A 10-YEAR plan to address inequalities in Northumberland is already facing challenges in the midst of the cost of living crisis.

The Northumberland Inequalities Plan 2022-2023 followed a “call to action” from council leader Glen Sanderson in March at an inequalities summit as the council and other stakeholders looked 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 75. According to the council, this 13-year gap is “preventable and unacceptable” as some people are “ill too soon and dying too young.”

The report, which was developed by key stakeholders, was presented to members of the council’s health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday and 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 responsiblities.

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?

Following the presentation of the report, Coun. Georgina Hill said: “I would be tempted, given the cost of living crisis, to be very very focused on that. Normally a council keeps a lot of reserves but it would be justified to use those reserves.

“The administration can’t save up money to spend towards an election – and that’s all administrations I’m not having a go at this administration.

“I would like to be much more focused in this crisis, and it is so bad. I don’t think we can overstate how bad it is. It’s quite unbelievable and how much people are suffering. I never thought I would see in this country the widespread poverty we’re seeing now.”

Responding to Coun. Hill’s comments Gill O’Neil, the council’s interim deputy director of public health, said: “I couldn’t agree more. We’re developing a poverty and hardship plan that is about dealing with the now.

“At the minute, this is about trying to hang on to where we are and not let the inequalities widen.”