Commentary on Sections and Schedules Part 2 – DUTIES OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND OTHER BODIES IN ENGLAND (Sections 19 to 25) Section 23: Joint child poverty strategy for local area
100.Section 23 requires the arrangements to co-operate made by a responsible local authority under section 21 to include arrangements to prepare a joint child poverty strategy in relation to the authority’s area and to modify it in accordance with the provisions in this section. Subsection (2) requires that the strategy must set out the measures that the authority and each partner authority propose to take for the purpose of reducing, and mitigating the effects of, child poverty in the responsible local authority’s area.
101.Subsection (3) provides that some of these measures must relate to matters identified in a local child poverty needs assessment carried out by the authority under section 22. The strategy can also include other measures relating to matters that the responsible local authority or a partner authority considers relevant to tackling child poverty in their area.
102.Subsection (4) provides that the responsible local authority may modify the strategy. When revising the local child poverty needs assessment the responsible local authority must consider whether any modification of the strategy is required (subsection (5)).
103.Subsection (6) requires the responsible local authority to consult such children, and organisations working with or representing children as the authority thinks fit; and such parents and organisations working with or representing parents, as the authority thinks fit, when preparing or modifying the strategy. The authority may also consult such other persons or bodies as it thinks fit.
104.Subsection (7) provides a power for the Secretary of State to issue guidance, which the responsible local authority and each of its partner authorities must have regard to when exercising functions under this section.
105.Subsection (8) provides that the responsible local authority and each partner authority must have regard to the joint child poverty strategy in exercising their functions.