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.