Committee details

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PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE

To monitor and determine the Council’s contribution to alleviating and mitigating all forms of poverty and inequality in the city.

The Committee will develop an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

REMIT OF COMMITTEE

1.           The Committee will, in respect of poverty and inequality issues in the city:

1.1         Consider the impact of poverty on the city as a whole and targeted population levels, including on key groups such as children, minority ethnic communities and those of pensionable age who are known to be particularly disadvantaged by poverty;

1.2         Consider the evidence from Citizen’s Assemblies on poverty and inequality matters;

1.3         Seek the views and involvement of those experiencing poverty and inequality;

1.4         Consider the effect of In-work Poverty and the Living Wage, including by receiving reports on Living Wage accreditation rates;

1.5         Consider evidence of “what’s worked” in combating poverty and inequality;

1.6         Consider the impact of ongoing Welfare Reform measures, including by receiving reports on benefit access and uptake;

1.7         Consider the impact of poverty on Employability and Youth Employment, including by receiving reports on employment rates and positive destinations;

1.8         Consider the impact of Food Insecurity and Fuel Poverty, including by receiving reports on community food provision and energy cost impacts;

1.9         Consider the impact of stigma and discrimination on those experiencing poverty;

1.10       Consider the impact of poverty on the health and wellbeing of those experiencing it;

1.11       Monitor the progress of research relevant to poverty and inequality, including in relation to health determinants;

1.12       Consider matters relating to the provision of Credit Unions, fair and affordable banking and advice services;

1.13       Examine the nature of institutional and systemic discrimination in Aberdeen, and consider the steps required to eradicate such discrimination;

1.14       Monitor the performance of Council-funded community programmes and projects which seek to address poverty or inequality.

2. The Committee will:

2.1         agree the submission of Child Poverty Action Plans and Reports to the Scottish Government;

2.2         agree the submission of the Council’s Equalities Mainstreaming Outcomes Reports to the Scottish Government; and

2.3         monitor the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and the Department for Work and Pensions through receipt of an annual report.

External advisers:

Emphasising the close links with Community Planning Aberdeen’s Anti-Poverty Group, the Committee will appoint advisers who are not members of the Council. These external advisers will be appointed by the Committee as follows:

• 1 resident of Aberdeen with lived experience of poverty;

• Up to 2 people representing the charitable sector in Aberdeen;

• 1 person representing higher and further education in Aberdeen;

• 1 person representing key interest groups in Aberdeen (that may be appointed for a

defined period of time); and

• 1 public health professional/practitioner who works in Aberdeen.