What is the policy/strategy/function/ trying to achieve/do?    

Poverty is a significant feature of Scottish society and affects many people in different ways. Whilst low income and material deprivation are issues rightly at the forefront of the poverty debate, we recognise that poverty should not merely be reduced to a question of income or material well-being alone; it is also a matter of health and well-being. There is a complex, interlinking relationship between factors that define and influence poverty and these cannot be considered in isolation.

The Tackling Poverty Strategy brings together the work across the council to ensure effective co-ordination, so that we can achieve our shared ambition. North Lanarkshire will encompass the statutory requirement of the Local Child Poverty Action Report within this overarching Strategy thus underpinning our One Plan for North Lanarkshire.

To deliver this shared ambition of inclusive growth our work will be focused on five complementary priorities:

• Improve economic opportunities and outcomes
• Support all children and young people to realise their full potential
• Improve health and wellbeing of our communities
• Enhance participation, capacity and empowerment across our communities
• Improve North Lanarkshire’s resource base

In delivering these priorities we will ensure that our policies and procedures have been “poverty proofed” to ensure maximum impact and avoid unintended consequences in line with our Fairer Scotland duties and effective and co-ordinated approach to tackling poverty.

If this is a budget saving, how will the saving be achieved?

Not applicable.

If this policy is subject to the Fairer Scotland Duty what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage?

The strategy aims to increase the income of unemployed and employed residents of North Lanarkshire.

It will provide financial inclusion and improve residents ability to deal with the cost of living and reduce material deprivation among residents.

The strategy will target areas of deprivation

Give details of the impact it has/will have on protected groups and individuals

We know that poverty is experienced disproportionately by particular groups of people:

• Older women are more likely to be poor. In 2015-18, after housing costs are accounted for, 24% of children, 20% of working age adults and 15% of pensioners in Scotland were living in relative poverty
• Disabled people are more likely to live in poverty. In 2015-18, the poverty rate after housing costs for people in families with a disabled person was 24%. This compares with 17% of people in a family without a disabled person who were in poverty. Disabled people are twice as likely to be out of work and earn less than non-disabled people
  • Women are more likely to live in poverty.
  • 90% of lone parents are women
  • More likely to work part time in low wage jobs
  • Greater impact from Welfare reform
  • In 2016 to 2017 women earned on average £1.90 an hour less than me
• People from minority ethnic (non-white) groups were more likely to be in poverty, both after and before housing costs, compared to those from the 'White - British' group.After housing costs 38% of people from 'Mixed, Black, Black British and Other' ethnic groups groups, and 34% of 'Asian or Asian British' ethnic groups were in relative poverty after housing costs. In comparison 18% of 'White British' people were in relative poverty.
• Gay men are more likely to experience poverty than heterosexual men. Muslims most likely to be living in poverty. In 2015-18, 41% of people who identified their religion as Muslim were living in poverty after housing costs

This strategy focuses on the key drivers to reduce poverty which are; Income from employment, reduce the cost of living and increase income from social security benefits. The approach will be targeted based on the information above

What actions/measures will be put in place or are planned to reduce the effects of any adverse impact or promote equality?

The Tackling Poverty Strategy aims to reduce poverty in a targeted way. It will be a positive aspect to the way the Council does its business.

The strategy has a number of key measures which we will work together to fulfil. Our communities will know we are getting things right by having:

• fewer households and children living in poverty
• measurable increase in average household
• credit Union increased membership
• a reduction in indebted households
• fewer households living in fuel poverty
• reduction in referrals to foodbanks More people seeking advice and
• more people in meaningful employment

What is the result/recommendations of the EqIA?

Introduce the strategy and monitor.