Agenda item

(A period not exceeding 20 minutes for questions and statements from

members of the public and Elected Members to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones. Questions/Statements should relate specifically to an item of business on the agenda and be limited to a maximum of 100 words. As stated within Executive Procedure Rule 3.3 each person will be allowed to submit one question/statement per meeting.A question may only be asked if notice has been given by delivering it in writing or by e-mail to the Governance Team no later than 5.00 p.m. of the third working day before the day of the meeting. Each question or statement must give the name and address of the person submitting it. Questions/Statements should be sent to the Governance Team, Floor 2, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU, or by email to Democratic.Services@doncaster.gov.uk)

Public Questions and Statements

Questions had been received from Councillor Nick Allen and Ms Lizzie Harewood.

In the absence of Councillor Nick Allen, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones read out Councillor Allen’s question as follows:-

'The figures regarding childhood obesity are quite alarming. What can the City of Doncaster do to help reverse this trend so that we are no longer 'getting worse'. When will we see an improvement, which seems so vital for Doncaster's young people?' 

The Deputy Mayor thanked Councillor Allen for his question and read out the following response. A copy of the response would be forwarded to Councillor Allen:-

‘Childhood obesity, and obesity in general, is a complex public health issue across the country.

Although weight may seem mostly determined by choices that people make for themselves and their families, research demonstrates that our weight is significantly influenced by multiple genetic, social and environmental factors.

The numbers of children and adults who are overweight and obese have risen over recent generations. This has been in the context of significant change to modern life including transport methods, urban environments, sport, exercise and food production. The creation of environments that promote consumption and reduce opportunities to be physically active are considered to be the main driver of the rise in obesity. Because of this, education and information on healthy eating and physical activity will only go so far in supporting people to maintain a healthy weight.  

A whole systems approach to tackling obesity is likely to be a more effective way to reduce overweight and obesity prevalence in the population. This approach is having a positive impact in the Netherlands where they have taken an integrated, cross-sector, and cross-departmental actions driven by policy and delivered through local authorities, schools, medical professions, planning bodies, sports organizations, communities themselves, charities, and a responsible business sector.

What is clear is that there is no single solution, programme or service that can make a meaningful impact on reducing obesity prevalence at population level. A coordinated response at both a national and local level is essential if we are to see meaningful change.

Locally, in Doncaster, we are taking a whole systems approach to tackle obesity. This includes programmes like ‘Get Doncaster Moving’ that provides opportunities to be active in parks, green spaces, alongside sports and leisure facilities across Doncaster. We have licensing guidance in place to prevent an oversupply of takeaways in communities, or near to schools.

When new developments are planned, we require developers to complete a health impact assessment and we work with them to maximise opportunities for physical activity, but all of our local initiatives and policies must fit within the national planning policy framework.

Health visitors and school nurses work with families and can provide advice and support around weaning and healthy eating. In communities, we have cook and eat sessions that provide families with skills and confidence to create nutritious meals.

We will continue to deliver and develop compassionate, support mechanisms to tackle obesity. An innovative family food programme is being developed this year, which will work with families to support children to grow up with positive relationships with food.’

Ms Harewood was not in attendance at the outset of the meeting.  The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones read out Ms Harewood’s question as follows:-

‘Although breastfeeding rates have improved in Doncaster at 6-8 weeks, they remain below average, with 33.5% initiation compared to 47.6% nationally during the first few months. In what ways is the delivery of the HCP in Doncaster developing the 'high impact area' of breastfeeding? Young families in Doncaster will want to see the council support them to make healthy and financially thrifty choices regarding infant feeding. Therefore, how will Doncaster ensure that it reaches the rest of England in terms of 6-8 week feeding?’

At this point of the meeting, Ms Harewood arrived.

The Deputy Mayor thanked Ms Harewood for her question and provided the following response:- 

‘Breastfeeding is a complex issue, with multiple factors influencing a family’s choice to breastfeed and continue to be breastfeeding for as long as they wish.

Support for parents is vital to enable initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. This includes sensitive conversations during pregnancy, skilled help after birth and ongoing guidance and social support.

Midwifery services, family hubs and delivery of the healthy child programme through Doncaster’s Health Visiting service supports breastfeeding in a number of ways. There are early conversations with families in the antenatal period with midwifery and health visiting services and there is provision of specialist support for mothers experiencing difficulties in breastfeeding.

UNICEF Baby Friendly standards have been implemented across maternity, health visiting, and Family Hubs and various support mechanisms are in place in Doncaster communities, this includes breastfeeding support groups, trained volunteer breastfeeding peer supporters and breast pump loan schemes.

We also need to create a welcoming public environment, so that women feel comfortable breastfeeding in public and in the workplace. Our Public Health team run the ‘We Support Our Mums’ breastfeeding welcome scheme and any business or public space can sign up to this. The scheme makes it easier for breastfeeding mums to recognise where they will be welcomed to breastfeed their babies whilst ‘out and about’ in Doncaster.

As is the case with obesity, a whole systems approach to breastfeeding is also vital to ensuring breastfeeding is protected and supported at both a national and local level.’

Ms Harewood asked the following supplementary question:-

‘With regard to the breastfeeding Peer Support Group, in 2016 I did some training sponsored by the Council to become a breastfeeding peer supporter.  I, along with a pool of volunteers, helped out by attending local breastfeeding groups, to aid improvements and rates in breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks. There does not seem to be the same number of breastfeeding peer support groups as there were when I was a new breastfeeding mum.  I feel that it has had such an impact on me and I am concerned by the scarcity of these groups.’

The Deputy Director of Public Health provided the following response:-

‘It is excellent to hear that you have trained up and provided that service.  In the response provided, you will have heard that peer support and women feeling comfortable breastfeeding in public is a really important element of sustaining breastfeeding, initiating breastfeeding and women feeling confident. We know that we have got a good network of peer supporters.  We do have some overview of who is out there and what skills they have. We do, however, want a more accurate understanding.  We are just about to recruit a breastfeeding support coordinator, who will work across various services that we have got, including health visiting services, and will be based out in the community, including in family hubs. Additional funds that the Council have received around the family hubs have enabled this. They can’t do this alone, so they will need that army of breastfeeding support,co-ordinators, workers and that initiative and knowledge in local communities, in terms of where is good and how to bring women together, and help them feel confident, so they will be able to provide again that support system, supervision and oversight.  We support our mums programme. There is an active page on Doncaster Mumbler, so we want them to be able to use that as well to coordinate ways of working. In terms of additional investment, we will be keen when they are in post to pick up some of those informal strings of where we might have those skills and capacity.’

The Deputy Mayor thanked Ms Harewood for her question and the Deputy Director of Public Health for her response.

The Deputy Mayor also added that although breastfeeding is a natural function, some people hold differing views, and he emphasised the need to overcome issues around breastfeeding.