Agenda item

The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1         The purpose of this report is to:

 

·        Provide an update in relation to the forthcoming World Health Organisation (WHO) International Healthy Cities Conference being hosted in Belfast Waterfront from 1-4 October 2018 and the WHO Healthy Cities Phase VII programme which is due to commence in January 2019.

·        Consider an informal request, for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee Chair and Deputy (or nominees) to attend the conference and potentially participate as chair and / or discussant in relation to the learning through practice sessions and strategic workshops.

·        Note that an informal request has been presented to the People and Communities Committee Chair and Deputy (or nominees) to attend the conference and potentially participate as chair and / or discussant in relation to the learning through practice sessions and strategic workshops.

·        Consider a request to approve the Expression of Interest as part of the process to re-designate Belfast as a WHO Healthy City and participate in Phase VII of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

·        Consider a formal request for the Lord Mayor (or nominee) to attend the 68^th session of the WHO Europe Regional Committee, which is being held in Rome, Italy from 17 to 20 September 2018. 

·        Consider a formal request for the Lord Mayor (or nominee) to attend the WHO European Healthy Cities Summit of Mayors which will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 23 and 24 October 2018.

·        Note that Christine Robinson, Strategy Policy and Partnerships Manager has been appointed, to represent Council, as a Member of the Board of Belfast Healthy Cities.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

·        Note the contents of the report.

·        Agree that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee Chair and Deputy (or their nominees) attend the conference and potentially participate as chair and / or discussant in relation to the learning through practice sessions and strategic workshops.

·        Approve completion of the Expression of Interest and submit it as part of the application process to re-designate Belfast as a WHO Healthy City and participate in Phase VII of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

·        Agree that the Lord Mayor (or nominee) attend the 68^th session of the WHO Europe Regional Committee, which is being held in Rome, Italy from 17 to 20 September 2018. 

·        Agree that the Lord Mayor (or nominee) attend the WHO European Healthy Cities Summit of Mayors which will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 23 and 24 October 2018.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

            Key Issues

 

            WHO International Healthy Cities

            Conference 1-4 October 2018

 

3.1       In 2018, the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, celebrates its 30th year as a network and global movement. The highlight of the celebrations will be the conference, which is being hosted in Belfast Waterfront from 1st to 4th October.  

 

3.2       As well as celebrating 30 years of Healthy Cities as a network and a global movement, the conference will focus on the six themes established by the WHO European Healthy Cities Network’s Political Vision Group for Phase VII, which are people, place, participation, prosperity, planet and peace.

 

3.3       For three decades the Healthy Cities movement has been a pioneering driver of change, creating heathier urban settings that support the health and well-being of the people that use them. It has also inspired Healthy Cities Networks to grow in all other WHO regions, creating a global push for healthy cities and positioning health high on the social, economic and political agenda of city governments. As a result, city health profiles have evolved as an indispensable tool for informing citizens, policy-makers and politicians about health and also as an evidence base for city health planning.

 

3.4       The conference, which takes place every five years, offers cities the chance to engage with their international counterparts and benefit from the Network’s experience. The four day programme in Belfast will provide opportunities to learn from the work of Healthy Cities globally, bringing together politicians and key decision-makers, as well as technical experts. The conference will provide inspiration and insight through multiple examples of innovative ways to improve health and well-being.

 

3.5       The 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe will take place from 17 to 20 September 2018 in Rome, Italy and WHO has requested that the Lord Mayor or Deputy Lord Mayor attend the event to present the forthcoming WHO International Healthy Cities conference in Belfast and a joint statement with the WHO European Regions Network. The event will be attended by high level representatives of the WHO European Region fifty three Member States, as well as partner organisations. Although the event is scheduled over four days, the Lord Mayor or Deputy Lord Mayor will not be expected to attend all days of the event.   

 

3.6       Belfast Healthy Cities has taken a lead in the management and organisation of the Belfast conference, being held from 1-4 October 2018. A Steering Group and Events Team have been established, together with several Committees to ensure that a successful, well organised and enjoyable conference is delivered on behalf of Belfast City.

