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Question from: County Councillor Matthew Dorrance Subject: Child poverty in Powys
Question:
New data from The End Child Poverty Coalition shows that child poverty in Powys is increasing with 30% of our children now living below the poverty line.
This is unacceptable and the Council must respond by putting in place funding and plans to eradicate child poverty.
Therefore, will the Leader:
Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
There are many aspects to the Council’s work that contribute towards tackling child poverty in Powys. These are outlined in the Council’s Strategic Equality Plan, which is incorporated in the Council’s Corporate Improvement Plan, which outlines six Objectives: 1. Disability employment opportunities 2. PCC Pay Gap 3. Accessible Housing 4. Homelessness 5. Child Poverty 6. Digital Inclusion We report quarterly on progress and bring the information together in our Annual Report on the Corporate Improvement Plan. This is not a matter that could be allocated to one Cabinet Member but is a shared responsibility.
The Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee recently asked the Education Service for a report outlining progress against Objective 5 of the Strategic Equality Plan and this is due to be considered by the Committee very soon; a statement on the Pay Gap within the Council is included in the Pay Policy Statement (sections 10 and 11), which is considered by Council each Spring. It may be appropriate for other Scrutiny Committees to ask for reports on other aspects of the Strategic Equality Plan; this would enable appropriate scrutiny and accountability within our established structures and would be more appropriate than convening a cross-party summit.
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