Minutes:
A discussion was raised regarding water fluoridation in Darlington and Teesside, including that the deadline for public consultation on this had been extended. The Board was reminded that the Director of Public Health had circulated a draft Health and Wellbeing Board response to this consultation.
The Chair reiterated that it is not the decision of local councils but the Secretary of State.
A Board member stated that they would not sign up to the draft consultation response and that residents of Darlington are opposed to fluoridation with other members responding that there is no evidence that this is the case. The Director of Public Health provided statistics from a survey that in the North East, 60% of those asked were in favour with 16% not being in favour.
A Board member expressed that any response from the Health and Wellbeing Board should be based on the majority view and that members of the Board did not have to sign up to the Board response, if they did not wish to.
The Chair asked that Board members, that haven’t done so already, respond to the Director of Public Health regarding the draft Health and Wellbeing Board consultation response.