COUNCILLORS have agreed a new physical activity strategy for Dorset after research showed the county 'lags behind regional and national averages' in sport participation.

Members of Dorset County Council children's services overview committee approved the strategy that aims to promote physical activity in the county in line with national recommendations to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

The report revealed that promoting physical activity and encouraging people to take more exercise is 'one of the biggest challenges facing public bodies'.

The strategy addresses a number of targets, from children, young people and families to active travel to utilising the natural environment with the aim to adopt a life-course approach, with particular emphasis on those who are currently inactive.

It aims to involve key organisations and partners to acknowledge the breadth of activities that will collectively contribute to increasing physical activity throughout the county.

The report stressed that physical activity is something that should be encouraged from birth and continued regularly throughout adulthood.

Worryingly, statistics showed physical activity amongst 16 to 25 year-olds declined from 2005 to 2013.

The report states 'active workforces have fewer days off sick and are measurably more productive' - in 2009 to 2010 public agencies in Dorset spent an estimated £8,363,950 treating people with diseases associated with inactivity.

There is a prospective cost of £50,000 and the county council and Active Dorset are aiming to secure contributions to this from external sources but a contribution from districts, boroughs and Dorset County Council will be required.

In response to the new physical activity strategy, Cllr Susan Jefferies said: "I just feel that it's just full of ideas - there doesn't appear to be any actions involved. In a lot of areas all the sports are run by volunteers and they require maintenance and funding. We need leadership and guidance as to how we can do that."

Head of Community Services, Paul Leivers said: "We need people to work together to bring the funding and resources in and to bid for external funding from national bodies."

Concerns were also raised surrounding unused school facilities, regarding numerous schools that have great facilities for physical activity but that remain closed on weekends and this is an issue that should be looked in to with this strategy.

Issues surrounding childhood obesity were also raised at the meeting and will be discussed and reviewed in a meeting with the Health and Wellbeing Board next month.