Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Resources which gave details on the development of the Halton Child & Family Poverty Strategy and sought endorsement of the draft strategy.

 

The Board was advised that the summary of key elements in the strategy were as follows:-

 

The key underlying causes of child and family poverty in Halton was as follows:-

 

·    Low family aspirations; and

·    Persistent cycle of benefit dependency, often intergenerational.

 

The Key priorities to tackle child and family poverty in Halton were:-

 

·    Change/challenge cultural acceptance and raise aspirations;

·    Early intervention;

·    Whole family approach; and

·    Provide a single point of access to key support services.

 

The Key issues to be tackled as an early priority were;

 

·        To ensure that support services meet the needs of target groups now, and in  the future, and were easily accessible; and

 

·        To improve the sharing, and quality of information, between partners to provide a better response and greater levels of longer-term support to service users.

 

In conclusion, it was reported that the next steps, subject to formal approval, would be to draft an Action Plan to co-ordinate work towards the objectives set out in the strategy in Quarter 1 2011/12.  The Action Plan, it was reported would be presented to the Board as soon as it was available.

 

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

 

·        The importance of the Action Plan to address child poverty in the Borough and that the Board receive it in the near future was noted;

 

·        It was noted that the delay in the Action Plan had been as a result of the impact of the cuts in the spending review on partner organisations;

 

·        In respect of the Integration of the Child and Family Poverty Strategy with Key Plans and Strategies set out on Page 54 could include private landlords and house owners.  In response, it was reported that private landlords and house owners had been included in the strategy;

 

·        It was noted that with the economic downturn, the freezing of benefits and wages and the rise in inflation could result in an increase in child poverty in the Borough.  It was also noted that child poverty was a complex family issue and could not be dealt with in isolation.  In addition, it was recognised that there was a link between child poverty and unemployment;

 

·        Clarity was sought on whether the Action Plan would target specific areas in the Borough or whether it would be more general and incorporate the whole of the Borough.  It was also noted that there were a lot of people in the Borough facing unemployed for the first time as well as people who had been unemployed for a long time.  In response, it was reported that there was a not one size fit all solution to addressing child poverty in the Borough. 

 

·        It was suggested that the Executive Summary set out on Page 34 include the numbers in respect of Halton;

 

·        It was noted that specific funding had been given to address poverty issues in the most deprived wards.  It was also noted that people living in poverty were most likely to smoke more, drink more and create mental health problems.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)                     the Halton Child & Family Poverty Draft Strategy be endorsed; and

 

(2)          a further report on the Strategy’s Action Plan be brought to a future meeting.