Plans to turn around deprived areas announced

Proposals to tackle the causes of deprivation and turn around
deprived areas by 2021 were announced today by the Prime
Minister’s Strategy Unit and the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister’s Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, writes
Clare Jerrom.

The report pledges that by 2021, no one should be seriously
disadvantaged as a result of where they live.

It identifies the factors that drive an area into decline and
these include:-

• concentrations of worklessness

• poor housing and failure to address antisocial
behaviour

• key public services, such as health and education,
performing poorly

Prime minister Tony Blair said: “We must tackle
concentrations of worklessness by helping those trapped on benefit,
particularly the one million on incapacity-related benefits who we
know want to work, back into jobs.”

“By involving local people in managing their own housing,
their local services and, increasingly, local policing, we will
tackle the fundamental drivers of decline and disadvantage,”
he added.

The report promises better childcare for working parents, help
for working age people who are living on benefits get back into
work and for people in deprived areas to benefit from wider public
service reforms.

Improving the prospects of people living in areas of multiple
deprivation in England from http://www.strategy.gov.uk/files/pdf/da_report.pdf