Agenda item

(1)      The overview of the Commonwealth Games Sport and Physical Activity legacy delivery was noted;

(2)      A regular briefing be received on the impact and learning on Commonwealth Games physical activity delivery.  Although the WMCA was not accountable, there was considerable value in highlighting the progress, impact and learning;

(3)      It was agreed to receive a report for approval at the next meeting on the WMCA and Sport England partnership, setting out intentions on contributing to the proposed health duty and also enabling the delivery of a long-lasting Games physical activity legacy, co-designed with Wellbeing Board stakeholders.

The board considered a report where a presentation was also shared from the Strategic Lead for Wellbeing & Prevention to provide a summary of the Commonwealth Games Physical Activity and Wellbeing legacy and how the WMCA, Sport England and partners were working together to ensure that the Games was a catalyst for long term change to improve health and reduce inequalities by getting more people active, and in by doing so, setting out the intentions to develop a long-term Sport England and WMCA partnership.

The agenda item included a joint presentation by the Strategic Lead for Wellbeing & Prevention and Adam Rigarlsford from Sport England which highlighted the achievements and opportunities the Games had presented to the West Midlands region, legacy ambitions and commitments for physical activity and wellbeing and to build on the Mental Health Commission sport and physical activity recommendations within the partnership plan. 

Justin Varney noted the importance as a board to maintain a laser focus on physical inactivity and ambition to increase people achieving less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week as although the Games had reinvigorated people’s passion and minds, the inactivity challenge remained a long-term concern and challenge.  Justin further noted it would be helpful for the board to support this partnership approach in asking Integrated Care Systems in what they were doing in relation to secondary prevention in physical activity for creating change and embedment.

The Chair suggested whether more should be undertaken to support walking groups which not only brought people together to walk but also addressed other issues such as loneliness.  

The Strategic Lead for Wellbeing & Prevention agreed with the comments received for a laser focus from locality up to region in targeting people doing less than 30 minutes per week physical activity and noted that walking and cycling during the Games was the biggest opportunity and highest evidence based  to work better as a system with Transport for West Midlands colleagues and the Walking & Cycling Commissioner to begin to identify how to instigate that larger behaviour change to positively complement environmental change, air quality and community wellbeing with a partnership paper to be brought to a future board meeting.

The Chair summarised from the discussions that there were a lot of areas the report noted a focus on for the Games legacy, however out of the discussions there were a few areas that were not so obvious and were areas the board would like to address inactivity and in the identification of a board member to champion this piece of work through expressions of interest and to receive a further update report at a future board meeting.            

Resolved:

(1)           That the overview of the Commonwealth Games Sport and Physical Activity legacy delivery be noted;

(2)           A regular briefing be received on the impact and learning on Commonwealth Games physical activity delivery.  Although the WMCA was not accountable, there was considerable value in highlighting the progress, impact and learning;

 (3)     It be agreed to receive a report for approval at the next meeting on the
           WMCA and Sport England partnership, setting out intentions on
           contributing to the proposed health duty and also enabling the delivery
           of a long-lasting Games physical activity legacy, co-designed with
           Wellbeing Board stakeholders.