6th Local Child Poverty Action Report
Perth and Kinross Council · 30 October 2024
Back to Perth and Kinross Council — 30 October 2024 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Council Meeting 30 October 2024 6th LOCAL CHILD POVERTY ACTION REPORT Report by Strategic Lead - Strategic Planning, People and Performance (Report No.24/300) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 requires Perth and Kinross Council and NHS Tayside to publish a Local Child Poverty Action Report (LCPAR) each year. This is the 6th report, and it presents an update on actions taken during 2023/24; the new Child Poverty Action Plan for 2024/25 and an update on progress with the Child Poverty Delivery Plan for 2022 - 2026. 1.2 The LCPAR was circulated to and approved by the Community Planning Partnership on 16 September 2024 and was considered and endorsed by NHS Tayside on 1 October 2024. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that Council: (i) Note the report. (ii) Confirm their continued commitment to the strategic aims set out in the child poverty strategy: a. To raise awareness about the causes and consequences of child poverty b. To foster social cohesion and reduce stigma surrounding poverty for children and families c. To reduce the negative effects of living in poverty for children and families d. To enable children and families to prepare themselves for a life free from poverty (iii) Re-affirm their commitment to the objectives of the Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022 – 2026 to work with NHS Tayside and the Community Planning Partners to: • Provide opportunities and support to enter, sustain and progress in work (employability and skills, housing and economic opportunity, connectivity and childcare) • Maximise the support available to families to lead dignified lives and meet their basic needs (person-centered support, social security and income maximisation) • Supporting the next generation to survive and thrive • Deliver a one council, whole family, whole community approach to connecting children and families to the help and support they need to mitigate and move beyond poverty
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2. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 1.2 This report is structured over the following sections: • Background/Main Issues • Proposal • Conclusion • Appendices – LCPAR & Children’s Scorecard 3. BACKGROUND / MAIN ISSUES 3.1 The most recent estimates for child poverty in Perth and Kinross assess that 5750 children (21.7%) are living in relative poverty (down from 5914 (21.9%) the previous year). Whilst this is indeed a good news story the underlying trend shows a flatter trend with relative child poverty rates remaining stable since 2017 – this mirrors the situation for Scotland as a whole. The differential child poverty rates between Scotland and England/Wales (Child Poverty is 31% and 30% respectively) suggest that measures taken by the Scottish Government, Local Government and other key influencers have had a protective effect for children in Scotland as a whole and in Perth and Kinross. 3.2 Whilst no single service or agency has the levers to end child poverty there is much we can do to make the lives and life chances of the 5750 children living in poverty, here in Perth and Kinross brighter and better. We have considerable influence as a local authority and individual and collective responsibility to use our influence to make a real and lasting difference. 3.3 The structure and content of the LCPAR follows the Guidance issued by Scottish Government. The guidance notes requested that the LCPAR’s should have a clear strategic focus and should be evidence based. There was a strong steer towards reporting on innovation, learning, improvement and change. The need for better co-ordination of efforts across housing, transport, childcare, physical and mental health and development was also identified as being of importance. 3.4 The Guidance also called for the use of case studies which highlighted the effectiveness of actions taken, and for linkages with Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and Whole Family Wellbeing, the Promise and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). 3.5 The LCPAR underpins the wider anti-poverty strategy which was developed through extensive consultation with community groups, those with lived experience and our partners. 3.6 Perth and Kinross Council has an established Child Poverty Working Group (CPWG) involving officers from Perth and Kinross Council and NHS Tayside. The CPWG oversees the progress and delivery of actions within the LCPAR.
