Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Quality of Life Report 2009 Hertfordshire...

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Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010

Quality of Life Report

2009Hertfordshire Environmental Forum

1. Background

2. Key Findings from 2009 Report

- Economic slowdown

- Areas of high performance

- Natural resource and environmental challenges

3. Further information and publication

Background

• Annual report – first published 1992

• Collaborative production

• 17 sections – economic, social and environmental

• Over 40 indicators plus additional information

• Wide and varied audience

• Recognised by Audit Commission for Best Practice

Changes in reporting for 2009

• Review of indicators to incorporate new National Indicators (NIs)

• Refocusing of Economy & Employment

• “Leisure” section becomes “Culture”

2009 Key findings

• Economic slowdown

• Areas of high performance

• Natural resource and environmental challenges

County’s economy still fundamentally strong despite recession

• JSA claimants double in a year from low baseline

• Median earnings remain high

• Skills base remains very competitive vs regional and national

• Prices dip whilst sales volumes fall by 58% to 15 year low

• Affordability remains low

- Hertfordshire - 10

- East of England - 8

- England - 7

• Traffic levels drop – a sign of a slowing economy?

• Despite improvements in public transport use, car remains dominant mode

• County continues to see an increase in pupils travelling sustainably to school

• Crime continued to fall in the county in 2008/09 and Hertfordshire ended the year at its lowest level since 2002 making the county one of the safest in England

• Home burglary is a concern; having been at its lowest level in 2006/07 it has increased in the past year

Continued high performance in the county’s schools

• Attainment levels at foundation key stage (NI 72) improved for 5th consecutive year

• Attainment levels at key stage 4 (NI 75 – 5 A*-C GCSEs incl. English and maths) improved by 1.3% to 59.2% (national average 50.4%)

• Ofsted inspections 2008/09 – primary schools judged as ‘outstanding’ rose by 17% to 33% of schools (national average 13%)

• 16% reduction in net additional homes completed

• Development on PDL - 93%

- up 6% on 2007/08

- exceeds national target (60%)

• New indicator to measure fuel poverty

• Renewable energy generating capacity – very low in comparison with neighbours

• Residential consumption – small reduction in gas; little change in electricity

• Commercial consumption – 6% reduction in gas; little change in electricity

• Little change in domestic consumption – still high

• River quality improves slightly on previous year

- 73% ‘good’ or ‘very good’

- 95% ‘fair’ or better

• Summers: temperatures could increase by 2.4°C – 4.5°C with up to 26% less rainfall by the end of the century

• Winters: temperatures could increases by 1.0°C – 3.7°C with up to 26% more rainfall by the end of the century

• Carbon dioxide emissions from residential, commercial & industrial and road transport sources continue to fall

• Household waste reduced by 2%

• Recycling of household waste up from 37.6% to 44%

St Albans, North Herts & Hertsmere performing particularly well

• Amount of household waste sent to landfill fell below 50% for first time (49.7%)

• 18% decline in house sparrow numbers (2006/07)

• Sky lark numbers down

• Improvement in song thrush numbers (2006/07) and hare sightings up (2009) against long term decline

• Lack of volunteers continues to affect monitoring

• 92% of SSSIs in a favourable condition

Publication date:

End of March 2010

Website:

www.hef.org.uk/qol

Email:

qol@herf.org.uk

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Quality of Life Report 2009 Hertfordshire...

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