Agenda item - Food Poverty Action Plan Progress Update

Extract from the proceedings of the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee meeting held on the 13^th March, 2017 (copy attached).

17.1      RESOLVED: That the extract from the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee be noted.

17.1      The Chair referred to the extract from the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee which raised the need to consider the impact of community meals in terms of improving people’s care packages.  He was aware that a report was due to come to the Board in the autumn and proposed that the report be noted.

17.2      The Executive Director for Health & Adult Social Care noted that concern had been raised about people having their hydration and nutrition needs met and stated that this was taken into account as part of the assessment process.

17.3      Councillor Miller queried how food poverty in schools was taken into account by the food poverty action plan.

17.4      The Executive Director for Families, Children & Learning stated that the Fairness Commission had made a number of recommendations in relation to the School day and two schools were already looking at how those recommendations could be taken into account.  He anticipated that schools would be looking at this and further information could be included in the report for the Board in the autumn.

17.5      Councillor Page referred to the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health and the recommendations of the Fairness Commission, and queried whether community meals for and needs of vulnerable citizens were included in social care assessments.

17.6      The Executive Director for Health & Adult Social Care stated that an assessment would take into account hydration and nutrition needs.

17.7      Councillor Barford suggested that those people who paid for care did not generally present for assessment, and there was a need to look at how this could be addressed.  She was aware that the council was working with the Food Partnership to promote healthy eating but suggested that more could be done.

17.8      Mr. Liley noted Healthwatch were working with the Food Partnership to set up a Special Interest Group to look at how healthy eating could be promoted, especially in relation to hospital discharge.  He would update the Board on the progress at a future meeting.

17.9      RESOLVED: That the extract from the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee be noted.