Removing sugary drinks from vending machines, and reviewing sponsorship from companies which promote unhealthy food and drink, are among the initiatives.

Councillors approved a motion on Wednesday (13 December) to adopt the Local Government Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Food. This is a commitment to take action across six key areas which incorporate everything from raising awareness to supporting businesses to offer healthier food.

The motion received cross-party support and was proposed by 12 councillors including the Leader of Royal Greenwich, Councillor Denise Hyland, and Councillor David Gardner, the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.

Our pledge

We have pledged to:

• Review current partnerships, particularly those associated with or promoting food and drink which is high in fat, salt and sugar or undermines breastfeeding. The Council will also develop a policy for future marketing and advertising contracts
• Encourage sport and leisure providers to remove food and drink which is high in sugar, fat and salt from vending machines
• Engage and support more businesses to adopt the Breastfeeding Friendly Greenwich scheme and engage more businesses with the Healthier Catering Commitment
• Host two large scale public events a year to promote healthy eating through Good Food in Greenwich
• Take further steps to offer healthier food and remove sugary drinks from Council buildings plus roll out Good Food in Greenwich catering guidelines across the Council and its hospitality menu
• Continue to offer regular community cookery clubs promoting healthy eating, cookery and budgeting skills
• Actively promote free drinking water
• Further promote the Breastfeeding Greenwich, Live Well Greenwich and Good Food in Greenwich websites to raise awareness of them.

'We will help drive down obesity'

Councillor Gardner said: "The Council launched the Sugar Smart campaign at the start of 2017 and we are ending the year with a new range of initiatives to combat obesity which just shows how committed we are to tackling this issue.

"The passing of this motion will enable the Council to build on the progress we have made this year, including our recent top spot placing in the Good Food for London league table. By educating residents and making it more convenient to choose food and drink which is low in sugar, fat and salt, we will help drive down obesity."