A STRATEGY to maintain high standards of health and wellbeing outlined in a five-year plan has been supported by South Lakeland District Council.

Members voted at last night’s full meeting of the authority to adopt the council’s Public Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2014-19. It aims to improve the health of people and reduce health inequalities in the district.

Councillors heard that South Lakeland is a healthy place to live, with a higher than average life expectancy and a high level of participation in physical activity. However, there are also areas of deprivation and a higher than average number of households living in fuel poverty.

A key focus of the strategy is how the council can work in partnership with health service providers and other bodies. This will be done by promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging physical activity

Coun Graham Vincent, portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Maintaining and improving public health depends upon the delivery of many of the district council frontline services, from environmental health, housing, and licensing services through to supporting economic growth to the provision of leisure facilities.

“The strategy lays out our intention to consider the effect that every aspect of the council’s work has on people’s health and wellbeing in the district. Over the next five years the council will work in partnership with other organisations to get best value from the available expertise, skills and resources.

“This work will touch on a myriad of different parts of our work, from engaging with key health and cultural partners to working to preserve the beautiful environment we live in. We know that this work is dependent on a wide range of local and national organisations, but we are resolved to take an active role in working with them and making a real difference.”

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SLDC Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Conway said it was vital the council worked closely with its partners through bodies like One South Lakeland to have a united approach to tackling health inequalities.

He said partners on One South Lakeland, including Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, the Local Enterprise Partnership, Kendal College, and Cumbria County Council, would work together to ensure the success of this strategy.

Mr Conway added: “We are using our influence as an authority to ensure we deliver key priorities from our Council Plan. This will help our residents be healthier and live longer.”