Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport.

The socio-economic duty (SED), Part 1 of the Equality Act (2010), aimed to deliver better outcomes for those who experience this disadvantage. The duty states that certain public bodies, when making strategic decisions, must consider how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. Although this section of the Act was passed with the rest of the Equality Act in 2010, it has never been enforced. 

A number of local authorities in England, as well as the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales, have adopted the duty voluntarily.  This report recommends the adoption of the SED in Stockport and outlines the intended steps to implementation. 

Approval of this report by cabinet would mean that Stockport Council would voluntarily adopt the SED and when making decisions.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Note the delivery of activity against the Anti-Poverty 2024 – 2027 objectives

(2) Adopt the socio-economic duty and approve the implementation stages.

(3) Approve that the council will take socio-economic disadvantage into account in terms of its public sector equality duty.

(4) Confirm that the council will continue to work with partner organisations across the borough on the development and implementation of the socio-economic duty.

Officer contact: Jilla Burgess-Allen at jilla.burgess-allen@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Frankie Singleton) submitted a report (Copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to voluntarily adopt the socio-economic duty in Stockport including the steps necessary to implementation.

RESOLVED - (1) That the delivery of activity against the Anti-Poverty 2024 – 2027 objectives be noted.

(2) That the socio-economic duty be adopted and approved given to the implementation stages.

(3) That approval be given to the council taking socio-economic disadvantage into account in terms of its public sector equality duty.

(4) That it be confirmed that the council will continue to work with partner organisations across the borough on the development and implementation of the socio-economic duty.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The report provides an update on anti-poverty activity since the previous report to Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee on 20 November 2023.  The report is framed by the Anti-Poverty Objectives 2024 – 2027 as approved by Cabinet on 12 March 2024.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) note and comment on the main report, and

(2) note and comment on Appendix 1 of the report for submission to Cabinet.

Officer contact: Tom Plant on 0161 218 1358 or email thomas.plant@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on anti-poverty activity since the previous report to Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee on 20 November 2023. The report was framed by the Anti-Poverty Objectives 2024 – 2027 as approved by Cabinet on 12 March 2024.

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Frankie Singleton) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed this report, in particular examples of help provided for those in work poverty and support for care leavers. A more detailed breakdown of data for neighbourhoods within the borough was requested, in order to help identify pockets of deprivation.

·       Stockport was a polarised borough in terms of poverty and life would feel different for residents depending on the area in which they lived or challenged they faced such as disabilities. It was important for the local authority to have an understanding of residents’ circumstances.

·       The disparity in poverty was one of the most complex issues faced by the borough.

·       The anti poverty strategy made headway on day to day issues in schools and at the heart of the community. Members welcomed the inclusion of the topic of housing quality and support for tenants.

·       In order to provide a picture of poverty across the borough, a variety of data sets were drawn upon. Ward specific data was the goal, but it was necessary to take data from the Office of National Statistics or other sources and it was not possible to have control over the sample size. Officers would continue to make efforts to provide more detailed data.

·       The School Uniform Project was a welcome scheme and was popular with the youth climate assembly. Members asked whether the council could do more to facilitate this project.

·       In response it was stated that whilst lots of schools had undertaken poverty proofing, not all had adopted the School Uniform Project and school governors were encouraged to persuade schools so to do.

·       A uniform swap-shop had taken place at Brinnington Railway Station; staff at Northern Rail had requested the use of public spaces elsewhere to expand the school coat scheme.

·       The narrative of a stigma being attached to wearing second hand school uniform should change; it should be a conscious choice to help the environment.

·       The school meal support scheme had come to an end and work was ongoing to ensure families who had been in receipt of free school meals continued to be support by the council.

·       Members welcomed the case studies contained within the report which had been helpful in describing the anti poverty strategy. The lived experience and listening to residents was a key part of this work and would continue.

·       Appendix 1 of the report set out how the socio-economic duty policy would be implemented by the council; the intention was to ensure that it would become embedded in service provision and become part of the council’s everyday business.

·       It was likely that an anti-poverty network would hold the council to account in its delivery of the socio-economic policy. In so doing there would likely be a role for senior leaders to ensure that the policy was embedded into the work of the council.

·       The membership of an anti-poverty network could include community reporters, alongside councillors and officers of the council.

·       Members requested updates in relation to the implementation of the socio-economic duty policy.

RESOLVED – (1) That the main report be noted.

(2) That Appendix 1 of the report for submission to Cabinet be noted.