered key to improving the health and wellbeing of residents:

1.   The Wider Determinants of Health

2.   Improving Wellbeing & Resilience

3.   Encouraging a healthier lifestyle

4.   Improve Long Term Condition Prevention and Management

5.   Suicide Prevention

Members were informed that the draft Strategy was presented with an action plan, to impact on all of the objectives set out above.  Although it would not be possible for the Council to fund all the actions listed, adopting an action plan would allow the Council to proactively look for external funding opportunities.

A key focus of this work was to ensure that all residents felt represented by the draft Strategy and were supported in living a healthier, independent and fulfilling life.

It was felt that this could be achieved by working closely with health partners to deliver initiatives that helped to tackle some of this District’s health needs. Understanding how the wider determinants of health could have a real impact on health outcomes was critical to improving the quality of life for many residents.

Cabinet was informed that the draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy aligned with the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy. The feedback from the consultation had shown that the majority of participants took part in 150+ minutes of exercise a week, using cycle paths, footpaths and recreation grounds. The main barriers to exercise were shown to be access to facilities close to where the participants lived. The Council would continue to work in partnership across the organisation to connect the health and physical activity agendas.

Members were made aware that the draft strategy set out a plan for funding some projects through the public health grant which was allocated by Essex County Council (ECC). Working within the agreed priorities within the grant, projects could be funded that delivered health improvements. The Council would share significant projects with our partners at the Community Safety Partnership and Health and Wellbeing Board to help facilitate success in delivery.

It was felt important to seek comments on the draft Strategy from partners in the Health Alliance, the Community Safety Partnership and Health and Wellbeing Board, stakeholders and residents. This would ensure that partners could scrutinise, comment and make suggestions for the completed Strategy, prior to its adoption. 

Upon approval of the draft Strategy, an eight-week consultation process would begin. The findings of the consultation would be analysed and included when the final Strategy returned to Cabinet for adoption.  This Strategy had been set without an end date but would be due for review in three years’ time.

Cabinet was aware that following an announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister in February 2025, six new areas had been confirmed to join the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, which included Greater Essex. As such, Mayoral elections would take place in 2026 and in addition, local government reorganisation was likely to be implemented in Greater Essex during the period of this Strategy.  In terms of any reorganisation, the Strategy would allow for consistency whilst any new unitary authority considered its health and wellbeing priorities.

The Strategy aligned with partners such as ECC and the Alliance in terms of their emerging place plan approach and supported a wider determinants, prevention and early intervention model.  This model recognised the Government’s thinking around its 10 Year Health Plan which, as one of the strands included tackling the causes of ill health and therefore was well placed to ensure an ongoing consistent approach was maintained during any period of local government reorganisation.

In order to progress the Council towards the adoption of a strategic approach towards Health & Wellbeing, to support local people and local communities to live healthier, independent and fulfilled lives:-

It was moved by Councillor Placey, seconded by Councillor Barryand:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)     approves the Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy for public consultation;

(b)     agrees that Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, initiate a minimum eight-week consultation process and seek stakeholder comment on the Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy; and

(c)     agrees that following that consultation the final Health and Wellbeing Strategy be presented to Cabinet for its approval and adoption.