Thanet District Council to consider ambitious plans to tackle poverty and improve health for residents

Cabinet members will be asked to approve two crucial initiatives to help reduce poverty and improve health outcomes across the district at a meeting on Thursday 27 August 2026.

Although separate strategies, the Tackling Poverty Strategy 2026 and the Health in All Policies framework are strongly aligned. Both aim to support improvements to sustain a thriving place, by building stronger, healthier communities.

Government data places Thanet within the lowest 10% of the most deprived local authority districts in England. Low household incomes, rising energy bills, and poor housing conditions have a direct impact on the physical and mental health of residents. This inequality is evident in local health outcomes, with men in Thanet living three years less on average than those in the wider South East. In addition, 26.3% of Thanet’s children live in relative low-income families, and 14% of local households face fuel poverty. 

To address these challenges, the council is proposing a joined-up approach to target the root causes of poor health and hardship, rather than just the symptoms. 

The Tackling Poverty Strategy will establish a new Tackling Poverty Strategy Network to coordinate local projects and unite community partners. At the same time, the Health in All Policies framework will ensure that every future council decision, from housing and planning to leisure and regeneration, actively considers its impact on health equity.

This joint framework also reinforces the council’s role as an anchor organisation within the UK’s first Marmot Coastal Region initiative. It will ensure close collaboration with Kent County Council Public Health, the Thanet Health Alliance, and local voluntary organisations.

Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Community, said: “Poverty and health are deeply linked, and we cannot fix one without addressing the other. Behind every statistic is a resident struggling with heating costs, housing worries, or health challenges. These strategies mark a crucial step forward in how we support our community. By embedding health into every council decision and working in partnership with local groups, we hope to help break the cycle of deprivation and ensure everyone in Thanet has the opportunity to thrive.”

The council recognises that tackling long-standing inequalities requires long-term commitment and joint working. Approving these initiatives will allow the council and its partners to target support directly where it is needed most.

The full agenda and relevant reports are available to read on thanet.gov.uk