To update the Board on progress made against the identified physical activity priorities.

Jamie Lees, Head of Leisure, Trafford Council, gave a power point presentation which is attached to the agenda, in respect of Physical Activity in Trafford. He wanted to draw attention to the progress in physical activity since the deep dive in July 2022. He reminded the Board of the three key priorities which have been agreed and are as follows –

(1) Produce a dataset that enables strategic conversations around physical activity benefits, challenges and drivers, and reflects differences within and between neighbourhoods.

(2). Ensure that physical activity and healthy weight data and insights are fed into the neighbourhood plans and enable production of place-based physical activity plans.

(3). Develop neighbourhood active travel plans that include key evidence-based actions, and are completed alongside neighbourhood plans.

With regard to (1) above he drew attention to the Active Lives Survey shown on page 13 which gives a platform and a rich dataset. This year the sample size is 1000 people which allows more detail in the trends to draw upon. He referred to the following percentages from the survey (page 13 refers) –

• Active 68 %
• Fairly Active 8%
• Inactive 24%

Details of the above are set out in the report including the numbers of residents aligned to the above criteria. He informed the Board that adult activity in Trafford is at an all-time high. In terms of inactive adults this had not decreased since the Pandemic.

The ‘Be Well’ Survey is also utilised to understand activity levels of children and young people, and is carried out by Manchester University which the Council supports and that survey is broken down into localities and neighbourhoods.

He drew Members attention to the demographics of those inactive adults (page 14 of the report refers) which show that the black and Asian community have increased against the white, white other and mixed communities. Inactivity for men has reduced but women’s inactivity has remained static throughout the year (page 15 of the report refers). The pandemic disrupted the reduction in inactivity for adults, with those adults with a limiting illness showing a higher inactivity rate against those without a limiting illness which has fallen. Inactivity in deprived households remains high (pages 16 and 17 of the report refers). To emphasize this those adults in lower social economic groups are more inactive than those in the higher groups and that gap is growing.

Members were informed that the report also draws upon other datasets to give a more detailed picture. These are

• Trafford Leisure Operating agreement
• Holidays Activity and Food Programme
• Travel Dataset

With regard to Priority 2 and the place-based physical activity plans he emphasised that there is not one plan for this priority but that it is a collection of approaches and programmes that support what we are trying to achieve. These approaches and programmes are set out on pages 19 – 23 in the report. It was emphasised that the place-based approach dovetails with the Neighbourhood programme: both of these work with local communities and local data. The collaborative action plans, led by local groups and residents, that increase opportunities to ‘Move More’, every day. The plans are based on the need identified by local ‘Move More’ partnerships (residents and local groups) and data and insight. More detail on ‘Move More’ partnerships and the link with the Leisure Investment Programme to promote Place based activity plans are shown in more detail on pages 21, 22 and 23 in the report. Particular reference was made to the proposed transformation of tired leisure centres into more sustainable hubs of local activity and movement, more detail on page 22 of the report.  It was also emphasised that a bespoke approach is taken on the various areas in Trafford as it is not always the case that a particular approach in one area may not work in another area. Further details on Priorities 1 and 2 are set out on pages 30, 31, 23 and 33 to the Report.

Jane Hynes, Public Health Programme Manager, Integrated Commissioning, presented the Active Travel Plans key priority. Specific walking, wheeling and cycling highlight reports will be submitted to future meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Board. Terms of Reference have been drafted for Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Forum to receive residents views in terms of priorities and work will be put in place to deliver the physical infrastructure Network Strategy and some of the support around the Strategy to engage with people on cycle and walk routes. The following areas which are integral were also drawn to Members attention –

•       Network strategy – prioritisation tool agreed and applied to existing schemes (those funded for feasibility, design and/or construction)

•       Strategic partnership with Renew Hub to secure bike donations

•       School Streets Officer hosted by Trafford Community Collective

•       Identification of funding streams to enable delivery in priority locations (e.g. Talbot Road and A56 activations work)

With regard to Specific Outputs the following key points were underlined –

•       TfGM grants programme – bike libraries, cargo/adapted cycles, cycle storage - £90k

•       Bike libraries – Stretford, Sale West, Flixton

•       Infrastructure scheme prioritisation – utilisation of Trafford Moving focus areas alongside key health outcomes and strategic planning priorities

•       Beat the Street programme commissioned in Stretford and Old Trafford

•       Links into Broomwood Moving – first place-based moving partnership

Regarding Risks the following were brought to Members attention –

•       Limitations / compatibility of data to accurately inform work programmes -  working to make the best use of data sets.

•       Engagement of community and partners in shaping community plans

•       Reduction in capital investment as pressure increases on public sector budgets

•       Level of external / GM funding to support active travel.

•       Capacity of stakeholders to align plans and deliver locally including Locality Teams, Trafford Leisure CIC, Trafford Council.

Further detail on all the above bullet points relating to the Active Travel Plans   are specifically referred to on pages 33 and 34 to the report.

The Chair commented that it would be interesting to look at the age profiles of where people fall off doing exercise. Also can the safety of women exercising looked into. For example, going out in the dark to get to a gym to exercise.

In response to a question about age related inactivity, Jane Hynes informed the Board that there is a big drop off in physical activity of people from the age of 65 which is being addressed via a number of programmes such as Age UK’s strength and balance programme, and Trafford Leisure’s Physical Activity referral Scheme. On a point raised regarding the use of health professionals, the Board was advised that they are working with Trafford Leisure and TLCO to bring in a model which was used in the south of England for physio services to reduce physio waiting lists. They are going to create a mass triage event in leisure centres where people will be assessed and transferred direct to a physio referral team. This is one example.

Richard Spearing, Managing Director of Trafford LCO, reminded the Board that activity levels were positive so he underlined the need for the Strategy to be aimed at the inactivity levels. He emphasised that there are different forms of activity to suit each individual.

RESOLVED: That the Board notes the content of the Report and

(i)             Supports the next steps identified for each Priority as set out in the report;

(ii)            Commits to organisational actions that support the action plans referred to in the Report ; and

(iii)          Advocates for these plans through wider partnership/organisational groups.