Poor Die Younger in County - Lib Dems Call for Action (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Poor Die Younger in County - Lib Dems Call for Action

November 4, 2009 3:02 PM

Ten areas of the county feature in the national top 10% for child poverty and in some areas of Oxfordshire people are living 15 years less than in better off communities.

Highlighting the problems for the poorest residents Oxfordshire Lib Dems told the County Council that positive action and solutions are needed and that the council, along with the health service, must urgently put in place action to help local residents.

In a hard hitting presentation, councillors also heard that currently more than a thousand 16-18 year-olds in Oxfordshire are not in education, employment or training - the number has more than doubled from May last year.

Leading the debate at the County Council, the Liberal Democrat opposition highlighted the problems of the poorest residents of Oxfordshire. They said the Council, working with others, could help break the cycle that sees whole families living in poverty, poor housing and ill health from generation to generation.

Oxfordshire is considered a wealthy county, said Lib Dem Leader Zoe Patrick, but the numbers of families on low incomes, or with no one in work, are growing. Ten areas of Oxfordshire are now on the Government child poverty tables and are within the bottom 10% of England, the main concentrations being in East Oxford, Banbury and Didcot.

Cllr Patrick added: "Low income and unemployment affects all areas of people's lives. Residents in the most deprived area of Oxfordshire have a life expectancy of 15 years less than people in the more affluent communities. This is something which the health service and local councils need to address. It can't be right that people will die younger simply because of their postcode."

Councillors were well aware of the special problems of low-income households in rural areas, and the hidden pockets of deprivation in all towns and villages, she added and also reported that over a thousand 16-18 year-olds in Oxfordshire are not in education, employment or training - a rise of 55% between May 2008 and May this year.

Councillors spoke about young people and the need for them to find suitable employment or training, the need to improve their educational achievements. Many suggestions were out forward by councillors about actions that the County Council or the Oxfordshire Partnership could consider to help residents - including support for our Children's Centres, improvements to public transport in rural areas, and better access to health services.

Cllr Patrick added: "We need long-term solutions, not looking for quick wins with problems that will take a generation to work through. It is our job to help youngsters into work and training, and to make sure people are living full and active lives. We now need the County and the Oxfordshire Partnership to set out what they will do in response to the problems and issues we have highlighted."