DECISION:

1.    Note the report and the proposed healthier advertising policy.

2.    Approve the healthier advertising policy to be adopted by the Council.

ACTION BY:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH ADULTS AND COMMUNITY (W. TOMSETT)

Associate Director of Public Health (K. Scammell)

Councillor Maium Talukdar (Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning) introduced the report that proposed the introduction of a healthier advertising policy in Tower Hamlets to restrict the advertising of unhealthy food and drink products.

Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health and Katy Scammell, Associate Director of Public Health provided further details.

Further to questions from the Cabinet, the Lead Member, Somen and Katie explained:

·         Whilst the policy applied only to Council land, the Council would be encouraging its partners and stakeholders to follow suit. A ‘phase 2’ of the work will explore how the work could be extended to maximise impact.

·         Work was underway with the Council’s Communications Team to investigate translation to reach residents for whom English may not be a first language.

·         How parents and other key stakeholders were consulted prior to the formulation of the policy.

·         They would explore if public health grants could be used to recover costs of the policy

The Mayor and Cabinet welcomed the policy which they felt showed the Council was a trendsetting and leading the way in public health.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The report is noted; and

2.    The healthier advertising policy is approved.