Issue - meetings

This report responds to a motion approved by Full Council in June 2008, calling for an report outlining an action plan to target those geographic areas with the highest levels of child poverty in the City of York.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the report be noted.

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to seek further discussion of the report at key partnership forums, in particular Inclusive York and YorOK Board, with the aim of creating opportunities to access collective support and resources to support the action areas outlined in the report.

REASON:      In order to respond to the Council motion and to address the issue of child poverty in York in the most effective way.

Members considered a report which responded to a motion agreed by Full Council on 30 June 2008, calling for an action plan to target those areas of the City with the highest levels of child poverty.

The report examined the definition of ‘child poverty’, research carried out on the impact of poverty on families and children, and the development of government strategies intended to address child poverty, including a set of new pilot initiatives announced on 23 June 2008.  In York, the issue was one of pockets of deprivation. Children living in certain areas of the City were more likely to be living in families that were income deprived and more likely to have poorer academic outcomes.  Overall, the figure for child poverty in York was below the national average but in five wards (Guildhall, Westfield, Hull Road, Clifton and Heworth) the figure was well above the national average.

The Anti-Poverty Strategy of Without Walls brought together existing and proposed new initiatives to work with partners to tackle poverty in the City.  Specific action areas to make a local impact upon child poverty levels, in the context of the over-arching strategy, were outlined in paragraphs 21 to 32 of the report.  They included:

• The work of children’s centres
• A preventative approach with targeted groups, particularly the teenage homeless, and
• Narrowing the gap – a two year project, funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, that started in June 2007.

In response to the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, Members noted that this issue could not be addressed by means of action plan in a single department but required a collective approach, involving external partners in the City as well as the Council as a whole.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the report be noted.

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to seek further discussion of the report at key partnership forums, in particular Inclusive York and YorOK Board, with the aim of creating opportunities to access collective support and resources to support the action areas outlined in the report. ¹

REASON:      In order to respond to the Council motion and to address the issue of child poverty in York in the most effective way.