Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Julie Ashley-Wren, Kamal Choudhury, Dermot Kehoe and Akin Elekolusi.

It was noted that Councillor Alistair Gordon was in attendance as a substitute for Councillor Akin Elekolusi.

Councillor Myla Arceno was in attendance as the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Older People.

The following declarations of interest were received from Councillors Mason Humberstone and Myla Arceno.

Councillor Mason Humberstone declared an interest as he was employed as a non-clinical Health Adviser in the NHS.

Councillor Myla Arceno declared an interest as she was employed as a Cardiac Physiotherapist in the NHS.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on Thursday 11 December 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Community Select Committee meeting held on 11 December 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive a presentation from the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Manager, Ryan Ansell on Public Health initiatives. Members will also receive a presentation from the Director of Public Health at Hertfordshire County Council regarding the public health priorities for Stevenage.

HCC Public Health PowerPoint slides to follow.

The Committee received a presentation from the Director and Deputy Director of Public Health at Hertfordshire County Council.

Officers explained the role of the service and the main health and wellbeing issues affecting Stevenage.

Members were advised of the statutory responsibilities of Public Health and its role in commissioning and supporting a range of preventative services. This included working in partnership with the NHS, district and borough councils and the voluntary sector to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

The presentation outlined the main challenges for Stevenage, including issues affecting children and young people, mental wellbeing and the needs of an ageing population. It was noted that levels of health inequality were higher in more deprived areas and that a place-based approach was important in addressing these challenges.

Officers highlighted the importance of continued partnership working and aligning local priorities to support healthier communities in Stevenage, including through neighbourhood working, shared facilities and future regeneration and development activity.

Members raised a number of questions in relation to the presentation, including the absence of reference to cancer within the overview and a request for greater visibility of local health statistics to support understanding of performance and trends.

Officers advised that the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment provided further detail on the statistics, including cancer data across the town, which would be circulated to Members.

Discussion took place regarding childhood obesity and the wider factors linked to health inequalities, including mental health or family circumstances, and it was noted that these issues should not be attributed solely to deprivation.

Questions were raised as to whether current healthy eating and prevention initiatives could be extended further into secondary schools. Officers explained that a new healthy food and nutrition programme (Nourish) was being introduced in schools. It was noted that the initial phase would focus on primary schools, with plans for the programme to be extended to secondary schools at a later stage.

Officers explained that Public Health worked with partners and with the NHS to increase capacity to focus on young people’s mental health and to ensure that services were appropriately targeted to meet local needs. 

It was further suggested that a broader and more joined up approach was needed, particularly in relation to the links between mental health, family environments and physical health, to ensure that gaps in provision for children and young people were addressed.

In response to questions, Officers advised that weight management support for children was available, with parents encouraged to participate in family-based programmes promoting healthy lifestyles and affordable nutrition. These services were commissioned county wide and were accessible to residents in Stevenage. 

Officers also noted that population growth was increasing the pressure on local services and emphasised the importance of ensuring sufficient health and primary care infrastructure was in place to meet future demand.

Members were advised that proposals for neighbourhood health and wellbeing hubs were at an early stage and were being developed with NHS partners. The intention was to bring a range of services closer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

There was no Urgent Part I Business.

To consider the following motions:

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.    That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 to 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.    That having considered the reasons for the following item being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent

There was no Urgent Part II Business.