Issue - items at meetings - Items Referred from Council

To consider the following item(s) referred from the Council meeting held on 7 April 2022

(a) Notice of Motion: Fast Food and Energy Drink Advertising (copy attached) (extract from minutes of council to follow)

(b) Notice of Motion: A Dementia Friendly Community (copy attached) (extract from minutes of council to follow)

7(a)    Notice of Motion: Fast Food and Energy Drink Advertising

          RESOLVED – That the Adult Social Care & Public Health Sub-Committee:

(1) notes the information provided in the report.

(2) Agrees that an officer project group be established, with representation from BHCC Public Health, Property & Design and Transport, and potentially other relevant services, to further explore the issue of fast food & energy drink advertising.

(3) Agrees that the project group will report back to the November 2022 Health & Wellbeing Board meeting with a paper which will include:

·       Detailed information on the extent of fast food & energy drink advertising on BHCC estates

·       An evaluation of the success of initiatives in other cities to restrict fast food advertising (e.g. Bristol/Transport for London)

·       A proposal to refresh the Council’s policy on advertising, including updating or extending restrictions, specifically including energy drinks in restrictions etc.

7(b)    Notice of Motion : A Dementia Friendly City

          RESOLVED – That the contents of the Notice of Motion be noted and received.

7.1       This item was introduced by Giles Rossington, Senior Policy, Partnerships & Scrutiny Officer. Alistair Hill, Director of Public Health; and Katie Cuming, Consultant in Public Health, also answered member questions.

7.2       Mr Rossington told sub-committee members that the report before them included information on the public health impact of obesity and the links between obesity and the advertising of fast food. The report also included limited information about the extent and nature of advertising on city council-owned properties. However, more information would be needed in order to review the Council’s policy on fast food advertising; and it was consequently proposed that an officer project group be established, to undertake this work and to report back to the January 2023 sub-committee meeting with policy proposals.

7.3       In response to a question from Cllr Shanks on ways to combat child obesity, Ms Cuming told members that direct support to families is important, as is ensuring that healthy eating options are available at school etc. and encouraging physical activity. However, there is abundant evidence to show that the advertising of fast food has a significant impact on behaviour.

7.4       In answer to a query from Cllr Nield on actions being taken in other cities, Ms Cuming told the sub-committee that Transport for London (TfL) has banned the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods on the London transport network. Evaluation of this shows that this has resulted in lower energy consumption. TfL has seen no loss in advertising revenue as a result of this move. Councils in Bristol and in Barnsley have also moved to restrict the advertising of certain foods. There are no findings available from these areas yet, but council officers will contact them to talk through their experiences.

7.5       Cllr Robins asked why the report referenced the potential for advertising revenue to be lost, when reducing obesity is a health imperative. Mr Hill responded that it is important for all impacts to be thoroughly explored when considering making changes to policy.

7.6       Cllr Appich stated that obesity can be as dangerous as smoking, and fast food advertising as damaging as tobacco advertising. It was disappointing that the Government’s recently published Food Strategy rows back on previous commitments to restrict this type of advertising, but positive that steps to intervene locally will be explored.

7.7       Cllr Barnett noted that advertising was only one cause of childhood obesity, with other important factors including the decline of competitive sports; children spending less time playing outside and less time exercising; and the increasing availability of unhealthy takeaways.

7.8       Cllr Robins added that deprivation was also a key factor: it is much easier for people living comfortable lives to make healthy eating choices than for people in stressful situations with little time or money to spare.

7.9       Cllr Robins queried why the proposal was to bring a report to January 2023 ASCPH. Mr Hill responded that the next scheduled ASCPH meeting will be in September 2022, which would be too soon to report back, and that January 2023 is the next meeting following this. However, the project group will have finished its work well before January 2023.

7.10    Cllr Shanks noted that there is a Health & Wellbeing Board meeting scheduled for November 2022, and proposed an amendment to report recommendation (3): “Agrees that the project group will report back to the January 2023 ASCPH meeting” to be changed to: “Agrees that the project group will report back to the November 2022 HWB meeting”. The amendment was unanimously agreed.

7.11    RESOLVED – that the Adult Social Care & Public Health Sub-Committee:

(1) notes the information provided in the report.

(2) Agrees that an officer project group be established, with representation from BHCC Public Health, Property & Design and Transport, and potentially other relevant services, to further explore the issue of fast food & energy drink advertising.

(3) Agrees that the project group will report back to the November 2022 Health & Wellbeing Board meeting with a paper which will include:

·         Detailed information on the extent of fast food & energy drink advertising on BHCC estates

·         An evaluation of the success of initiatives in other cities to restrict fast food advertising (e.g. Bristol/Transport for London)

·         A proposal to refresh the Council’s policy on advertising, including updating or extending restrictions, specifically including energy drinks in restrictions etc.