Decision details

Sheffield City Council to be a Breastfeeding Friendly Local Authority and to work with partners across all sectors to make Sheffield a Breastfeeding Friendly City

Decision Maker: Co-operative Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

Sheffield has been very successful in promoting breastfeeding and changing the culture of women’s experience of feeding their babies. As part of the support offered by midwives and health visitors the LA offer support and information on a 1-1 basis, through breastfeeding cafes, groups a website and social media.

 

Over 260 venues throughout the city are accredited as breastfeeding friendly. These are public places which have agreed to support breastfeeding and offer a positive and welcoming environment to mums and their families. The Local Authority as one of the biggest employers in Sheffield could make a significant impact on the culture of breastfeeding in the city by becoming a breastfeeding friendly public and work place.

Decision:

8.1

The Executive Director, People Services, submitted a report seeking approval for Sheffield City Council to become a Breastfeeding Friendly Local Authority, and to work with partners to make Sheffield a Breastfeeding Friendly City.  The aim was to improve breastfeeding facilities in the city and remove some of the barriers to sustained breastfeeding in work and throughout the city.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet agrees the City Council should promote and advertise its support of breastfeeding, and officially state that Sheffield City Council is a Breastfeeding Friendly Local Authority and will work with partners across all sectors to make Sheffield become a Breastfeeding Friendly City.

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

There are 260 Breastfeeding Friendly venues in Sheffield, all of which are prepared to advertise their support of breastfeeding. Many of these venues are large organisations, including Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, John Lewis, Kelham Island, The Millennium Gallery and, most recently, Supertram.

 

 

8.3.2

However, in the City Centre there are department stores with unsatisfactory facilities for breastfeeding and there is a long-standing issue with breastfeeding support in Meadowhall Shopping Centre and on public transport.

 

 

8.3.3

It is essential that Sheffield City Council and their partners set the standard in this area of Public Health and encourage other large and small organisations to follow their lead.  It is recommended that the Council promote and advertise its support of breastfeeding and officially state that Sheffield City Council is a Breastfeeding Friendly Local Authority and will work with partners from all sectors to become a Breastfeeding Friendly City.

 

 

8.3.4

The main outcomes of these recommendations would be:

-       To validate and strengthen the work already carried out by Breastfeeding in Sheffield;

-       Increased opportunities to promote the benefits of breastfeeding;

-       To normalise the image of breastfeeding and make a cultural change;

-       To show breastfeeding mums that they are supported in the city;

-       More women encouraged to initiate breastfeeding, leading to more babies and children receiving the relevant benefits;

-       More women able to sustain breastfeeding for longer;

-       More businesses and organisations to follow the lead of Sheffield City Council by welcoming and supporting breastfeeding mums.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

 

The reputational risk to Sheffield City Council of doing nothing was considered to be high, as this move will impact positively on the health of children, young people and their families.  Other large organisations, including Sheffield Hallam University and the Clinical Commissioning Group, are all breastfeeding friendly.

 

 

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

John Macilwraith, Executive Director, People Services.

 

 

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Children, Young People and Family Support.

 

 

 

Publication date: 16/01/2020

Date of decision: 15/01/2020

Decided at meeting: 15/01/2020 - Co-operative Executive

Effective from: 23/01/2020

Accompanying Documents: