Issue - items at meetings - Index of Multiple deprivation and a strategic response

This report, responding to a request made at the Executive meeting on 18December 2007, presents proposals to instigate a pilot project to tackle deprivation in one geographically targeted area of the City, on the basis of the latest published information on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

Note: An annex to this report, providing a fuller explanation of some of the terms used in the report, was added to the published agenda on 7 February 2008.

RESOLVED: That the following actions, as set out in paragraph 9 of the report, be agreed as a response to the new published information on the Index of Multiple Deprivation:

a) The Council will lead and manage a pilot multi-agency programme, involving where appropriate the Ward (Planning) Committee, which will tackle deprivation initially in one geographical area of the City.

b) The lessons learned and the results of this action will be reported back, at regular intervals, to the Council and the WoW Board, to inform the partnership on how best to develop a city-wide approach to tackling deprivation.

c) The pilot team will be tasked to:

· Examine the likely causes of deprivation and consider appropriate responses

· Assemble a working budget

· Aim to reduce deprivation in one area of the City

· Identify effective leadership roles to deliver actions and outcomes

· Develop and deliver proposals which provide outcomes supporting existing strategies of partnership agencies

· Establish a template for a city-wide approach to tackling deprivation

· Suggest how partners’ resources might be better used through a joint approach

· Develop interim success measures prior to the next IMD in four years’ time

· Develop a reporting mechanism for actions and results.

REASON: To reduce deprivation in the City and to inform the Council and the Local Strategic Partnership on the development of an appropriate city-wide response to deprivation.

Members considered a report which responded to a request made at the Executive meeting on 18 December 2007 (Resolution (ii) of Minute 124 refers). The report presented proposals to instigate a pilot project to tackle deprivation in an area of the City, based upon the latest published information on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

The latest IMD figures, published in 2007, were based upon data collected in 2005 so might not accurately describe the current situation. However, they enabled a comparison to be made with the figures for 2001. Overall, York’s levels of deprivation were decreasing, but one “Super Output Area” (SOA) remained particularly disadvantaged. Average scores for the wards in York, based upon the total SOA scores within those wards were set out in tabular form in paragraph 4 of the report.

It was recognised that a more detailed analysis was required to understand the reasons behind the figures. However, rather than delay it was suggested that the Council lead and manage a pilot multi-agency programme, to tackle deprivation initially in one geographical location in the City, within the Westfield Ward. The lessons learned would be reported back to the Council and the Without Walls Board. Details of the proposal were set out in paragraph 9 of the report. Members commented that they would expect any techniques proven to work during the pilot to be rolled out to similar neighbourhoods across the City.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive, it was