A FAILURE to reduce health inequalities across the borough poses a ‘significant risk’ to Barnsley Council’s objectives, a review has found.

A report, which will be discussed by the council’s audit committee on Wednesday, will be passed to ruling cabinet members at their meeting on May 1 to set out the next steps of a scheme which has been aiming to boost life expectancy in Barnsley.

The document gives a red rating - which is deemed to be a ‘significant risk’ - for the project from October 2016 to March 2019 and it’s set to be retained on the council’s strategic risk register (SRR).

The report said: “The SRR contains high level risks which are considered to be potential obstacles to the overall achievement of the council’s corporate objectives.

“Health inequalities persist and life expectancy in Barnsley remains well below the national average. Such inequalities challenge not just the health and social care services but everyone interested in the future prosperity and well-being of the borough.”

Healthy life expectancy is an estimate of how many years a person could expect to live in ‘good health’.

Figures show the expectancy at birth was 59.7 years for men and 61 years for women between 2015 and 2017.

Although these figures represent an increase, and are higher than some of Barnsley’s neighbours, they are still lower than the England and regional average.

The report added: “During the review meeting in March, the director of public health confirmed that the risk score should not be changed and it was agreed it would remain on the SRR with a red rating.”