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3.7 The establishment of the Anti-Poverty Task Force and the links with Community Planning Partners has strengthened collaborative working with key partners and provides independent oversight of the work of the CPWG. The recent establishment of a Poverty Board to consider wider poverty issues and oversee the CPWG will further strengthen governance moving forward. 3.8 The Children’s Scorecard has been held up as good practice and the latest iteration referenced in the report measures our progress in tackling issues relating to child poverty and our delivery on those areas which mattered to parents and families affected by poverty. 3.9 The Corporate Plan highlights tackling poverty as a strategic priority of the Council. This contributes to delivering strategic outcomes: • Children and young people grow up safe, respected, well-educated, and confident in their ability to realise their full potential • People and businesses are increasingly able to prosper in a local economy which supports low carbon ambitions and offers opportunities for all 3.10 These strategic outcomes will be achieved by: • reducing the number of children living in poverty in Perth and Kinross • reducing the cost-of-living pressures for households in and at risk of poverty • maximising income from benefit entitlement and concessions for households • Increasing income from employment 3.11 The LCPAR reports on successes and areas of improvement:- Where we are doing well (from the statistics) • Increasing income from employment - The number and percentage of employees earning below the Real Living Wage has reduced significantly – from 13,000 (16.5%) in 2021 to 7,000 (10.4%) in 2023 • Getting people into work - The employment rate is at or slightly above pre-pandemic levels (81.7% from 80%) • Increasing income from benefits - £3.2m has been achieved as a result of 6565 applications for Best Start grants since 2019/2020. • Scottish Welfare Fund payments have provided emergency cash to 4135 households who gained a total of £566,001 • Providing affordable housing - Local authority average rentals for a 2 bedroom house at £67.91 are more than 50% cheaper than the broad rental market area figure of £148 per week. • Closing the attainment gap – the gap for proportion of school leavers attaining 1 or more passes at SCQF level 6 (higher) has reduced from 44% to 29%; at Level 5 (National 5s) has reduced from 27% to 17% and for 5age of pupils age 16-19 in education training and employment has reduced from 13% to 9.5%
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Where we could do better • The Gender Pay Gap rose to 15.6% (from 13% in 2019/20). Where we are doing well (service response to parental feedback) • There has been a significant increase in activities to support improved mental health for children and young people – and the publication of the Whole Family Support - Directory of Services was a key milestone in delivering what parents had asked for from Perth and Kinross Council (PKC). • Actions taken to support reducing stigma associated with poverty and respecting human dignity have been more evident. • A Child Learning Hub has been provided by PKC learning in conjunction with Public Health Scotland and to date 70 employees have completed child poverty learning modules. • Cash First approaches have been ramped up and over £1.3m secured for a Supporting People - Addressing Need programme which is being delivered by multiple partners across Perth and Kinross. • Streamlining of benefits has resulted in one application being needed only for free school meals and school clothing grants. • There is a significant range of provision for families experiencing financial crisis and food insecurity, a range of access points to secure emergency cash, help and assistance. What we could do better • There is work to be done to shift resources and actions upstream to provide earlier interventions which prevent families from experiencing financial crisis and enabling them to achieve sustainable livelihoods. 3.12 The LCPAR reports on the many positive actions been taken in the last year to tackle child poverty and the cost-of-living crisis they include: • £8.5m committed to supporting struggling families through the cost- of- living crisis an increase of over £2.2m on previous year • £250,000 allocated to support the opening of warm spaces within the community, distribution of warm home packs, and other measures. • 292 people supported into employment, 55 parents supported into flexible employment and 7 into self-employment • 2,556 applications received for the council’s financial insecurity fund • The Community Planning Partnership continues to work on the Town Centre Action Plan for Coupar Angus with residents. The Plan has a strong focus on tackling poverty, removing the barriers to employment and supporting mental health and wellbeing • 94% of pupil equity funding spent within planned timescales • 2,662 children accessed support or services funded by the Community Mental Health Plan • 173 new and affordable homes, including new build and buy backs
