Sheffield Fairness Commission

Saturday 8th September 2012

Agenda10.00 Welcome – Cllr Julie Dore

10.05 Fairness in Sheffield – Prof Alan Walker

10.30 Workshops

12.15 Coffee and feedback

12.30 Closing comments – Prof Alan Walker

Welcome

Cllr Julie Dore

Leader Sheffield City Council

Fairness in Sheffield

Professor Alan Walker

Chair of the Fairness Commission

Source:

Deprivation in Sheffield Report Dr A Rae

Communities of Interest

• Women working full time are paid, on average, 15.5% less an hour than men for doing work of equivalent value

• The number of deaths caused by road traffic accidents made up around 5% of all those of 0-14 year olds and 19% of all 15-24 year olds in Sheffield

• 12% of BME people feel unsafe when out in their local area during the day in comparison with only 4% of White British people

• People with disabilities tend to have lower rates of employment, lower incomes and are more likely to be living in poverty

• Only 36.4% in Sheffield of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities were in employment

Overall Level of Multiple Deprivation

(Rank Score By LSOA 2010)

...A Trip On Route 83

Ecclesall WardLife Expectancy

Male: 82.17 YearsFemale: 86.78 Years

Nether Edge WardLife Expectancy

Male: 80.84 YearsFemale: 82.53 Years

Broomhill WardLife Expectancy

Male: 77.58 YearsFemale: 78.29 Years Central Ward

Life ExpectancyMale: 76.90 Years

Female: 80.82 Years

Burngreave WardLife Expectancy

Male: 75.70 YearsFemale: 77.25 Years

Firth Park WardLife Expectancy

Male: 75.88 YearsFemale: 79.47 Years

Southey WardLife Expectancy

Male: 77.57 YearsFemale: 80.8 Years

East Ecclesfield WardLife Expectancy

Male: 78.57 YearsFemale: 81.41 Years

…Our Journey Starts Here In Bents Green

…Skirting Nether EdgePast Endcliffe Park

…On Through City Centre Streets

…Journey’s End In The

North of The City.

Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level

Index of: • Life expectancy• Math & Literacy

• Infant mortality• Homicides• Imprisonment• Teenage births • Trust• Obesity• Mental illness

– incl. drug & alcohol addiction

• Social mobility

www.equalitytrust.org.uk

Health and social problems are worse in more unequal countries

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Fairness Commission Remit

“… to make a non-partisan strategic assessment of the nature, extent, causes and impact of inequalities in the City and to make recommendations for tackling them.”

How does it work?

• Independently chaired Commission • Taken a ‘Select Committee’ approach• Commenced with a call for evidence• 6 public hearings• ‘Satellite meetings’• Generate a big debate within Sheffield on

inequalities and fairness• Publish a final report and recommendations• Reports to the Council and also considered by

Sheffield Executive Board• Continue the debate on fairness• Monitor the impact

What is Fairness?

• Fairness is a matter of social justice: a society in which individuals and groups are treated fairly and receive a just share of its benefits and burdens.

• This does not mean addressing inherent individual or biological differences between people, for example, in terms of gender or race.

• Our focus is on those differences, inequalities, which arise from the way a society or city, is organised socially, politically and economically.

A Bold Vision

A city that is eventually free from damaging disparities in living conditions and life

chances, a place in which every citizen and community knows and feels that they will be treated fairly. We aspire to be the

fairest city in the country.

Principles

1. Those in greatest need should take priority

2. Those with the broadest shoulders must contribute the most

3. The commitment to fairness must be a long-term one

4. The commitment to fairness must be city-wide

5. Prevention is better than cure

Principles (continued)

6. Be seen to act in a fair way as well as acting fairly

7. Civic responsibility

8. An open continuous campaign for fairness in the city

9. Fairness must be a matter of balance

10.The city’s commitment to fairness must be demonstrated and monitored

Themes

1. Health inequalities– Inequity of health service resource

allocation; Stronger focus on mental health

2. Poverty, welfare and benefits– Living wage; strengthen support to advice

services

3. Employment and unemployment– Quality of jobs; encouraging

entrepreneurship

Themes (continued)

4. Aspiration, attainment and skills– Early years; schools more accessible for

parents

5. Housing and environmental issues– Affordable homes; A Sheffield standard for

housing and the environment

6. Crime– Rehabilitation to break cycles and patterns

of offending

7. Access to services and transport– Flat fares for young people

What Next?

• Today’s event – your views and input

• Commission continues to consider evidence and the output from today

• Final report and recommendations

• Implementation

• The big debate

Workshops

Workshop

Each group to use the pictures/words from

magazines provided and/or to draw to

provide a visual representation of:

• What would a fair city look like?

• What would an unfair city look like?

Workshops (Continued)

2. Can you provide some specific examples of how Sheffield is fair or unfair?

3. Where is Sheffield on the spectrum of being a fair / unfair city?

4. What do you think the solutions/interventions to the issues identified in part 2 are?

5. Summary – 1 flip chart sheet only

Closing Comments

Prof Alan Walker

University of Sheffield