Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2023-2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 September 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 26 September 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP 26 SEPTEMBER 2024 Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2023 – 2024 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 2017 the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act places a duty on local authorities and health boards to produce a child poverty action plan and to review and publish this report on an annual basis. This report for 2023-2024 is the 5th review of our initial plan, published in 2019. The main purposes of this plan are not only to meet this statutory duty but also to bring together and share some of the key activities taking place across Argyll and Bute to tackle child poverty. In doing this it not only acts as a focus for that work but as a source of information for those seeking the supports and advice referred to. When creating the report, there is engagement with children, young people and those experiencing the impacts of poverty and low income. 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This is the Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2023 - 2024. It fulfils the legal obligation under the 2017 the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act, for Local Authorities and Health Board to produce, publish and share with the Scottish Government, a Child Poverty Action Plan. This plan sets out the work that is taking place to tackle child poverty and notes challenges, progress and future plans and objectives. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Council is asked to approve the Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2023 – 2024. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 Each year local child poverty plans are reviewed by a panel including representatives from the Improvement Service, Scottish Government, The Poverty Alliance and the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit (SPIRU). Last year Argyll and Bute’s report was commended but the request was made for more detail in the areas of transport, strategy and engagement. This has been taken on board and this year’s highlight pieces reflect that.
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4.2 Brief Summary of Report Foreword – This notes the unsettled nature of the world currently and its impact on our children and young people and on our economy. It is important to continue to support and empower our children and young people and focus our attention on tackling levels of child poverty that remain too high. It notes a small increase in the percentage of children in relative poverty after housing costs, in Argyll and Bute, to 23.5%. This is in line with other local authorities and below the Scottish and UK averages. Introduction – This looks at current research on the impacts of child poverty and references the need for us to particularly note the concerns for those living in remote, rural and island places. It talks about ways of working that we have found key to an effective strategic approach. Engagement and Listening – This speaks to the work done is various settings to engage with, and hear the views and ideas of children, young people and others. Transport and Poverty – This talks about the importance of transport to our health, wellbeing and economic stability; also how poor transport can contribute to poverty and social isolation. It talks about the impacts of transport issues on the lives of people and, most notably those living rurally or on an island. It notes the actions of the Scottish Government, Council, Health Board and others to tackle these issues. Data Programme Work – This section covers the work going on in Argyll and Bute to improve the use of available data in order to allow us to identify and focus resources on those who most need them. It also looks at the work to identify legal pathways in terms of GDPR, to allow for the use of different data sets. The Promise and Whole Family Support – This looks at current actions and projects in this area, to support children and young people. Early Years Supports – This looks at the importance of early years support in tackling child poverty, It mentions: the Family Nurse Partnership Programme, the interagency work by Health Visitor; Argyll & Bute Infant Mental Health Service, Infant Food Insecurity, and Let’s Grow Kids UK. 4.3 Key Areas of the Plan A. Increasing Income from Employment and Earnings • Employability • Skills Development Scotland Argyll and Bute • Education – Early Years, Primary and Secondary • UHI Argyll and University of the Highlands and Islands B. Increasing Income through Benefits • Benefits
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• Social Security • Welfare Rights Team • Community Link Workers • Bute Advice Centre • Food Banks C. Cost of Living • Housing • ALIenergy • School Clothing Banks • Free Period Products • Free School Meals and Holiday Provision D. Helping Families in Other Ways • Working with Refugees in Argyll and Bute • Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface • Cool 2 Talk • Re-Store Oban E. Other Planned Work • Vibrant and Living Spaces Grant to Council – UK Shared Prosperity Fund • Engaging With Governments Proposed Depopulation Plan Appendix One. • The Local Government Benchmarking Framework Appendix 2 • Plans that the Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-2024 is aligned to 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Conclusions from this report include that we must continue to tackle child poverty in Argyll and Bute. It is important to work to improve our evidence base and data analysis in order to better determine the causes of child poverty, where these can be seen and how we can best take action to reduce them. Whilst there are many national and world issues currently that prevent a speedy reduction in child poverty, we must continue to act locally and in partnership to mitigate these and lift more children out of poverty. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy
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This report shows the policies and actions relating to tackling child
poverty in Argyll and Bute. It fulfils the need to produce an annual Child
Poverty Action Plan, publish it and share it with the Scottish Government.
6.2 Financial
Financial implications are noted in the individual pieces of the report.
For example the cost of necessary road / transport infrastructure or the
costs of benefits provision. Some of these relate to the third sector, for
example ALIenergy and tackling fuel poverty. Failing to tackle poverty
and, in particular, child poverty, would have greater financial
implications in the longer term.
6.3 Legal
There is a legal obligation under the 2017 the Child Poverty (Scotland)
Act, for local authorities and Health Boards to produce an annual Child
Poverty Action Plan.
6.4 HR
An Equality and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment has been
completed for this report.
6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty:
We are required by the Fairer Scotland Duty (which forms part of the
Equality Act 2010) to actively consider ('pay due regard' to) how to
reduce inequalities of outcome. This current report as it outlines how we
currently, and will, work to tackle child poverty across Argyll and Bute,
fulfils this duty.
6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics
Due attention has been paid to equalities and protected characteristics in
this report. It recognises that child poverty is a children’s rights issue. It
highlights factors that contribute to inequalities in terms of access to
resources and cost of living disparities.
6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty
Socio-economic issues are integral to tackling child poverty and the
importance the needs of the child being considered in all of our decision
making.
6.5.3 Islands
This report makes particular note of the issues that impact on child
poverty in remote, rural and island places.
6.6 Climate Change
Climate issues are noted in relation to fuel poverty rates in Argyll and
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6.7 Risk There would be risk to failing to have policies and actions aimed at tackling child poverty. Poverty would not be fully recognised and mitigated and our community would become less equal and socially inclusive as a result. Increases in child poverty would have other implications going forward, for example demographically as younger people left in search of better financial outcomes for them and their families. 6.8 Customer Service Poverty awareness training has previously been delivered to staff previously and requirement to schedule a refresh and training for new staff. 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) This report references children’s rights and makes the point that child poverty is a children’s rights issue. Article 27 of the UNCRC says that children and young people should be able to live in a way that helps them reach their full physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social potential. For this to happen, they should have access to adequate food and housing. Good nourishment and nutrition are essential for children and young people to reach their full potential, while safe and well- maintained housing is necessary to ensuring their development. Children and Young People’s Commissioner; Scotland Chief Officer - Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership - Evan Beswick Policy Lead – Dougie McFadzean 12/08/2024 For further information contact: Mandy Sheridan. Mandy.Sheridan@argyll- bute.gov.uk. Tel 01631572952