A NEW commission is being launched to examine social justice and fairness in York.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will sponsor the Fairness Commission, an independent advisory body which will prepare a report to help City of York Council as it prepares a spending priorities review for 2012-2014.

Dr Sentamu said that in a recent “Indices Of Deprivation Survey”, York was ranked 244th in a table of 354 councils across England, placing it in the lower reaches in terms of overall deprivation levels. Eight parts of the city ranked among the poorest 20 per cent in the country and Kingsway West in the ten per cent of the most deprived areas nationally.

He said he knew many people were afraid of what public service cuts may mean for them and their families. “There are difficult choices to be made, and real debates to be had about what is the best way forward,” he said.

“You can judge how healthy a society is by how it treats the poor and vulnerable. “I am pleased to sponsor this independent commission which seeks to make expert recommendations based on need rather than political aspiration. We need to ensure that no-one is left behind.”

He said the commission would take a three-pronged approach, looking at well-being, access and work.

The commission will be chaired by Ruth Redfern, assistant chief executive of Yorkshire Forward. The commissioners, appointed on the basis of their expertise and commitment to social justice, are John Kennedy, director of care services at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, John Lister, finance director at Aviva, Professor Richard Wilkinson, a visiting professor at the University of York and Dr Kate Pickett, a professor of epidemiology at the university.

Council leader James Alexander said the commission honoured a Labour election pledge.

He said: “The commission’s report to the council will provide an independent insight into York in 2011: what residents’ views are on key issues that affect their well-being, access to services and to work, and how we can best support them.”

Public meetings are being planned to talk to York residents in September and October, with York High School agreeing to host one of the meetings.