Rotherham deprivation on the increase, figures show

About 14,000 people in Rotherham experienced an increase in deprivation between 2007 and 2010, according to figures supplied to the council.

In 2010 Rotherham was ranked the 53rd most deprived area out of 326 districts in England, the Index of Multiple Deprivation showed.

Key elements of deprivation include health and employment.

Cabinet member for health and wellbeing on the Labour-run council Ken Wyatt said it "faced major challenges".

'Valuable information'

The Index of Multiple Deprivation figures, which will be discussed by the council cabinet on Wednesday, showed that 30,400 people in the borough were suffering from deprivation in 2007 - a number which had risen to 44,170 people by last year.

The report found that Rotherham East, which includes Eastwood, East Dene and parts of both Clifton and Herringthorpe and has a population of over 13,000, is the most deprived ward in the town.

Mr Wyatt, a Labour councillor, said the report held "valuable information" but expected the reality to be worse than the figures suggested.

"The overall deprivation is probably actually worse than what we are looking at because these statistics were taken some time ago, certainly before the impact of the spending cuts kicked in."

The council said it was looking to work with the local communities to get a better perspective to re-evaluate its services and would hold a health summit later this year to review its strategy.