Issue - meetings

The Board received a report setting out the new Child Poverty Strategy and Action Plan.

It was noted that this issue was given priority within the Partnership’s Local Area Agreement (LAA), under National Indicator (NI) 116, which lay within the Board’s responsibility.

The Strategy had four key objectives:

• Increasing parent employment in sustainable jobs
• Improving take up of benefits and tax credits
• Reducing educational attainment gaps for children in poverty
• Ensuring all Haringey children have decent and secure homes

The Board was advised that consultation in relation to the Strategy closed on 5 November and that the document would be available on the Council’s website and members of the Board should pass comments to Patricia Walker by then.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People noted that this was a key priority for the Government and therefore the partnership would be scrutinised over its delivery of these objectives. She emphasised the importance of partner’s comments on the Strategy and Action Plan and requested that CLF representatives fed their comments back to groups they represented.

It was noted that no reference was made to children acting as carers, children affected by parents with alcohol problems, or children in care. It was suggested that these areas should be looked at and that further links should be made to the work that the PCT was carrying out in these areas.

The Leader raised concerns in relation to the performance of Children’s Centres in the Borough and contended that the partnership needed to do more to assist people in need. He suggested that an evidence based report should be brought to the Boards next meeting setting out what was being done in practical terms to address this issue.

The Board was reminded that although the Strategy ran until 2020 it also included measures to address issues faced in the short term.  Targets were reviewed on a rolling basis and adjusted to reflect any needs arising from the annual review.

The Chair noted that members of the Board should pass any comments to Patricia Walker by 5 November at the latest.

RESOLVED:

That the verbal update be noted.