ECONOMIC regeneration and education have been highlighted as crucial ingredients in Council plans to tackle poverty in the district.

Members of the Executive are being asked to approve an Anti-Poverty Strategy report produced by the Bradford District Anti-Poverty Co-ordination Group.

The Group aims to take a co-ordinated and collaborative approach to fighting poverty and involves a number of public and private agencies.

As well as Bradford Council, it includes representatives of the NHS, Public Health, social housing providers, City of Sanctuary, the Department of Work and Pensions, voluntary and community sector and faith groups.

The report presents an overview of what the Council and its partners are currently doing to work together with the aim of identifying the causes of poverty and working out what can be done to reduce it.

Already the group has supported people with roadshows and workshops to provide help for claimants to deal with the roll out of Universal Credit.

It has also staged a national conference on large families, poverty and welfare reform in partnership with Liverpool University and the Children’s Society.

Coun Abdul Jabar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, and Chair of the Anti-poverty Co-ordination Group, said: “The significant levels of poverty which continue to exist in many parts of the district are preventing many residents from reaching their full potential.

“Our multi-agency strategic approach sets out our commitment to tackling poverty and reducing inequality and the steps we and our partners will take over the next few years aimed at ensuring everyone in the district can live a decent and secure life.

“We recognise that meaningful and adequately remunerated employment is one of the best ways of climbing out of the poverty trap.

“Bradford Council’s Economic Strategy over the next few years will go some way to creating the necessary jobs. Improvements in educational achievement for our young people will allow them to access the benefits a thriving economy will produce.”

Executive members will discuss the report at a City Hall meeting on January 8 next year.