Agenda item

Update by SBC Strategic Planning & Policy Manager. 

The following documents are attached:

• Covering report
• Appendix 1 - Progress Report & Action Plan
• Appendix 1(a) – Local Child Poverty Context and Statistics
• Appendix 1(b) – Child Poverty Annual Progress 21/22
• Appendix 1(c) – Case Studies 21/22
• Appendix 1(d) – Challenge Poverty Week
• Appendix 1(e) – Child Poverty Actions 

4.1       There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director Resilient Communities that presented the Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Report for 2021-22 and Action Plan for 2022-23 for endorsement before submission to the Scottish Government.  The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 required Local Authorities and Health Boards to jointly prepare a Local Child Poverty Action Plan Report and an Annual Progress Report.  This report provided the Community Planning Partnership and Scottish Government with an update on progress made in the Scottish Borders against activities within the Action Plan for 2021-22 and sets out planned actions in 2022-23.  Mrs Janice Robertson gave a presentation on the Child Poverty Report Update, highlighting its key points:

·         The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 required local authorities and Health Boards to jointly prepare a Local Child Poverty Action Plan Report and Annual Progress Report.

·         The Scottish Government published in March 2022 a national delivery plan called Best Start, Bright Futures which set out how to deliver on Scotland’s national mission to tackle child poverty.  Best Start, Bright Futures was a plan for all of Scotland and recognised that all parts of society must deliver change needed for children and families.  The Local Child Poverty Report and Action Plan aligned with the approach of Best Start, Bright Futures.

·         Best Start, Bright Futures set out Scotland’s offer to families in three parts: Part A – providing the opportunities and integrated support parents need to enter, sustain and progress in work; Part B – maximising the support available for families to live dignified lives and meet their basic needs; Part C – supporting the next generation to thrive including actions in early years education and post-school transitions.

·         National targets – fewer than 18% of children living in families in relative poverty in 2023-24, reducing to fewer than 10% by 2030; fewer than 14% of children living in families in absolute poverty in 2023-24, reducing to fewer than 5% by 2030; fewer than 8% of children living in families living in combined low income and material deprivation in 2023-24, reducing to fewer than 5% by 2030; fewer than 8% of children living in families in persistent poverty in 2023-24, reducing to fewer than 5% by 2030.

·         Scottish Borders headlines – Children in low income families (before housing costs) had dropped from 18.2% in 2019-20 to 14.7% in 2020-21.  This was similar to the national trend.  One in five Scottish Borders children lived in poverty (after housing costs); in 2021, the gross weekly full-time workplace-based wage in the Scottish Borders was £96 less per week than the average level for Scotland, this was the 2nd lowest of the 32 Scottish local authorities; in 2020, 24.6% of employees aged 18 and over earned less than the living wage in the Scottish Borders; the cost of living crisis was affecting the area with more families struggling to heat their homes or feed their children; 29% of adults in the Scottish Borders had no savings as at 2019 which was before the Covis-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis; and in 2021, 25% of those in employment in the Scottish Borders were in ‘lower-paid’ occupations.

·         2021-22 Progress Report highlights – 20 families had engaged with the Intensive Family Support Service over the year and as a result, five adults had entered employment; the total number of clients assisted in the year by Citizens Advice Bureau in the Scottish Borders was 4,327, and the total financial gain relating to these clients was approximately £3.5m; the Borders Housing Network dispersed funds to Housing Associations in the Scottish Borders to support tenants in fuel debt; summer activity camps averaged 80% occupancy with 62% of places free of charge for targeted children and young people; £85,000 from the Council’s Financial Hardship Fund was dispersed to local foodbanks/Fareshare, food growing projects, community cafes and the Low and Slow Project; and there were 510 referrals for financial inclusion of mothers and pregnant women from the Health Visitor and Family Nurse Partnership, which resulted in £1.25 million in gains.

·         2022-23 Actions highlights – Ensured funding of Early Learning Centre (ELC) was free at the point of delivery for parents; ran summer camps and volunteering for young people, which allowed parents to be able to work a full day; continued to seek solutions to workforce challenges for employers and employees in the third sector where a low wage economy contributed to in-work poverty; developed a plan to transform whole family support services using funding from the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund; reviewed and updated the Scottish Borders Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan in order to prevent families from becoming homeless; and continued to offer Modern Apprenticeship opportunities across a range of services.

4.2       Members discussed the report and recognised that many factors affected child poverty.  Mrs Robertson advised that national data was relied upon and that sometimes there was a time lag in reporting data.  Work was undertaken to develop a dashboard which displayed up-to-date data.  With regards to transport allowances for Modern Apprentices, Ms Jane Grant advised that this would depend on the employer and day release availability, however many students were eligible for free bus travel and there also may be support available through Borders College for those with a college apprenticeship.  Members asked that the report reflect the provision of sanitary products across Scottish Borders education alongside Borders College.  The teaching of savings and personal finance was discussed by members that may be added to the Action Plan.  Cllr Thornton-Nicol advised that there was an element of exclusion to the summer camp programmes if children were not able to travel to attend.  Mr Easingwood, Director Social Work and Practice, advised that uptake on bus passes for young people was high but conversations were taking place with Lesley Munro, Director Education and Lifelong Learning, and David Robertson, Acting Chief Executive, with regards to improving uptake rates.

DECISION

AGREED to endorse the Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Report for 2021-22 and Action Plan for 2022-23 for submission to the Scottish Government.