Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            The purpose of this report is to:

·        Advise members of an invite from Belfast Healthy Cities for either the Chair or Vice Chair of People and Communities committee to attend the WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference 22–24 November 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

·        Seek feedback on a proposed engagement mechanism between elected members and Belfast Healthy Cities.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Consider the invitation and advise whether Council will be represented at the conference, and in what capacity, and by whom.  Committee is also asked to provide feedback in relation to the proposed mechanism for more regular engagement between elected members and Belfast Healthy Cities.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Belfast’s membership to the WHO European Healthy Cities Network is facilitated by Belfast Healthy Cities (BHC), an independent partnership organisation. In May 2021 the City of Belfast was successful in its application to re-designate as a WHO Healthy City and participate in Phase VII of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network until April 2026.

            WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Conference

3.2       Belfast Healthy Cities has extended an invitation to Council for the Chair or Vice Chair of People and Communities committee (or their nominee) to attend the WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference 22–24 November 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The theme is Healthy Cities Leading by Example: One Planet, One People, One Health.

3.3       This will be the first hybrid meeting in Phase VII (2019–2025) of the WHO European Network, and the organisers look forward to many participants from member cities attending in person. These meetings bring together both political representatives and technical focal points from the WHO flagship cities and the national networks. The WHO European Healthy Cities Network comprises more than 1300 cities and municipalities as members in total. Belfast City Council last sent a political representative to a WHO Healthy Cities conference in 2015.

3.4       Public sector organisations cover the costs of a member attending. Only one political representative from Belfast is asked to attend, three BHC staff and a BHC board member will also attend. Costs for attending the meeting in person are £1,200/£1,500 – this includes return flight to Copenhagen; 4 nights’ accommodation and an allowance for each day. Members should advise if they want council represented in person or virtually.

3.5       The Conference website is now online and can be accessed at: 2022 WHO Healthy Cities Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference.  As the conference approaches the website will be updated with more detailed information on the programme, site visits and side events.

            Engagement mechanism between elected members and Belfast Healthy Cities

3.6       Issues of health and wellbeing are a key consideration for the citizens of Belfast and the reduction of health inequalities is identified as a continuing priority in the emerging Belfast Agenda refresh.

3.7       Belfast Healthy Cities has approached council to consider how their engagement with elected members could be enhanced and more formalised going forward so that there is an agreed process and structure for clear communication on local priorities as well as the WHO initiatives and what best practice can be shared across the Network. Belfast Healthy Cities is a key partner in addressing health inequalities and in June of this year council agreed to further 3 year funding for Belfast Healthy Cities.

3.8       In addition, the Living Here Board of the Belfast Community Planning Partnership has recommended for approval the establishment of a Health Inequalities Strategic Reference Group (HISRG) which will act as the oversight body for allocating resources to, and agreeing and reviewing action(s) undertaken in support of, health inequalities work in the city under community planning (to be considered/ratified at the next BCPP meeting).  Belfast Healthy Cities will have representation on this group.

3.9       One potential model to support increased communication and co-operation between councillors, officers and Belfast Healthy Cities would be for nominated ‘Health Champions’ to be brought together 2-3 times a year and to act as a contact point for BHC on key issues of consideration. Each political party within council would nominate one representative who would take a leadership role in working and engaging with Belfast Healthy Cities – and potentially also with the Health Inequalities Strategic Reference Group or broader Living Here Board under BCPP (as appropriate) – on issues and/or motions which relate to relevant issues.

3.10     A similar approach has recently been approved for engagement with Belfast Youth Council through the nomination of Youth Champions by each of the political parties.

3.11     Members are asked to consider this proposed engagement mechanism and if content, officers from Community Provision will contact each party to nominate a health champion and to agree Terms of Reference etc.

3.12     Financial and Resource Implications

            Council are one of four core funders to Belfast Healthy Cities, along with the Public Health Agency (PHA), Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) and Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). Annual funding amounts to over 300k of which BCC contributes £81,294 per annum, which has been committed for a further 3-year period to align with the Phase VII and Community Plan timeframes – to 31 March 2026.

3.13     Reference the conference invitation, as public sector organisations cover the cost of political members attendance, this cost will have to be taken from departmental budgets. There is no cost for a political representative to attend online.

            All other activity outlined in the paper can be covered from existing resources.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

3.14     None identified at this stage but kept under continuous review. It should be noted that much of the work undertaken by BHC is to address, or promote awareness of, health inequalities and best practice whole population or targeted approaches to mitigate or prevent these.”

The Committee agreed:

·        that the Chairperson would represent the Council remotely at the WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference scheduled to be held from 22nd – 24th November 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark; and

·        the proposed mechanism, as outlined in the report, for more regular engagement between Elected Members and Belfast Healthy Cities and noted that officers from Community Provision would contact each Political Party to seek its nominee for a Health Champion and to agree the Terms of Reference