Decision Maker: Strategy and Resources Policy Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 19, 2025

Purpose: The Director of Public Health has a statutory responsibility to write an annual independent report on the health of their population. The report is to raise awareness and understanding of local health issues, highlight areas of specific concern, and make recommendations for change. The 2025 report is focused on poverty in Sheffield.

Content: 10.1 The Strategic Director of Public Health andIntegrated Commissioning presented a report summarising the key points within the 2024 Director of Public Health report for Sheffield “Foundations for a Healthy Future: Ending Poverty Together”.   The report requests that the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee endorse the report and recommendations, to reiterate the commitment in the Council Plan in working with partners to tackle poverty, and to work with the Poverty Truth Commission in refreshing our overall approach.     10.2 RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-       (a) endorses the 2024 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health, ‘Poverty’ appended as part of this report and the recommendations for the City therein:   • Refuse to accept things as they are: actively create a different future with a reset vision and mission • Refresh the City’s anti-poverty approach • Shape this work through a set of shared principles;   (b) notes that there is always more to do on refreshing our approach to addressing poverty with many stakeholders. This should be done iteratively, there isn’t a single simple answer. The Poverty Truth Commission clearly have a critical role in shaping the long-term response to the city in the future;   (c) reiterates the Council’s commitment in the Council Plan to work with partners across the city to tackle poverty and create a future where everyone has the resources they need to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives;   (d) supports the report launch event on March 28th 2025 which aims to develop a city-wide response to the recommendations with partners; and   (e) agrees to receive a report at a future meeting outlining the Council’s contribution to a city-wide anti-poverty approach.     10.3 Reasons for Decision     10.3.1 The Director of Public Health report is a key tool for uniting city partners to address poverty. The recommendations build on our city-wide activity to support Sheffielders through the cost-of-living crisis and the aspiration within our shared City Goals to shape our city around fairness, equity, wellbeing and combating poverty     10.3.2 It is important that the Council demonstrates leadership in endorsing the Director of Public Health report and reiterates commitment to working with communities and partners across the city to create a future where everyone has the resources they need to live fulfilled and healthy lives.     10.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected     10.4.1 The alternative is to for the Council not to endorse the DPH report, leaving partners to deliver without Council support. This option was rejected as we are the civic leader of Place, we are ambitious for our city and our determination to deliver a bright future for Sheffield can only be achieved with and alongside our communities and our partners.