WAVERLEY Borough Council’s has recommended adopting its first health and well-being strategy.

It comes at a time when health services are increasingly focused on preventing ill health and the role of local authorities in supporting health and wellbeing is increasingly recognised.

The strategy and accompanying action plan sets out how Waverley will support the health and well-being of all residents in the borough

It is based on improving:

• Older adults’ health and well-being and hhe health and well-being of kids and the young

• Developing a preventative approach

• Promoting emotional well-being and mental health and

• Safeguarding the population.

Councillor Kevin Deanus said: “A great deal of our work has an impact on health and well-being.

“Providing opportunities for physical activity in parks and leisure centres; providing individual support to families and older or vulnerable residents; improving our housing stock and many other initiatives, such as community centres and arts activities to promote good health and wellbeing in our communities.

“Waverley will continue to work with the health and wellbeing partnership and others at local and county level to focus our services even more closely on promoting good health and well-being across our population.”

Council, statistics for the borough show:–

• Life expectancy of 82.6 years for men and 85.1 years for women, higher than the UK average of approximately 79.4 and 83.1 years respectively

• Proportionally, Waverley has the highest population of over 85s in Surrey and it is predicted to increase by some 30 per cent over the next five years.

• More than one-in-10 children leave primary school obese

• Sixty per cent of adults in Waverley are overweight or obese

• Approximately one-infive people in Waverley are physically inactive (for example, not meeting the recommended 150 minutes per week)

• In 2013, physical inactivity in Waverley was estimated to cost £2million

• Smoking continues to be the major preventable cause of premature death and disability

• Some of Waverley’s wards feature in the top 10 in Surrey for having the highest estimated number of dwellings in fuel poverty.