Paper to Climate Change Commission 17th July: Review of the
Sustainable Community Strategy
Background
The local government white paper Strong and Prosperous Communities puts
Sustainable Community Strategies at the heart of what local authorities do
through the new performance framework and clearly indicates that future
delivery of services will be through the Local Area Agreement and that the
context for these decisions should be the Sustainable Community Strategy.
The Community Strategy presents a shared vision and definition for a
Sustainable Hampshire against which progress can be measured. The
Sustainable Community Strategy takes account of community planning
processes at District and more local level, and reflects priorities which have
been developed in regional and county strategies.
The SCS includes a profile of current issues and projections for the future
which might affect the sustainability of the county. It also sets out priorities
which will be the focus of specific improvement targets in the Local Area
Agreement, made between local partners and HM Government. This is
consistent with the process described in the Local Government White Paper
“Strong and Prosperous Communities” 2006.
Process
Consultation and engagement
The process for preparing the Sustainable Community Strategy is set out
below:
Children & young people
Regional strategies
Economy
Access
County strategies
and assessments
Housing
District and local
community plans
Health & well-being
Safety
Debate and
consultation
Environment
Communities
Sustainability profile of
the county: factors,
projections and risks
Outcomes for a
sustainable Hampshire
Risks and priorities
Work has begun to identify key environmental , social and economic trends
pressures and risks. The evidence being produced for the Climate Change
Commission is being closely tracked as part of that exercise. A mapping
exercise has been completed of existing partner’ s plans and strategies (some
28 in all, including District Community Strategies) to determine common
outcomes, geographic target areas and identified risk factors.
The work to date clearly shows that climate change will be a key driver of the
vision for Hampshire in the Sustainable Community Strategy and that
whatever outcomes are promoted will need clearly to acknowledge the links
between the social, economic and environmental targets (appendix A gives
more detail of the work to date on the review of the Community Strategy).
Recommendation
The Local Government White Paper clearly indicates that future delivery of
services will be through the LAA and the context for these decisions the
Sustainable Community Strategy. The Climate Change Commission is
therefore asked to consider this broader context when considering any
recommendations for adaptation and delivery.
Appendix A
1. Sustainability Profile of the county
This element will include a spatial profile of current characteristics and
predictions for next 10 years as the context for a sustainable Hampshire.
This profile is being prepared by HCC Spatial Strategy Group. Currently some
of the key areas describing the future trends and risks for Hampshire are as
follows:
Theme
Sub-Theme
1. Economic prosperity for
All
GVA and productivity- GVA data
from Experian, per head, district
Economic diversity – ABI data
Skilled workforce & education
Land and premises
Unemployment
Crime statistics (to be decided)
Life Expectancy (projections inc)
Cancer rates (projections inc)
Circulatory & Heart Disease
(projections inc)
Dementia & Falls (inc projections
for population aged 65+ )
Teenage Pregnancy rates
(trends)
Climate Change (commentary on
health impacts)
1) market pressure – ratio of
lower quartile incomes to lower
quartile dwelling prices
2. Healthy & Safe
Communities
3. Housing for All
Risk or Opportunity Areas / Groups
(Written Commentary on some of these)
Ageing population
Out-migration due to lack of affordable hosing
Effects of globalisation
Multiple Deprivation hotspots / Disparities
Areas prone to ant-social behaviour
Low income individuals & families (“Health
Rank” - by ward)
MOSAIC
Recreation (Availability / use) – MORI
First-time buyers (DCLG data?)
Household composition (occupancy rates)
(e.g. smaller family size, family breakdown etc)
Ageing population
2) particular housing needs –
some measure of the proportion
of homes built that are affordable
3) Physical aspects of housing –
most likely the levels of all
housing that is unfit, by district
4. Environmental Quality
& Climate Change
Flood risk / Water source
protection / Water consumption
River quality / Marine water
quality
Air quality (linked with transport &
health issues)
Future of the Countryside;
biodiversity
Waste recycling / materials
recovery (NRI)
Climate Change (CC)–
re. landscapes report for CC Commission
Built Environment (Sustainable Homes Code:
zero carbon)
Energy efficiency / use of renewables (Bryan
Boult Gp)
5. Mobility & Access
Accessibility (e.g. hospitals, retail
centres, market towns)
Congestion / Air Quality hotspots
Safety - fatalities & serious injury
trends?
Ageing population (65/ 85 years
Elderly
Commuters
Rural areas
Telecommunications; broadband
6. Demographic Change
olds)
Migration (from census, if it looks
ok)
Dependency ratio of older people
to workers (depending on trend)
by ward
Total fertility rates, by district
2. Outcomes for a sustainable Hampshire
Work has been carried out mapping existing partner’ s plans and strategies to
determine common outcomes, geographic target areas and identified risk
factors.
