A joint initiative involving the Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the commission will be given the task of drawing together thinking on sustainable health improvement in Glasgow. With an independent chair at the helm, there will also be a clear expectation for the commission to produce recommendations for the city's partners to consider and act upon.

After years of sustained economic regeneration in Glasgow, Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, believes there is now a historic opportunity to transform the health of all people in Glasgow. He sees the commission as the starting block for a major push against health inequalities within the city.

He said: "It has been long recognised that the root causes of poor health and health inequalities lie beyond the scope of health services alone. They include such issues as employment, transport, housing, the environment, leisure and education and the aspirations of our citizens.

"However, there is currently no over-arching health improvement strategy for Glasgow that involves all of the city's key players. This commission will address that gap and come back with recommendations for the major partners in Glasgow."

Cllr Purcell added: "I believe that winning the right to host 2014 Commonwealth Games has presented us with the best chance in a generation to raise the aspiration of every Glaswegian and improve their lives. I have given a commitment that I want everyone in the city to benefit from the legacy of the Games and that includes improved health for all."

Glasgow has already taken strong and decisive action to tackle health inequalities in the city. The City Council has provided major investment in various programmes such as those for healthy eating and physical activity in schools.  These include free fruit, water and breakfasts for all primary school pupils as well as a healthy eating reward scheme in all twenty-nine secondary schools. Glasgow is also one of five local authorities in Scotland involved in a pilot for free school meals for P1,2 and 3s.

NHS Greater Glasgow Clyde now also has Linda De Caestecker in position as Director of Public Health and she has focused partners' attention on vital issues such as obesity, alcohol and inequalities.

She said: "I am very pleased that this short life Health Commission for Glasgow has been established. It emphasises the importance the Council places on the health of it population and also recognises that many of health challenges cannot just be addressed by health services alone.

"My recent report  'A Call to Debate, A Call to Action' has already highlighted the key public challenges facing the city. The establishment of this commission is a huge step forward in the need for NHS, councils, public and private companies and public themselves to work together to make it easier for people to make healthy choices. We want to provide the people of Glasgow with right environment in which to lead healthy lives."

At this stage the commission has been given a broad remit to gather evidence and opinion from Glasgow and beyond, assess this evidence and opinion and then make recommendations with the aim of narrowing health inequalities in the long term.

Further details on the membership of the commission and its approach will be brought before the Council's Executive Committee at a later date. It is anticipated that the commission will begin to report back by summer 2008.

The establishment of the Health Commission follows the success of Glasgow City Council's Education Commission, which has provided a template for the future of learning in the city.

A copy of the Director of Public Health's Report 'A Call to Debate, a Call to Action' can be obtained at www.nhsggc.org.uk/dphreport