 

3.7       Council officers have been liaising with Belfast Healthy Cities in relation to conference arrangements and are supporting the programme through the delivery of six specific site visits. Furthermore, Council Officers are proactively working to ensure that the conference is recognised as a conference for the city and that the health and well-being vision and ambitions in the Belfast Agenda and the Local Development Plan, together with the priorities of the Belfast Strategic Partnership are highlighted, thus illustrating a long term commitment to address health inequalities across Belfast. It is hoped that opportunities can be created to demonstrate Council’s civic leadership on an international platform and to showcase Belfast as a great place to visit and do business.

 

3.8       Additionally, following Council’s Friendly Co-operation Agreement with Shenyang in 2014 and subsequent Sister City Status in 2016, discussions are ongoing with Belfast Healthy Cities to ensure that a conference invitation is extended to the Mayor of Shenyang and consideration is being given to the Shenyang Mayor’s involvement in the conference side events.

 

3.9       In February 2018, Belfast Healthy Cities published a call for abstracts, resulting in three hundred and fifty abstracts being received. These have been assessed and successful delegates are in the process of being informed.

 

3.10      Seven side events are being developed that will be held at the start of the conference. These events will provide delegates with the opportunity to participate in a range of off-site seminars, focusing on topics such as healthy aging, healthy places, early years and peace, all of which reflect the vision and outcomes that have been captured in the Belfast Agenda.

 

3.11      Additionally, seventeen sites visits, relating to the conference themes, have been confirmed for the third day of the conference. These site visits will provide delegates the opportunity to learn about good practice examples being delivered in Belfast, in relation to the six key themes as outlined in point 3.2 above. The planned visits will range from physical projects such as the Connswater Community Greenway and the Regional Trauma Unit, to urban governance models and community initiatives. Furthermore, a number of tours taking in different parts of the city, will offer delegates the opportunity to experience Belfast from a different perspective. The site visits include the following:

 

·        People:Innovative approaches to medicine Regional Trauma Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital; Diversity in South Belfast.

·        Place: Shaping the future development of Belfast, a Local Development Plan; Connswater Community Greenway; Supported Housing for people living with dementia and developing Dementia Friendly Communities; Public health tour of Belfast.

·        Participation: Treating conditions, exercise through prescriptions; W5 Science Centre; Early years intervention approaches in Shankill; Belfast an age-friendly city; Belfast a UNESCO Learning City.

·        Prosperity:Sustainable growth, a city region deal, Prosperity along the river Lagan; Glider, a new mode of travel for Belfast.

·        Planet:Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University; Bryson Recycling, leading social enterprise; Devonish Nutrition, Dowth Farm Visit.

·        Peace:Care Zone in North Belfast; Health and Housing; Creating a shared city; Irish language in east Belfast.

 

3.12      A copy of the draft conference programme is attached at Appendix 1.

 

3.13      Dr Janez Poto?nik, the Co-chair of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Resource Panel, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the forthcoming conference. Dr Poto?nik is a former Commissioner for Environment and previously Commissioner for Science and Research in the European Commission. In those roles and his current position as the Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel, he has played a key role in policy making on natural resources and in the transition to a circular economy.  Dr Poto?nik will deliver a keynote address during the conference and will also participate in a panel discussion during the event. 

 

3.14      An informal request has been received for the Chair and Deputy Chair (or nominees) of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to attend and potentially Chair one of the learning through practice sessions and / or strategic workshops. Further details in relation to these sessions and workshops are expected from Belfast Healthy Cities within the next few weeks.

 

3.15      An informal request has also been received for the Chair and Deputy Chair of the People and Communities Committee (or nominees) to attend and potentially Chair one of the learning through practice sessions and / or strategic workshops.

 

3.16      An informal request has been received from Belfast Healthy Cities, seeking the Chief Executive to possibly deliver the Key Note 2 speech on 3 October and also to participate in the conference closing session on 4 October.

 

3.17      It is also anticipated that there will be opportunities for additional Elected Members and Council officers to be involved in the conference as chairs and / or discussants in relation to the learning through practice sessions and strategic workshops.

 

3.18      Belfast Healthy Cities has also submitted a request for Council volunteers, fluent in European languages (German in particular), to act as interpreters during the conference.

 

3.19      Additionally, the conference will provide the opportunity to close Phase VI of WHO Healthy Cities and commence preparation in relation to Phase VII. Details of Phase VII will be announced, together with the new cohort of designated healthy cities.

