Local democracy

Agenda item

POVERTY IN BRADFORD EAST

The Committee is asked to consider Document “AD” which provides an overview of poverty deprivation related statistics in Bradford East and a summary of key interventions led by the Council and partners to support vulnerable people.

 

Recommended –

 

(1)  That the issues outlined in Document “AD” be noted and observations and comments be made.

 

(2)  That any priority actions that the Committee wishes to contribute towards be indicated.

 

(3)  That any further areas for the Anti-Poverty Co-ordination Group to consider be identified.  

 

(Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

 

(Helen Johnston/Catriona Colborn – 01274 434401/434691)

Minutes:

The Committee considered Document “AD” which provided an overview of poverty deprivation related statistics in Bradford East and a summary of key interventions led by the Council and partners to support vulnerable people.

 

Members thanked the team of officers for the report, while at the same time acknowledging that it made for sobering reading. They particularly picked up on information around the number of children living in poverty in Bradford East, the lack of change in the statistics year on year and the seeming acceptance of the situation by all concerned.

 

Questions were asked about:-

·         The integration programme

·         The timeline of the statistics provided and whether the next cycle could be expected to show change.

·         How much collaborative working was being undertaken, for example with the officers who had presented the previous item on  the prevention and early help estates strategy?

·         How closely did the Anti Poverty Co-ordination Group work with colleagues dealing with regeneration and local business?

 

In response, members were advised that:-

·         A detailed programme of integration was underway, following on from work undertaken in Keighley. It was expected that the most deprived wards would be involved, including those in Bradford East.

·         The statistics provided were the most up to date as they were produced on a five year cycle. It was not expected that the next cycle, due in summer, would show much change.

·         Officers from Early Help were also members of the Anti Poverty Co-ordination Group to ensure collaborative working.

·         Both the  Anti Poverty Co-ordination Group and officers working on regeneration fell under the aegis of the Strategic Director, Place so there was a direct link between the two. A recent report on employment skills had been considered by the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

A member stressed how important education was as a route out of poverty and expressed his concern that one of the best performing schools in the country was situated in Bradford East but did not cater to local children. He challenged that school to make a bigger contribution to the area and to take an increased percentage of its cohort from the local, very deprived community.

 

Another member highlighted particular problems facing low income families, such as turning to cheaply priced hot food takeaways when they could not afford to buy and cook fresh food; the effect this had on children’s weight; the difficulty of buying and washing school uniforms, especially when uniform lists included costly items such as blazers; the resulting effect on attendance; the effect on school attendance of period poverty and the unrealistic expectations behind encouraging such families to save via the Credit Union.    

 

In response, it was highlighted that saving with the Credit Union, even by a very small amount such as £1 per week, could have a beneficial effect on an individual’s credit rating, which could be extremely helpful.

 

A member expressed his concern that serious social problems such as anti social behaviour and knife crime were connected to poverty in the community and did not know where the solution lay. Officers concurred that there was no single solution and that the Anti Poverty Co-ordination Group was engaged in joining up services to tackle connected issues.

 

Another member suggested that an issue that would lift families out of poverty would be access to meaningful employment locally. He also considered that schools should better support students who were struggling.    

 

Recommended –

 

(1)  That the observations and comments made by members be noted.

 

(2)  That any further areas for the Anti-Poverty Co-ordination Group to consider be identified and forwarded to the Group by members individually.

 

(3)  That a further report be presented to the Committee in twelve months time.

 

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

 

(Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

 

Supporting documents: