Shock statistics on deprivation
PARTS OF BOROUGH AMONG POOREST IN UK
CALDERDALE is in the top quarter of the most deprived local authority districts in England, latest Government figures have revealed.
And 20 neighbourhoods – including parts of Brighouse and Elland – are in the top 10% for deprivation.
Statistics were published by the Government based on seven measures – income, employment, education and skills, health and disability, crime, barriers to housing and services, and people’s living environment.
The figures, discussed by councillors at Calderdale Council Strategy and Performance Scrutiny Board, place Calderdale as the 66th most deprived local authority district in England out of 317.
Councillors were shocked by the figures as Calderdale is doing well among 20 comparable northern boroughs but performance officer Steph Jones said all the top five districts in the Index of Deprivation (IoD) are in the north.
She told councillors that as well as the 10 neighbourhoods – there are 128 in Calderdale and 32,844 in England – in the 10% most deprived another 19 are in the top 11%-20% and a further 13 are in the top 21%-30%.
Since the index was last published in 2015, when it was 89th, Calderdale’s position had worsened, the figures show.
A series of maps for each of the seven measures highlighted the most severely affected neighbourhoods with parts of Central and North Halifax, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge, Elland and a pocket in Brighouse most impacted.
Ms Jones said: “The main takeaway is that Calderdale’s relative deprivation compared to other local authorities has worsened.”
Board chairman Clr Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) said the presentation opened eyes to the issues and should be monitored by councillors.
Clr Mohammad Naeem (Lab, Park) said the index clearly had implications for resources, with figures for crime and people’s living environment ranking heavily in terms of deprivation.
“I think we have got major challenges. This is not just about locally it is about what we get nationally and I hope we can make a compelling case for targeted resources where they are necessary,” he said.
Clr George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said it was concerning as was the disparity, and agreed with Clr Naeem that targeting was an issue.