Agenda item

Report of Group Director of People

The Group Director of People submitted a report (previously circulated) updating Members on the available planning powers that could be used to support the Councils objectives of achieving the targets set in the Childhood Healthy Weight Plan for Darlington.

It was reported that planning could influence the built environment to improve health and reduce obesity and excess weight in local communities; that local planning authorities could consider bringing forward, where supported by an evidence base, local planning policies and supplementary planning documents, which limited the proliferation of certain use classes in identified areas, where planning permission was required.

Reference was made to the presentation (also previously circulated) which was received by Health and Wellbeing Board on 16 September 2021; and the example of another authorities experiences of using planning powers as part of their approach to tackling childhood obesity (also previously circulated).

Following concerns raised regarding the obesity problem across the whole population, the Public Health Principal advised Members that the direct link to hot food takeaways and obesity, which was required to change planning policy, had not been demonstrated; and work was being undertaken to lobby the government regarding input from Directors of Public Health in planning applications. Members were assured that the Childhood Healthy Weight Plan had a number of actions to ensure Darlington residents were able to make healthy choices; and that a system wide approach was required to tackle this issue.

RESOLVED – That the report, outlining data and information provided by Darlington Health and Wellbeing Board on the merits or otherwise of adopting the available planning powers through the development of an evidence base and the analysis of good practice elsewhere in the country which would assist in addressing

childhood obesity, be noted.