Agenda item

Presentation and next steps by SBC Depute Chief Executive (People).

5.1    With reference to paragraph 8 of the Minute of 27 November 2014, Ms Erin Murray, SBC Research and Policy Officer gave a presentation with a sample of information from a profile which had been prepared to inform the Reducing Inequalities Strategy, to define areas where new work would be required, and to see what needed to change i.e. current strategies.  It was intended that the profile would also recognise the 9 ‘Protected Characteristics’ as defined in the Equality Act 2010, as well as being a starting point to help understand the issues associated with multiple deprivation and where these were most concentrated.  The information was to be used in conjunction with established inequalities work and specialist knowledge, although it was recognised that the information was incomplete and there would be omissions and knowledge gaps.  The domains for the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2012 were employment, income, crime, housing, health, education, and access.  The information was divided into data-zones and there were 130 data-zones in the Scottish Borders, which were divided into deciles (1 – 10) from the most deprived to the least deprived areas. 

5.2    A number of examples were shown of the information, including the % of pregnant women smoking at booking, S4 % with English and Maths at Level 3, S6 % with 5 Awards at Level 6, attainment at S4 – S6 by gender, % of Working Age who were employment deprived, % household incomes less than £400/week, occupation types by gender, % employed in occupation groups ‘Process, plant and machine operatives’ and ‘Elementary occupations’, and proportions of households in fuel poverty.  Information was also provided on energy efficiency of buildings and anti-social behaviour incidents per 1,000.  Poverty was a key to multiple deprivation, with Scottish Borders having a relatively small share of Scotland’s Multiple Deprivation.  However, there were inequalities in the Scottish Borders, not just in Langlee and Burnfoot, but scattered in other parts of towns or settlements.  All of the main Border towns had areas of relative deprivation which fell just outside the ‘worst 15% in Scotland’.  It was also noted that the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation was a relative measure; if other areas in Scotland improved more quickly than in the Scottish Borders then the proportion of areas in the 15% most deprived could stay the same or increase.  It was also noted that there was a great deal of interdependence among the different themes.  These profiles could be used to adjust and realign existing strategies and an action plan developed to address specific issues, identifying any new partnership actions, and recognising where a universal and/or targeted approach was required.  In terms of the way forward, this would involve the further development of the vision and strategic aims, by considering the challenges and opportunities presented by the analysis, creating additional actions where required, and creating a performance management framework to measure success.  The aim was to bring a report for consideration to the Joint Delivery Team on 1 April 2015 and then to the Strategic Board at its next meeting on 11 June 2015.

5.3    Members welcomed the information and expressed an interest in having the full data.  The Working Group would be working on measures to ascertain whether inequalities had been reduced, including possibly an increase in healthy life expectancy and positive destinations for children.  Jeanette McDiarmid, SBC Depute Chief Executive People, advised that some areas would take a lifetime to see the benefit, hence the need for a long term vision, with some areas of attainment which could be measured and others more ephemeral.  Further funding was available through government on ‘closing the gap’ but as the Partnership worked together there could be a need to take decisions on where money was best placed.   Some of the least deprived areas may see a reduction in spend to balance an increase in spend in the most deprived areas.  Tracey Logan, SBC Chief Executive, advised that there was an obligation on the partners to undertake joint resource planning as a Community Planning Partnership, so resources from each partner would be looked at and tied to actions.  Ray Licence of SBHA spoke of the ‘Wrap Up Warm’ programme installing insulation in property and Rita Stenhouse of Waverley Housing referred to the Scottish housing quality standard to which all RSL property must comply.  Dr Steele requested the presentation be given to a development session at NHS Borders.  The Health and Social Care Integrated Joint Board could do joint work with the Community Planning Partnership going forward.  Health Scotland had also offered assistance on health inequalities and Dr Steele would contact the Chair of that body in this respect.  In terms of front line service providers from different organisations working together, Tracey Logan advised that locality planning would bring that further together.

DECISION

NOTED.