London Borough food policies

You can find a list of Food policies that have been drawn up by London Boroughs below. But In summary 17 Boroughs have had a food strategy in the last 5 years (over half of London boroughs). However only one borough has a food strategy which is current (Lewisham). All of these documents are 1 – 3 year strategies, arguably not long enough to make a difference. It is worth noting the London Food Strategy sets a vision for change over a 10 year period. This 17 includes 5 strategies which are in various stages of development (Camden, Greenwich, Hounslow, Islington,Newham, ). Some deal solely with health, but others take one of three approaches:

Food System (Growing it to throwing it)
e.g. London Food Strategy and Camden
This is a systematic approach but can be repetitive with a lot of crossover between sections.
Population group (e.g from pregnancy to death)
e.g. Greenwich and Newham
This is a useful approach for action in areas where services are aimed at particular groups e.g. school catering, meals on wheels but it can mean there are a lot of areas that don’t get covered at all, and can also lead to a lot of overlap.
Thematic (Food Safety, Nutrition and Health, Sustainability, etc.)
e.g. Ealing, Lewisham, Camden and London
This is the most common approach as it focuses on the boroughs’ priorities, but it is not that thorough on its own, as it doesn’t guarantee an holistic approach.

A sub-group of the London Food Board is developing a plan to help encourage boroughs to take on board the holistic approach to food put forward by the Mayoral food strategy. A document has been prepared which sets out some of the principles for this work.

Borough Food Strategies

Barking and Dagenham
A Food and Nutrition policy for Barking, Dagenham and Havering 1999
Action Plan 2000 – 2002
Lead: Barking, Dagenham and Havering Health Authorities
Focus: Health and Nutrition
Location: n/a Online

Barnet
Nothing at present

Bexley
Nothing at present

Brent
Nothing at present

Bromley
Nothing at present, although there have been calls from within the PCT for a overarching Obesity, Food and Health Strategy for Bromley

Camden
Strategy drafted. Consultation finished and final strategy to be launched in June/July 2009.
Lead: Katie Williams, Camden PCT and David Wilson, Camden Council.
Focus: Largely follows the holistic remit of the London Food Strategy, taking into account issues of health, as well as food’s impact on the economy, environment and society.
Location: www.sustainweb.org/page.php?id=652

Croydon
Croydon Food Strategy - 2004 - 2009
Lead: PCT and council
Focus: Health, touches on food safety, food access, environment and economy
Location: http://www.croydon.nhs.uk/reports/publichealthinf/food04.pdf

Ealing
Food Strategy and action plan - Food matters 2003-2006
(Has not been updated)
Lead: Council, Ealing CVS and PCT
Focus: Food Security, Nutrition and Health, Safety and Sustainability
Location:
http://www.ealingpct.nhs.uk/Library/JSNA/JSNA_June_2008_Reference_Documents/Food_Matters_Strategy.pdf
www.ealing.gov.uk/ealing3/export/sites/ealingweb/services/council/strategies_and_policies/food_matters_strategy/_docs/actionplansept05.pdf

Enfield
Food and nutrition strategy 2003-2006
(Has not been updated)
Lead: Enfield and Haringey PCT and council
Focus: Nutrition and health, touches on food access
Location: http://www.enfield.nhs.uk/publications/reports_and_strategies.shtm

Greenwich
Food Policy 2003
Lead: Council and PCT
Focus: Health, Food access and touching on regeneration (A new strategy has been under consideration for a few years)
Location:
www.greenwich.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CB3EA85E-B320-4D21-A340-5CEAADDE5212/0/foodpolicy.pdf

Hackney (and City)
Hackney nutrition and healthy eating strategy (2007)
Lead: PCT and Council
Focus: Nutrition and Health, Food Access
Location: www.chpct.nhs.uk/trust_documents/Strategies/CHfoodstrategywithPSAtargets.pdf

Hammersmith and Fulham
Food and Health Strategy (2006) 2005-2008 (Draft)
(Has not been updated)
Lead: PCT and council
Focus: Health
Location: n/a Online

Haringey
Food and Nutrition strategy 2002
(Has not been updated – although there is a Obesity Strategy, published by the Primary Care Trust for 2007 – 2010)
Lead: Haringey PCT
Focus: Nutrition and Health, Food Access
Location: n/a Online (Obesity strategy: http://www.haringey.nhs.uk/services/specialist/care_pathways_and_guidelines/obesity/obesity_strategy_adults.pdf)

Harrow
Nothing at present

Havering
A Food and Nutrition policy for Barking, Dagenham and Havering 1999
Action Plan 2000 – 2002
(Has not been updated)
Lead: Barking, Dagenham and Havering Health Authorities
Focus: Health and Nutrition
Location: Not available online

Hillingdon
Nothing at present

Hounslow
Hounslow Food Strategy 2004 – 2007 (1st stage of 10yr plan)
(has not been updated – but a Hounslow Councillor has put together a paper on sustainable food in Hounslow)
Lead: PCT and council
Focus: Health, food access, sustainability, safety
Location: www.hounslow.gov.uk/hounslow_food_strategy060504.pdf
(For Councillor Dakers paper - http://hounslowlibdems.org.uk/resources/sites/82.165.40.25-419b2257da4f73.33615841/Sustainable+food+in+Hounslow+-+Andrew+Dakers+-+January+2007.pdf)

Islington
Islington Food Strategy
Lead: PCT
Focus: Health and incorporates other issues from the London Food Strategy.
Location: Not published, but being taken forward by a steering group in Islington

Kensington and Chelsea
Nothing at present

Kingston upon Thames
Nothing at present

Lewisham
Food Strategy – Are you thinking about food 2006
Lead: PCT and Council
Focus: Health and nutrition, food access, sustainability and safety
Location: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/HealthAndSocialCare/HealthAndMedicalAdvice/FoodStrategy.htm

Merton
Food and health strategy: A strategy to improve the health of people living and working in Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth 2002
(has not been updated)
Lead: Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth Health Authority
Location: Not available online

Newham
Newham Food and Nutrition strategy 2006 (not approved by Council – so has become a strategy for Newham Food Access Partnership)
Lead: Newham food access partnership
Focus: Nutrition and Health, Food Access, Sustainability, Environment
Location:
mgov.newham.gov.uk/Published/C00000422/M00005172/AI00014626/NewhamFoodStrategy.pdf

Redbridge
Through East London Food Futures
(has not been updated)
Lead: Joint venture between five London boroughs (Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Greenwich and Redbridge)
Focus: Food Access, Sustainability
Location: Not available online

Richmond upon Thames
Nothing at present

Southwark
Nothing at present

Sutton
Food and health strategy: A strategy to improve the health of people living and working in Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth 2002
(has not been updated)
Lead: Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth Health Authority
Location: Not available online

Tower Hamlets
East London Food and Nutrition strategy 2003
(has not been updated)
Lead: PCTs from Newham, Tower Hamlets and City and Hackney, local hospitals and local authority representation
Focus: Nutrition and Health, Food Access
Location: Not available online

Waltham Forest
Nothing at present

Wandsworth
(has not been updated)
Food and health strategy: A strategy to improve the health of people living and working in Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth 2002
Lead: Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth Health Authority
Location: Not available online

Westminster
Nothing at present