Mr Gary Rickwood, Senior Public Health Manager, Public Health introduced the report of the Director for Health and Wellbeing that provided an update on the implementation of recommendations resulting from a scrutiny review set up to examine the issues arising from the Cumulative Impact of licenced premises and fast food takeaways on public health. 

He informed that the review had been commissioned by the former Policy and Performance Coordinating Committee and referred to Cabinet by the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 8 September 2016. The findings and recommendations were approved by Cabinet on 3 October 2016.

The Adult Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was apprised of progress against each of the report recommendations, as follows:

Recommendation 1: The Council’s Leadership is encouraged to lobby for a Public Health licencing objective in the Liverpool City Region and where possible at national level to ensure public health outcomes are given greater priority in licencing decisions.

Outcome: This recommendation is being lobbied for nationally, however a recently published Lords Licensing Act Select Committee report on the 2003 Licensing Act did not recommend this as an action. The report does however recommend “a radical comprehensive overhaul” of the 2003 Licensing Act, a response from Government is awaited.

Recommendation 2: The Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy is refreshed to accommodate the renewed priorities as set out in the Wirral Plan.  It was also recommended that consideration be given to introducing a Cumulative Impact Policy in areas where there is strong evidence to suggest such a policy would address the negative impact of over-saturation of licenced or off-licenced premises.

Outcome: The Liverpool City Region group progressing joint work on licensing are developing a reference guide for anyone writing a Statement of Licensing Policy. The agreed document was in final draft stage and will be shared with local areas by September 2017. The Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy has been updated to include a Cumulative Impact Policy for a defined area in Birkenhead town centre. Further work was required to update the policy to include the Wirral Plan priorities. The Cumulative Impact Policy is now in place, its impact on anti-social behaviour and alcohol related injuries will be evaluated. 

Recommendation 3:  The Panel recommends that a statutory Supplementary Planning Document is urgently developed and consulted upon (thus becoming a material consideration), in line with the approach taken in St Helens, as part of the preparation of the Council’s Core Strategy Local Plan.

Outcome: Discussions had begun with the planning team. Evidence will be gathered from a Public Health perspective over the coming months and officers from the Planning team will be working on the revised Supplementary Planning Document. Discussions were taking place as to how Public health can input into this process.

Recommendation 4: The panel encourages the planning and public health teams to work closely together to address the borough’s public health issues in relation to poor diet and obesity, as outlined in the 2020 pledge to support Wirral Residents to Live Healthier Lives.

Outcome: In July 2017, public health and planning officers met with a colleague from Sefton Council public health’s team to discuss how health and wellbeing issues can be incorporated into the Wirral Core Plan, currently in draft form; this action links to recommendation 3.

Recommendation 5: The panel acknowledges the wide ranging benefits of the Reduce the Strength campaign in promoting responsible selling of alcohol. It is recommended that priority be given to encouraging the take up of this initiative so the number of outlets taking part is increased.  The Council should also explore the possibility of approaching national supermarket chains to adopt this as a policy.

Outcome: Due to excellent partnership working, the Reducing the Strength campaign had now signed up all off sales retailers in the vicinity of Birkenhead town centre. B&M Stores have also asked to include their Liscard / Wallasey store into the scheme. The focus for this work had been extended beyond this initial central area and at last report there were 65 businesses signed up to the scheme from across Wirral, representing 24% of a total of 265 licenced off-sales outlets, against a target for 2020 of 30%. However it was also worth noting that the figure of 265 includes a number of businesses, including outlets for the national supermarket chains, which do not stock or sell super strength products, so have not been a focus of attention for the RTS scheme.

Recommendation 6: It is recommended the effective delivery and marketing of the ‘Eat Well Wirral’ (EWW) and ‘Takeaway for a Change’ initiatives is prioritised and the schemes are properly evaluated to demonstrate their long term impact.  The development of EWW takeaways and their locations should be a matter drawn to the attention of the planning committee at regular intervals.

Outcome: Work was currently underway within the Council to produce an interactive on-line map so that residents can locate their nearest Eat Well Wirral take-a-way. 

Recommendation 7: The Panel supports the creation of a cross-departmental working group and action plan for selling alcohol responsibly.  The Health and Wellbeing Board should oversee the activities of this group and ensure they are joined up with the Wirral Resident’s Live Healthier Lives pledge delivery group so that further partnership opportunities are harnessed and targeted initiatives explored.

Outcome: A group brought together by the licensing team was currently meeting as required. The links with the Health and Wellbeing board and the Healthier Lives Pledge Delivery group need to be clarified.

Resolved – That the report be noted.