 

            WHO European Healthy Cities Phase VII (2019 – 2024)

 

3.20      The WHO European Healthy Cities Phase VII expression of interest is expected to be released from WHO in August 2018. The process for completion and submission of an expression of interest from Belfast requires a letter of support from the Lord Mayor. This element of the Phase VII application process is currently being progressed and will be required before the conference in October 2018.

 

3.21      The goals and framework for Phase VII will be agreed at the conference and will be known as the Belfast Charter. WHO has requested that the Lord Mayor presents the Belfast Charter as the Healthy Cities Acclamation, at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Alma Ata, at a celebratory event in Almaty. At the International Conference on Primary Health Care, held in Alma-Ata (now Almaty), Kazakhstan in 1978, Member States signed the Declaration of Alma-Ata, expressing the need for urgent national and international action to protect and promote the health of all. Forty years later, countries will gather in Almaty again to celebrate this milestone and address the need for continued efforts to support and strengthen primary health care. The Healthy Cities Acclamation confirms the commitment of Healthy Cities to achieving the vision of Alma Ata. A copy of the Draft Provisional Programme of the WHO European Healthy Cities, Summit of Mayors, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 23-24 October 2018 is attached at Appendix 2.

 

3.22      In order to be re-designated as a WHO Healthy City, and participate in Phase VII, Belfast will need to complete a Phase VII application, including consultation, by December 2018. Details of the application criteria are expected to be released in September 2018.

 

3.23      Belfast Healthy Cities will take a lead on the preparation of the Phase VII application. Council Officers have been liaising with Belfast Healthy Cities in relation to this application and have highlighted the importance of Phase VII aligning to the priorities in the Belfast Agenda and Local Development Plan as well as the work of the Belfast Strategic Partnership.    

 

3.24      Historically, Council has provided a funding contribution to support the work of Belfast Healthy Cities which is reviewed on an annual basis. Given Council’s ongoing significant organisation change and efficiencies programme, it has been highlighted to Belfast Healthy Cities that it is unlikely Council will be in a position to continue the same level of partnership funding in future years. The introduction of Phase VII is an opportunity to revisit the existing governance and model of funding and delivery.

 

3.25      Recommendations

 

            It is recommended that consideration be given to the following:

 

·        Agree the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee Chair and Deputy (or nominees) attend the conference and potentially participate as chair and / or discussant in relation to the learning through practice sessions and strategic workshops.

·        Approve that the Expression of Interest is completed and submitted as part of the application process to re-designate Belfast as a WHO Healthy City and participate in Phase VII of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

·        Agree that the Lord Mayor (or nominee) attend the 68th session of the WHO Europe Regional Committee, which is being held in Rome, Italy from 17 to 20 September 2018.

·        Agree that the Lord Mayor (or nominee) attend the WHO European Healthy Cities Summit of Mayors which will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 23 and 24 October 2018.

 

            Financial and Resource Implications

 

            WHO International Healthy Cities

            Conference 1-4 October 2018

 

3.26      At the present time there are no financial implications to report in relation to the WHO International Healthy Cities Conference being held in Belfast from 1 – 4 October 2018.

 

            Ongoing resource commitments in relation to the conference are being progressed within existing resources. Additionally, further council officer involvement during the conference, in relation to practice sessions and workshops, will be delivered within existing resources. 

 

3.27      A request has been received from Belfast Healthy Cities seeking Council volunteers who are fluent in European languages to act as interpreters during the conference. If volunteers are available, this support will be delivered within existing resources. 

 

3.28      The Council has allocated £81,294 in the current year to Belfast Healthy Cities.

 

            68th Session of the WHO Europe Regional Committee and WHO European Healthy Cities Summit of Mayors, Almaty, Kazakhstan

 

3.29      It is estimated that the total cost per person to attend the 68th session of the WHO Europe Regional Committee in Rome, Italy will be approximately £580. It is estimated that the total cost per person to attend the WHO European Healthy Cities Summit of Mayors in Almaty, Kazakhstan will be approximately £880. A breakdown of estimated costs is included in Table 1 below.

 

3.30      Table 1: Estimated Costs Per Person

 

 

3.31      Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

 

            At present there are no equality or good relations or rural needs assessment issues to report.”

 

The Committee adopted the recommendations.