Deprivation in Chester

11 years on

In 1993 Chester City Council published a poverty profile of Chester. It showed that while Chester District as a whole was generally prosperous there were pockets of poverty within the District (notably in parts of Blacon and Lache).

11 years on 'The English Indices of Deprivation 2004', published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ( ODPM ) paints a similar picture. The main difference being that we are now able to show there are several types of deprivation and that it is not confined to parts of West Chester.

Why spend time looking at the English Indices of Deprivation?

Chester City Council's stated aim is to "Improve the quality of life for people in Chester" (Corporate Plan 2002-2007). A key principle of the Corporate Plan is a 'fairer society'. Tackling deprivation is one way the Council can achieve this aim and help to achieve a fairer society.

The English Indices are recognised as a national standard for measuring deprivation and as a basis for targeting resources and policy initiatives. For example, guidance notes for Comprehensive Performance Assessment ( CPA ) 2 state that, "the Audit Commission, as part of their assessment of the Council's approach to user focus and diversity will look at the context in which councils deliver services, for example to rural communities or those living in pockets of extreme poverty or deprivation" (The Audit Commission, 20041).

Therefore the purpose of this report is to:

1. introduce users to the English Indices of Deprivation,

2. highlight the nature and extent of deprivation in Chester District, and

3. provide a reference document for those who wish to take action that addresses deprivation.

This report presents the results for Chester District on an Area Committee basis to allow informed debate close to the communities affected.

What are The English Indices of Deprivation 2004?

The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ( ODPM ) commissioned Oxford University's Social Disadvantage Research Centre to produce The English Indices of Deprivation 2004. It is the latest in a series of indices of deprivation. It is the first in the series to use data from the 2001 Census and to produce output for areas smaller than District Council Wards. This edition provides information for lower level Super Output Areas ( SOA 's). There are 78 lower level SOA 's in Chester District in most cases there is more than one SOA in each ward (See maps in Appendix B). The English Indices of Deprivation 2004 includes the Index of Multiple Deprivation ( IMD ).

As its title suggests it is formed by combing separate 'domains' of deprivation. The 7 domains of deprivation that form the IMD are;

• Income deprivation
• Employment deprivation
• Health Deprivation and disability
• Education, skills and training deprivation
• Barriers to housing and services
• Crime
• Living environment deprivation

In addition to these 7 domains there are two other indices;

• Income deprivation affecting children, and
• Income deprivation affecting older people.

Appendix A provides more information the indices and key terms used in this report. Full details including the full listing of the English Indices of Deprivation are available from http://www.odpm.gov.uk/indices (external link)

Downloads

• EID 2004 Findings (222kb)
• EID Maps 1-6 (2mb)
• EID Maps 7-12 (2mb)
• EID Maps 13-18 (1.6mb)
• EID Maps 19-24 (2mb)