Introduction

The London Borough of Sutton, in south-west London, has had stable political leadership for the last 34 years. During this time, the population has become increasingly diverse and continues to grow. The last ten years of reduced central government funding have resulted in budgetary planning that has presented many challenges. In this chapter, Ruth Dombey, leader of the council, outlines innovative approaches to maintain a healthy, happy and safe community. Place-based approaches, involving integrated health and social care integration and outcome commissioning, have been developed with a view to a consideration of ‘health’ in all council planning.

So often, people are categorised by their specific needs and problems. What is your housing need, your medical need, your financial need? What can I do to help you with that one aspect of your life? What services can I offer to help you address that particular need? But life is not linear – it is messy and complicated and interconnected. What if we were to ask what you would like in order to lead an active, healthy and happy life?

People are not just patients, service users, passive recipients of public services. People have a right to a say in their own lives, a right to be involved in decisions that affect everyone and a right to decide their own priorities. We have a responsibility to be active citizens of the world we live in and help to shape that world for the better. We are bound by one common factor – the place where we live. It may not be the place where we work or study or even where we spend most of our time.