County Spotlight - Active and Healthy Communities

This County Spotlight report examines how county and unitary authorities are supporting healthier, more active communities during a period of rising demand and during a period where inflation was running at 10% for over a year.

It includes 18 case studies, showcasing county unitary investment into leisure centres, profiling how County Councils Network (CCN) members are encouraging healthier lifestyles, and illustrating examples on how local authorities are investing in active travel schemes.

Despite facing lower per‑head public health funding than other council types and significant cost pressures on leisure services, our member councils continue to innovate, invest and collaborate to improve residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.

However, the report’s analysis highlights a number of challenges for county areas:

• 64.9% of adults in CCN areas were overweight or obese in 2021‑22, up from 61.8% in 2015‑16, accounting for 58% of England’s total increase.  
• Overweight or obesity among Year 6 children rose from 31.5% to 35% between 2016‑17 and 2021‑22.  
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• CCN councils receive £45.74 per head in public health funding, significantly below the England average.  
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• Adult physical activity levels in county areas remained stable at 61.9%, while falling elsewhere.  
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• Inflation was forecast to add over £60m in costs to leisure services and £79m to public health activity.

Recommendations for government include:

• Deliver a fairer distribution of public health funding for county areas.
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• Protect and sustain leisure and wellbeing services during prolonged inflationary pressures.
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• Invest further in early intervention to tackle obesity, particularly among children and older people.
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• Expand active travel infrastructure to support everyday physical activity. Support councils to continue place‑based innovation and partnership working on population health.