Agenda and minutes

[To receive any apologies for absence]. 

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Paul Singh.  There were no substitutions. 

[To receive any declarations of interest]. 

There were no declarations of interest. 

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.]

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2023 be approved as a correct record. 

[To receive a presentation on the Better Health Rewards Scheme]. 

The Head of Partnerships opened the presentation (a copy of the presentation is attached to the signed minutes) and gave some context on the Better Health Rewards Scheme. The Better Health Rewards pilot scheme was launched on the 17February 2023 and was designed to last 6 months, in partnership with the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and Headup Systems Limited.  It was designed to test whether individuals would change their behaviours to eat healthier and exercise more in response to incentivisation.  The Council applied to take part in the scheme because of its commitment and interest in Behavioural Sciences and were accepted due to their willingness to try something different in response to issues like obesity and a reduced willingness across the national population to participate in physical exercise.

The Head of Partnerships informed the Panel that the Department of Health & Social Care had made £3 million available in support of the scheme and explained some of the reward the scheme had for participants. Some major supermarkets supported the scheme. Further information was given on user set up information. Participants had to be 18 years old or above to take part in the scheme. The launch of the scheme included a volunteer led launch day, as well as advertising on a variety of national television programs, radio and newspapers. On going promotional planning was being delivered by the City of Wolverhampton Council working with partners such as Wolverhampton University. Advertising was utilised with the Wolverhampton Wanderers football club. The Head of Partnerships showed examples of video advertising which had been on going.

The Head of Partnerships summarised where the scheme was at; 20,000 residents  had registered, with 16,000 fitness devices dispatched. Attrition rates would be monitored and the data would be fed back when the research findings were published by OHID.

A Panel member commented that feedback they had had was that it was not clear enough to users that it was a research program, concerns had been raised people did not know what was occurring with their data. The Director of Public Health welcomed the feedback.

A Councillor asked if the individuals not in the control group would get the opportunity to be in it at a later stage. The Director of Public Health said they would not, due to the nature of the scheme being a pilot for research.

A Councillor asked if the Council had anything in place to encourage those who had signed up but had not activated their device to move onto the next stage, he also enquired where the Council envisioned the scheme going after the 6 month trial had ended.

An Officer answered that each stage had nudge or prompts set up to  engage with the service user as a reminder. The Director of Public Health replied to the Councillors second question stating that the data gathered from the trial would enable them to see what works best and utilise that data to improve the service should it go forward.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.