BRINGING public health services back under the responsibility of Gloucestershire County Council is a 'welcome return home', according to the authority's leader.
The council will take on the running of public health in the county as of next month, with the NHS handing over the reins for things like tobacco control, sexual health and teenage pregnancies.
The county's Conservative cabinet formally acknowledged responsibility for the services on Wednesday this week.
Health bosses will have £21million, given to the council through the Public Health Grant, to spend on improving the health and wellbeing of people in the county.
Speaking at the meeting held at The Skillzone Centre in Gloucester, Councillor Mark Hawthorne (C, Moreland), leader of the council, said the change represented a real 'opportunity'.
"The responsibility for public health coming over to local government is very much a return home," he said.
"Public health provision very much started in local government, if you go back long enough."
Councillor Andrew Gravells (C, Abbey), cabinet member for health and wellbeing, added: "We are lucky enough to have secured one of the highest increases in funding for public health in the UK.
"There is still a lot of work to be done in Gloucestershire.
"Although we do have a good health profile in the county there are areas of deprivation that need tackling.
"This gives us the opportunity to build on the good work health and well being is already doing."
The council will take on the running of public health in the county as of next month, with the NHS handing over the reins for things like tobacco control, sexual health and teenage pregnancies.
The county's Conservative cabinet formally acknowledged responsibility for the services on Wednesday this week.
Health bosses will have £21million, given to the council through the Public Health Grant, to spend on improving the health and wellbeing of people in the county.
Speaking at the meeting held at The Skillzone Centre in Gloucester, Councillor Mark Hawthorne (C, Moreland), leader of the council, said the change represented a real 'opportunity'.
"The responsibility for public health coming over to local government is very much a return home," he said.
"Public health provision very much started in local government, if you go back long enough."
Councillor Andrew Gravells (C, Abbey), cabinet member for health and wellbeing, added: "We are lucky enough to have secured one of the highest increases in funding for public health in the UK.
"There is still a lot of work to be done in Gloucestershire.
"Although we do have a good health profile in the county there are areas of deprivation that need tackling.
"This gives us the opportunity to build on the good work health and well being is already doing."