Agenda item

The report is provided in accordance with Priority 3 of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Witnesses:

Michael Coughlin - Deputy Chief Executive (SCC) and Chair of SODA

Rob Moran - Chief Executive, Elmbridge Borough Council (Priority Three Sponsor)

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.    The Deputy Chief Executive (SCC) and Chair of SODA noted that:

·         the report set out the evidence demonstrating the strong relationship between poverty and poor health, and conversely the impact that poor health could have on an individual’s income.

·         poverty was a key wider determinant of health to which many parts of Surrey were not immune as highlighted through the Surrey Index and Surrey-i.

·         economic pressures had been exacerbated by Covid-19 through the lockdowns, furloughing and redundancies, often interrelated with issues in relation to rent affordability, debt, Universal Credit and in some cases addiction and mental health issues.

·         the worrying uptake in free school meals, the prevalence of food banks, and the delivery of food parcels were all indicative of the extent in the extremes of poverty felt by some people.

·         emotive feedback was received at the Mental Health Summit through individual’s testimonies experiencing poor mental health. Similarly with poverty, the most powerful imperative to act came from having the awareness and understanding of the lived experience of individuals, families, and communities.

·         in terms of health impacts of poverty they were most acutely felt by children in the early stages of life, leaving impacts that potentially last throughout a lifetime, noting the importance of the recent Surrey County Council motion on child poverty.

·         the table in the report set out a number of initiatives in Surrey aimed at mitigating the effects of poverty, it was evident that solutions to resolve poverty had been more difficult to identify and the recommendations sought to identify the causes of poverty; linking in with the work on the refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy incorporating poverty into Priority Three with the need to ensure deliverables and engaging with those with lived experiences. 

·         it was vital to review best practice across Surrey and nationally, a working group would be established to support the delivery of the action plan.

Jason Gaskell left the meeting at 11.31am

2.    The Priority Three Sponsor:

·         paid tribute to colleagues for their work on the report and noted that thirteen years after the last economic recession and having had up to £10 billion worth of public investment in the county every year, the report showed that poverty was increasing across the country and all ages, and had been exacerbated by Covid-19.

·         echoed the Chairman’s opening remarks recognising the real poverty experienced by large numbers of residents in the county, and so it was vital to align poverty with health inequalities.

·         noted that the challenge going forward was how to move from the insights into real action that would make a positive difference to people's lives, he welcomed its inclusion in Priority Three and the momentum going forward from the upcoming refresh of the Strategy.

3.    Referring to recommendation five the Chairman queried what the timescale would be for the Board to receive the further report from the working group.

-       In response the Deputy Chief Executive (SCC) and Chair of SODA noted that there was not a definitive timescale for that report until the working group was established, however noted that it could be at the end of the year or towards the beginning of next year.

-       The Priority Three Sponsor added that following the formation of the working group, the intention was that a programme of reporting would be established.

RESOLVED:

That the relevant Proper Officer(s) in consultation with the Chairman:

1.    Noted the significant demands, issues, and concerns raised about the changing nature of poverty through the pandemic and its impacts on people, and in particular health inequalities.

2.    Endorsed the inclusion of action against poverty as a delivery programme within the refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

3.    Confirmed support for the ongoing examination of best practice across Surrey, and the country, with a view to highlighting key initiatives which could positively impact residents and communities experiencing poverty in Surrey.

4.    Initiated a delivery programme to target reduction of poverty at system level, as part of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy refresh, drawing together a working group of key partners across Surrey to coordinate best practice initiatives and a jointly-owned action plan to address the causes and experience of poverty in Surrey.

5.    A further report, through this working group, outlining different approaches in tackling poverty across other counties in the UK to elaborate on a potential future strategy for Surrey would be received.

Actions/further information to be provided:

As per recommendation five, the Board will receive the further report in due course.