newsnk
Mapping out the NK Plan
The newspaper for all North Kesteven residents
Spring 2016
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District in pilot scheme to tackle obesity NKDC’s proactive, forward-thinking approach to wellbeing harnessed for global research project North Kesteven District Council is helping to shape new solutions to tackle obesity. It is the only district council among just four UK local authorities handpicked to participate in Public Health England’s three-year pilot, developing new ways of responding to the rising international problem of obesity through a ‘whole-systems’ approach. Ultimately, by sharing good practice, the project will create a roadmap to support all local authorities through a major step change in dealing with this important and challenging issue and influencing government policy on this. NKDC was selected from 60 applicants to work with Leeds Beckett University, based on its established reputation for excellence in sports, arts, leisure and cultural services and the importance it places on both physical and mental wellbeing through all of its operations. Professor Paul Gately, Academic Lead on the project, said the team was ‘really struck by NKDC’s bid, its direction, vision and ability to bring partners together’. He said that beyond the obvious and crippling costs to health services, obesity
had a greater impact on employment, the economy, families and the whole of society, with health inequalities being driven by countless factors. It is such factors, causes and consequences which the Council and its partners – ranging from schools, businesses, health agencies and social care – aim to gain greater understanding of. By sharing strategies which work well locally and identifying and testing a range of opportunities for
collaboration, they will work through a range of challenges and solutions. Chief Executive Ian Fytche said the opportunity to participate in such an innovative project was a privilege, through which NKDC could develop an influential and lasting legacy of change. The initiative sits alongside the development of NKDC’s new Sports and Physical Activity Strategy, which gives a level of childhood obesity locally of 15.8% among Year 6 pupils; about half of the national average.
The Council already focuses significant resources into physical health and general wellbeing – including fulfilment of a £7m investment in leisure facilities, engagement with 30 primary schools in active sports participation, extension of the free-access walking and cycling network and promotion of healthy lifestyles under the Fit for Life programme, to shape healthier futures. The District is rated as having one of the country’s highest levels of active
sports participation by adults – 5th highest for numbers fulfilling 30 minutes almost every day and 16th best with 30.2% being active once a week. Even so, two thirds of adults in North Kesteven are overweight or obese, with underlying mental vulnerability or trauma known to be a key factor in the incidence of obesity. Ways in which residents can participate in identifying good practice will unfold over the coming months as the project gets underway.
£8.9m street regeneration starts The Council’s biggest ever capital investment project – the £8.9m regeneration of Newfield Road in Sleaford – took a major step forwards with the demolition of six houses in recent weeks. Their removal makes way for a reconfigured road layout and creates space for a new play area to be created, as well as access to the rear of the remaining properties for the building of 18 new homes. The demolition was welcomed
Our Communities
pages 6 & 7
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by residents, many of whom stood, watched and recorded the moment. Some said it was like watching a part of their childhood removed as they had always known those houses, but that it opened up the possibilities of a bright new future for the 88-year-old street and its strong community. Alongside the new houses, the 63 which remain will be extended, reconfigured, refurbished and newly insulated to make them more comfortable and cheaper to live in.
Our Homes
pages 10 & 11 info@n-kesteven.gov.uk
www.n-kesteven.gov.uk
Our Economy
pages 12 & 13