Motion on child poverty from Birmingham City Council

Council notes that in the year 2022/23, 41 per cent of Birmingham children were in relative poverty – over double the national average.


The rise in child poverty in Birmingham has been exacerbated by local and national factors, however certain pressures are more prevalent in Birmingham versus other areas of the country. These include housing shortages, larger families and poorer health outcomes. 

The effects have been exacerbated by the council’s recent financial problems have resulted in a 10 per cent council tax increase, a further 10 per cent rise planned, and a significant reduction in services. The impact is felt most by the poorest families.

The effects of poverty in childhood set a blueprint for that child’s life. These effects impact health, wellbeing and outcomes.

The recent Birmingham Live report on child poverty set out practical moves that could reduce child poverty. Birmingham City Council, as the main provider of local services, can and should take a lead role in this. 

It is incumbent on this council, even during times of significant financial strain, to do what it can to alleviate poverty and the causes of poverty. 

With current restrictions in mind, this motion intends to be fully implementable, and focuses on three core improvements:

  • Lobbying the government and other local politicians to bring about meaningful financial changes.
  • Improving access to information so that families can more easily receive information on benefits and support. 
  • Exploring opportunities with third parties and partner organisations.

This council therefore resolves to:

  • Agree an official position that the two-child benefit cap is disadvantageous to families, and disproportionately so in Birmingham where we have a much higher-than-average number of large families. 23.4 per cent of families have more than two children in Birmingham versus the national average of 15 per cent.
  • Lobby WMCA Mayor Richard Parker to keep his pre-election pledge to request funding for free school meals for 66,000 West Midlands children, who are currently in poverty but not eligible for free school meals. School meals provide a vital source of nourishment for children, especially those in poverty. Schools provide an environment where children can eat at a table with cutlery: something that a growing number of children in poverty and/ or temporary accommodation, cannot experience outside of schools. 
  • Investigate the opportunity to recruit a child poverty commissioner who focuses on removing the obstacles that perpetuate child poverty. The commissioner will have full access to all corridors of power and will advise the council independently on practical ways to reduce child poverty.
  • Prioritise families with school age children who must take up temporary accommodation, to ensure that the child remains within commuting distance of school, defined as one bus route or within walking distance, and ensure those families are receiving the maximum support available to them.

Develop user friendly and intuitive webpages, which can easily be used and viewed on mobile phones, to:

  • Promote the city’s youth service offering. Allow the youth club offer to be viewed by geography, by need e.g. SEND, or by age bracket. Include links to community and partner organisations that offer youth clubs and add contact information so that new services can be included easily. 
    • A fact-file of each establishment and club to be included with photos and videos, age restrictions, accessibility, membership and ongoing costs, facilities and contact information.
  • Promote the city’s offer for care experienced children and care leavers and ensure that it is easy to find and use. 
  • Promote financial and practical support for families and people who are struggling, so that all support is in a space that is easy to find and use. Include links to local foodbanks, uniform banks and financial support.

PROPOSED BY:          

Councillor Morriam Jam signature

 

 

 

Councillor Morriam Jam

 

SECONDED BY:

Councillor Izzy Knowles signature

 

Councillor Izzy Knowles