Issue - meetings

The Board received a report that provided details of the Council’s new Child Poverty Strategy and Action Plan.

It was noted that the need to address the levels of children living in poverty was recognised under National Indicator (NI) 116 of the LAA. The key aim of the Strategy was to ensure that the Council and its Partners worked together in a joined up way to reduce child poverty in the Borough and the Strategy and Action Plan set out proposals for tackling this issue.

The Strategy and Action Plan had been consulted upon with the HSP Thematic Boards and the Youth Council and the consultation period was due to close on 5 November 2008.

The Board was advised that a Working Group, consisting of Members and officers of the Council, had been established in order that the Strategy was properly considered by all Council departments. It was suggested that Partners should take similar steps to ensure that their organisations were assisting in achieving the Strategy’s objectives. 

It was noted that the changes in the current economic climate were recognised and measures to address this were being considered.

It was suggested that the Strategy should place a greater emphasis on the contribution that better health standards could make to quality of life. 

RESOLVED:

That the Child Poverty Strategy and Action Plan be noted.