Partner’s plans and strategies, both county and regional (28 in total) were
mapped to the current 8 LAA priorities and the 4 current Community Strategy
themes. District Community Strategies were analysed separately.
LAA Priority 1
Approximately two thirds of the strategies clearly intend to improve the life
chances for children and young people. The intended outcomes include
improving the quality and access to support, advice, healthcare and
accommodation
LAA Priority 2
Community safety is an intended outcome for all of the strategies which are
specific to Hampshire with the exception of the Local Transport Plan. The
intended outcomes range from preventing crime and anti-social behaviour to
improving Hampshire resident’s perception on the levels of crime
LAA Priority 3
Increasing local people’s influence over decision making and the delivery of
services is an outcome either clearly linked to or may be linked to 27 of the 28
strategies assessed. The intended outcomes focus on gathering and acting
upon local people’s views however some of the strategies also seek to
increase residents involvement in their communities and reduce social
exclusion.
LAA Priority 4
If the outcomes are successful, every strategy will improve the health and
well-being of the people in Hampshire. Almost 80% of the strategies clearly
state improving health and well-being as an intended outcome
LAA priority 5
Almost 80% of the strategies analysed list economic improvement as an
intended outcome. The intended outcomes range from reducing the barriers
to employment e.g. by offering skills training opportunities to local people,
through to promoting economic development e.g. by increasing tourism
LAA Priority 6
Improving the co-ordination of transport and access to services in Hampshire
is a priority outcome for 75% of the strategies assessed. The intended
outcomes for transport include increasing the availability of public transport,
improving road safety and reducing the impact and effect of congestion
LAA priority 7
All bar one of the strategies in place across Hampshire seek to improve
access to housing and accommodation with almost 80% of the strategies
clearly listing improving housing as an intended outcome. The common
housing themes throughout the various strategies include increasing the
availability of affordable homes and bringing the quality of accommodation to
an acceptable minimum standard.
LAA Priority 8
The definition of the LAA environment priority is to use material resources
more efficiently. Improving recycling rates clearly features in almost 70% of
the strategies analysed however the environment does not feature in almost
20% of the strategies.
District Community Strategies
Analysis of the district Community Strategies against the LAA priorities shows
that 64% of the district Community Strategies are addressing all eight priority
areas identified in the LAA. The New Forest Community Strategy includes
seven of the LAA priorities, with the omission being the communities priority.
Test Valley’s Community Strategy includes seven of the LAA priorities, with
the omission being the housing priority.
All the district Community Strategies are addressing community safety, health
and wellbeing, and environment issues within their Community Strategies.
91% of the district Community Strategies are addressing access issues and
the economy.
Within the 8 LAA priorities the most important priorities across the district
Community Strategies are as follows:
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C&YP - health, teenage pregnancy, reduce obesity, more facilities
Economy - increase employment, increase skills, increase investment,
regeneration of towns
Access - safe and affordable transport, range of services that are
accessible
Housing- affordable, housing for YP and vulnerable people,
sustainable communities
Community Safety- reduce fear of crime, violent crime & ASB
Health and Wellbeing- increase life expectancy, reduce inequalities,
reduce teenage pregnancy, healthy lifestyles, older people
Environment- reduce pollution, climate change, renewable energy,
improving cleanliness of towns
Communities- reduce poverty,/social exclusion, increase participation,
healthy communities
The key drivers for the future, as recognised by the districts for the Hampshire
SCS to focus on are as follows
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Climate change
Future growth and development and the infrastructure to support this
Environmental issues- transport, congestion and access
A national set of 200 PIs will be published by the Government in the Autumn
07 as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The national 200 set will
be analysed to assess whether they provide appropriate and adequate
measures for the “Outcomes necessary to achieve a Sustainable Hampshire”
and what further local indicators can be agreed might be appropriate.”
There are likely to be three indicators in the CAA on Climate Change.
How the districts are responding to Climate Change
Most of the districts have or are in the process of producing Climate Change
Strategies, Plans or Green Audits.
Most of the LSPs through their Community Strategies have environment
themes and environment working groups.
LSPs are well placed to make a difference not only as a collection of
individual agencies but also through the Sustainable Community Strategy to
work with communities to reduce pollutants and the use of non renewable
resources.
LSPs could work together to understand the issues and share research and
information. Joint working could be undertaken to understand and influence
attitudes and to build capacity in organisations and communities.