Agenda item

The Scrutiny Officer detailed the findings of the Obesity Task and Finish Group. The Committee were reminded that the Group’s remit was to undertake work on making Slough Borough Council (SBC) an ‘exemplar Council’. This involved establishing a working environment where the health and wellbeing of staff was placed at the heart of policy making. Areas such as catering, work stations, workplace culture and options for physical activity were raised as part of this.

The Task and Finish Group arranged a variety of methods to gather its information. A workplace survey was held in the autumn of 2017 and received over 230 responses; at this time, Members also attended the staff canteen to see the food available to staff at SBC. Meetings were held with the canteen management, the Leisure Team, Human Resources and Facilities to hear about the workplace environment, and discuss how this could affect health and wellbeing. Finally, a site visit to Mars Confectionary saw an environment where a strategic approach had been taken to the matter.

Members noted details of the findings of the Task and Finish Group and endorsed the proposed recommendations.  

Resolved –

a)  That the current food offer at Slough Borough Council be reviewed, to include canteen provision (e.g. traffic light labelling of food) and vending machines; 

b)  That methods for increasing levels of physical activity and reducing levels of sedentary behaviour within work and outside work be implemented through behaviour change;

c)  That the incentivising of activity through outsourced services be supported (e.g. reduced cost for use of the Montem Leisure Centre);

d)  That engagement with senior leadership and Councillors be undertaken to establish a wellbeing  ethos across the Council, which will include team / departmental ‘Health Champions’.