Agenda item

Motion Submitted by the Labour Group - Tackling Health Inequalities in Trafford

 

This Council notes:

 

-        From the beginning of the 20th century, England experienced continuous improvements in life expectancy but from 2011 these improvements slowed dramatically, almost grinding to a halt. For part of the decade 2010-2020 life expectancy actually fell in the most deprived communities outside London for women and in some regions for men. For men and women everywhere the time spent in poor health is increasing.

 

-        The health of the population is not just a matter of how well the health service is funded and functions, important as that is: health is closely linked to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and inequities in power, money and resources – the social determinants of health.

 

-        Government spending has decreased most in the most deprived places and cuts in services outside health and social care have hit more deprived communities hardest.

 

-        Approximately 11.6% of children aged 0-16 in Trafford (an estimated 5,085 children) live in poverty, with this percentage rising to almost 40% in some of the most deprived wards: well above the regional or national averages. Poverty and deprivation can damage the health and wellbeing of children and young people and have severe impacts on ‘life chances’.

 

-        Life expectancy is 9.3 years lower for men and 7.4 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Trafford than in the least deprived areas.

 

-        The Marmot review into health inequalities of 2020 found that Covid 19 death rates were a quarter higher in Greater Manchester than the rest of England. The more impoverished a local authority, the higher its mortality rate.

 

This Council believes:

 

-        As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in tackling some of the widest and most entrenched health inequalities across our Borough.

 

-        Tackling health inequalities should be a priority across all the local authority’s areas of responsibility.

 

-        All councillors, whether members of the Executive or Scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing the work we do to reduce health inequalities and tackle the wider determinants of health.

 

-        Levelling up will only succeed if there is investment across all local government.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

Consider how Trafford meet the six policy objectives of the Marmot review 2020 as part of Scrutiny, Health & Wellbeing Board and sub board work plans.

 

Give every child the best start in life.

 

Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.

 

Create fair employment and good work for all.

 

Ensure a healthy standard of living for all.

 

Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities.

 

Develop a health and social care system that prioritises not just the treatment of ill health but also focuses on how it can be prevented in the first place.

 

Consider the health inequality impact on all our decision making.

 

Write to Ministers to request an urgent reversal of cuts to public health budgets in order that Councils can truly work to reduce the health inequalities that Covid 19 has so starkly highlighted.

Minutes:

It was moved and seconded that:

 

“This Council notes:

 

-     From the beginning of the 20th century, England experienced continuous improvements in life expectancy but from 2011 these improvements slowed dramatically, almost grinding to a halt. For part of the decade 2010-2020 life expectancy actually fell in the most deprived communities outside London for women and in some regions for men. For men and women everywhere the time spent in poor health is increasing.

 

-     The health of the population is not just a matter of how well the health service is funded and functions, important as that is: health is closely linked to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and inequities in power, money and resources – the social determinants of health.

 

-     Government spending has decreased most in the most deprived places and cuts in services outside health and social care have hit more deprived communities hardest.

 

-     Approximately 11.6% of children aged 0-16 in Trafford (an estimated 5,085 children) live in poverty, with this percentage rising to almost 40% in some of the most deprived wards: well above the regional or national averages. Poverty and deprivation can damage the health and wellbeing of children and young people and have severe impacts on ‘life chances’.

 

-     Life expectancy is 9.3 years lower for men and 7.4 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Trafford than in the least deprived areas.

 

-     The Marmot review into health inequalities of 2020 found that Covid 19 death rates were a quarter higher in Greater Manchester than the rest of England. The more impoverished a local authority, the higher its mortality rate.

 

This Council believes:

 

-     As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in tackling some of the widest and most entrenched health inequalities across our Borough.

 

-     Tackling health inequalities should be a priority across all the local authority’s areas of responsibility.

 

-     All councillors, whether members of the Executive or Scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing the work we do to reduce health inequalities and tackle the wider determinants of health.

 

-     Levelling up will only succeed if there is investment across all local government.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

Consider how Trafford meet the six policy objectives of the Marmot review 2020 as part of Scrutiny, Health & Wellbeing Board and sub board work plans.

 

Give every child the best start in life.

 

Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.

 

Create fair employment and good work for all.

 

Ensure a healthy standard of living for all.

 

Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities.

 

Develop a health and social care system that prioritises not just the treatment of ill health but also focuses on how it can be prevented in the first place.

 

Consider the health inequality impact on all our decision making.

 

Write to Ministers to request an urgent reversal of cuts to public health budgets in order that Councils can truly work to reduce the health inequalities that Covid 19 has so starkly highlighted.”

 

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That this Council notes:

 

-     From the beginning of the 20th century, England experienced continuous improvements in life expectancy but from 2011 these improvements slowed dramatically, almost grinding to a halt. For part of the decade 2010-2020 life expectancy actually fell in the most deprived communities outside London for women and in some regions for men. For men and women everywhere the time spent in poor health is increasing.

 

-     The health of the population is not just a matter of how well the health service is funded and functions, important as that is: health is closely linked to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and inequities in power, money and resources – the social determinants of health.

 

-     Government spending has decreased most in the most deprived places and cuts in services outside health and social care have hit more deprived communities hardest.

 

-     Approximately 11.6% of children aged 0-16 in Trafford (an estimated 5,085 children) live in poverty, with this percentage rising to almost 40% in some of the most deprived wards: well above the regional or national averages. Poverty and deprivation can damage the health and wellbeing of children and young people and have severe impacts on ‘life chances’.

 

-     Life expectancy is 9.3 years lower for men and 7.4 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Trafford than in the least deprived areas.

 

-     The Marmot review into health inequalities of 2020 found that Covid 19 death rates were a quarter higher in Greater Manchester than the rest of England. The more impoverished a local authority, the higher its mortality rate.

 

This Council believes:

 

-     As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in tackling some of the widest and most entrenched health inequalities across our Borough.

 

-     Tackling health inequalities should be a priority across all the local authority’s areas of responsibility.

 

-     All councillors, whether members of the Executive or Scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing the work we do to reduce health inequalities and tackle the wider determinants of health.

 

-     Levelling up will only succeed if there is investment across all local government.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

Consider how Trafford meet the six policy objectives of the Marmot review 2020 as part of Scrutiny, Health & Wellbeing Board and sub board work plans.

 

Give every child the best start in life.

 

Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.

 

Create fair employment and good work for all.

 

Ensure a healthy standard of living for all.

 

Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities.

 

Develop a health and social care system that prioritises not just the treatment of ill health but also focuses on how it can be prevented in the first place.

 

Consider the health inequality impact on all our decision making.

 

Write to Ministers to request an urgent reversal of cuts to public health budgets in order that Councils can truly work to reduce the health inequalities that Covid 19 has so starkly highlighted.