Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Adults and Leisure which provided the Panel with an overview of the Council’s policy approach to food.

Dr Debbie Chase, Director of Public Health; Clare Edgar, Executive Director Wellbeing and Housing; Councillor Margetts and Councillor Fielker, Cabinet Member for Health, Adults and Leisure were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED 

1)  That information relating to eligibility and the take up of free school meals in Southampton would be provided to the Panel.

2)  That, following the reference to the potential for licensing policy to reduce obesity, food would be used as a test case for the Council’s recently adopted Health in All Policies approach.

3)  That an exercise would be undertaken, akin to the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, to identify the distance a resident was required to travel to access a retail establishment that sold ‘healthy’ food.

4)  That the Cabinet Member would seek to ensure that resources will be in place by September 2023 to drive the sustainable food environment agenda forward in Southampton.