To receive an update from Becky Hatch, Head of Strategy, and Anna Murphy, Policy and Projects Officer.

Becky Hatch, Head of Strategy, and Anna Murphy, Policy and Projects Officer, gave a presentation to the forum on the Reducing Inequalities Project. The project aimed to strengthen the collective understanding of inequalities and disadvantage in the borough to inform the development of a strong approach to reducing and preventing inequality.  

The project took a broad definition of inequality which looked at outcomes across health, education, employment, skills, housing, income, poverty, deprivation, risky behaviours, and environmental and community inequalities. The project was divided into two phases.The first phase would take place from April to November 2022 and would seek to understand the issues and develop an evidence base. The second phase would take place from November 2022 to April 2023 and would look at developing a shared approach to reducing inequalities. 

The borough was one of the most affluent in the country, yet still had over 20,000 residents living in relative deprivation. 5-10% of households were living in poverty, with data suggesting that these rates may have been higher among families with children and older people which was reflective of national data.  

The approach was in line with the Corporate Plan which sought to empower and enable individuals, communities and businesses, invest in prevention, put customers at the heart of all the borough does and focus on reducing inequalities. Working outside of existing service boundaries would be key to tackle inequalities effectively. 

Becky Hatch emphasised that engagement with the forum would be key to project success and asked for the biggest issues facing members of the forum.  

ACTION: Becky Hatch and the Chairman of the forum to hold an offline discussion. 

The Chairman asked if the evidence collected during phase one of the project would be published. 

Becky Hatch confirmed that this would be the case and stated that a stakeholder event would be set up later in 2022 to share the draft data that had been gathered which the Chairman would be invited to. 

Peter Haley thanked Becky Hatch and Anna Murphy for the presentation and asked if the project would feed into the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Peter Haley also emphasised that the voluntary sector would be a valuable source of knowledge for the project. 

Becky Hatch stated that the Reducing Inequalities Project wouldn’t directly relate to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, but this was a fund of interest that would be a possible avenue for funding. 

Councillor Price asked why the aim of reducing demand on high-cost services had been given as an objective rather than an expected outcome of the Project. 

Becky Hatch responded that reducing demand for high-cost services was part of the medium-term financial plan and would allow for the redistribution of this money to preventative services. Preventing and addressing issues early would have two positive outcomes of improving outcomes for residents while reducing demand. 

Dominic Manley asked when the project would be incorporated into the Corporate Plan. 

Becky Hatch stated that the Corporate Plan would be refreshed at the end of 2022 to reflect on the goals and progress that had been achieved.