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3.12 The report spotlights examples of innovation providing information and case studies including: • The Supporting People – Addressing Need Programme which has leveraged £1.3m of funding for 6 interconnected projects with partners • Infant food insecurity pathway • Futures for Families • Area based needs analysis • Aberlour – Tayside Hardship project • NHS Anchor Strategy • The Big Hoose • Letham Hub • CAB and Cash First 3.13 There has been recognition of innovative approaches taken by Perth and Kinross Council and the following initiatives feature in the Tackling Poverty – Local Initiatives - Best Practice Directory funded by the Scottish Government and developed by the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit:- • Anti-Poverty Task Force - a co-ordinated multi agency response (Perth and Kinross Council) • Children's Scorecard - measuring Council service responses to lived experience feedback (Perth and Kinross Council) • Financial Insecurity Fund - financial assistance with debt for those with no recourse to public funds (Perth and Kinross Council) 4. PROPOSALS 4.1 This report details work undertaken in 2023/24 in fulfilment of the 2023/24 Local Child Poverty Action Plan and sets out the Action Plan for 2024/25. 4.2 The Local Child Poverty Action Plan for 2024/25 comprises workplans for three key areas: Work - Providing opportunities and support needed to enter, sustain, and progress in work (employability and skills, housing, connectivity and childcare, economic opportunity) Dignified Living - Maximising the support available to families to lead dignified lives and meet their basic needs (person-centred support, social security, and income maximisation) Survive and Thrive - Supporting the next generation to survive and thrive (next generation).
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4.3 This work will be subject to independent scrutiny by the Anti-Poverty Task Force who will provide additional expertise from across Perth and Kinross which will inform the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Child Poverty Delivery Plan and the development of future annual Local Child Poverty Action Plans. 5. CONCLUSION 5.1 We know that 5,750 children across Perth and Kinross are living in poverty. The negative impacts of poverty cannot be underestimated, both in the short and the longer term. This report sets out the Councils continued commitment to tackling child poverty in the area. It demonstrates our understanding of child poverty in Perth and Kinross, the key areas of focus and the actions that we will continue to progress with our partners to ensure that child poverty is minimised and that all our children are supported to live well. 5.2 The LCPAR has been presented to NHS Tayside for their approval. The Child Poverty Working Group will continue to oversee and monitor progress towards delivery on commitments in the Child Poverty Action Plan 2024/2025 and will report on the same to Perth and Kinross Council in the next LCPAR report later in 2025. 5.3 The Poverty Themed board will provide scrutiny of the implementation of the Local Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022- 2026 and each annual Child Poverty Action Plan. This will then feed into the reporting on progress being made on the delivery of the Partnership’s Poverty Strategic Plan with ultimate reporting to the Community Planning Partnership.
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Author Name Designation Contact Details Margaret Lynch Child Poverty Project Officer 01738 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Greg Boland Strategic Lead – Strategy, People and Resources 21 October 2024. APPENDICES • Appendix 1 - 6th Local Child Poverty Action Report 23/24 • Appendix 2 – 3rd Children’s Scorecard
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk Yes Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 Mitigating Child Poverty will address the following outcomes identified in the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan by the Community Planning Partnership of premises will offer free period products across Perth and Kinross. Corporate Plan 1.2 Mitigating Child Poverty will: • address the following priorities in Perth and Kinross Council’s Corporate Plan • Tackling Poverty • Children and young people grow up safe, respected, well-educated and confident in their ability to realise their full potential • People and businesses are increasingly able to prosper in a local economy which supports low carbon ambitions and offers opportunities for all.
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2. Resource Implications 2.1 There are no resource implications arising directly from this report. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Proposals that have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) are assessed as not relevant for EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 Proposals have been considered under the Act, and no further action is required as it does not qualify as a PPS as defined by the Act and is therefore exempt. Sustainability 3.3 Not applicable. Legal and Governance 3.4 Not applicable. Risk 3.5 Tackling Poverty is an organisational priority and as such mitigating actions are also monitored through the Council’s risk profile. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 All relevant officers have been involved in the development of this report. External 4.2 Priority Families were involved via the research project undertaken by the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit. NHS Tayside and the Community Planning Partnership were involved in the development and approval of this report. 5. Communication 5.1 None. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 None.