The leader of Northumberland County Council has stressed that tackling the county's inequalities will remain a key focus of his administration going into 2023.
Conservative leader Coun Glen Sanderson made a "call to action" last year at the authority's inequalities summit, with the council and other stakeholders looking to try and address long-standing issues within the county.
Life expectancy for people living in the least deprived areas of Northumberland is 87 years whilst for those living in the most deprived areas it is just 75. The council last year said the gap was "preventable and unacceptable" and some people became "ill too soon" and were "dying too young."
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Looking ahead to 2023, Coun Sanderson said the issue would remain front and centre for the council going into the new year.
He said: "A new year brings opportunity and challenge in equal measure but I’m really positive about what we can achieve for the people of Northumberland in 2023. Our ambitions stay the same - to provide value for money, encourage growth and jobs and to help those people who most need our help.
"We will tackle inequalities as we have done this past year through the support available given by Northumberland Communities Together and do all we can to make sure that a child born in one of our more deprived areas has the same chances in life as one born in a better off areas."
A report presented to stakeholders in September outlined a number of strategies to reduce inequality over the coming decade.
The plan included five principles as well as three questions. The five principles were:
- Looking at everything through an inequalities lens
- Voice of residents and better data sharing
- Community strengths are considered first
- Enhancing our services to ensure equity in access to opportunity
- Maximising our civic/statutory level responsibilities.
The three questions where:
- What can communities do for themselves?
- What can communities do with a bit of help?
- What can't communities do that needs to be done by agencies/institutions?
Coun Sanderson, recently buoyed by the news that the Local Government Settlement from central Government was more positive than had previously been expected, also outlined some of the council's other priorities for the year.
He continued: "We will keep free town centre parking as a way to encourage our towns to do business and work with investors to place their companies here. And we will protect our frontline services as we realise how important they are to us all.
"We will work hard for every part of Northumberland. I hope everyone has a new year that brings good things for you and your families."
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