The council and key partners are moving ahead with their part of a pilot scheme known as the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland (CHES), boosted by a £5 million package to kick-start change.

The new project will aim to break the damaging cycle of continuing health inequalities in areas of deprivation, by providing targeted support for families with young children.

Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “Quite simply, public agencies such as councils and the health service cannot just keep doing things the way they have always been done. It isn’t working, and this has been clearly demonstrated by intensive research undertaken to inform this project.

“That data work confirmed that there are huge inequalities in life chances in South Lanarkshire, as there are across Scotland. Here, there is a 16-year gap in the life expectancy of men, depending on where they live, and it is not much better at just over 15 years for women.

“The findings are particularly stark in relation to child poverty. In the most deprived areas almost one child in three is living in poverty, compared with one in 40 in more affluent areas.

“It’s time to act. By targeting support, we can make a real difference to the lives of the children who would otherwise be at risk of being trapped in poverty. By improving their health and life prospects, we will also reduce their future reliance on the NHS and other forms of public support, which is good for everyone.”

A recent meeting of the council’s Executive Committee heard that the highest rates of children living in poverty who were being impacted by deprivation were in the area around Burnbank in Hamilton.

It was agreed that an initial pilot project would begin there, also covering associated communities including Hillhouse, Whitehill and Udston.

The committee was told that the project would initially focus on early years support but would be developed to provide wider “whole family” support. The pilot will also inform the next phase of implementation in other communities across South Lanarkshire.

CHES is a partnership of three pilot areas, the others being Aberdeen City and North Ayrshire, with Public Health Scotland and the Institute of Health Equity (IHE). IHE is led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, whose work has already inspired several “Marmot” projects in England.

An important development in South Lanarkshire has been an agreement to fund work here through at least £5 million contributed by NHS Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board, and South Lanarkshire Council.

• The photo above shows Professor Sir Michael Marmot and Council Leader Joe Fagan (fifth and sixth from left respectively) at the launch of the project, along with other invited guests.