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Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
Quality of Life Report
2009Hertfordshire Environmental Forum
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
1. Background
2. Key Findings from 2009 Report
- Economic slowdown
- Areas of high performance
- Natural resource and environmental challenges
3. Further information and publication
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
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
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
Changes in reporting for 2009
• Review of indicators to incorporate new National Indicators (NIs)
• Refocusing of Economy & Employment
• “Leisure” section becomes “Culture”
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
2009 Key findings
• Economic slowdown
• Areas of high performance
• Natural resource and environmental challenges
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
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
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• Prices dip whilst sales volumes fall by 58% to 15 year low
• Affordability remains low
- Hertfordshire - 10
- East of England - 8
- England - 7
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• 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
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• 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
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
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%)
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• 16% reduction in net additional homes completed
• Development on PDL - 93%
- up 6% on 2007/08
- exceeds national target (60%)
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• 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
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• Little change in domestic consumption – still high
• River quality improves slightly on previous year
- 73% ‘good’ or ‘very good’
- 95% ‘fair’ or better
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• 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
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• 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%)
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
• 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
Environment and Planning Panel 9th March 2010
Publication date:
End of March 2010
Website:
www.hef.org.uk/qol
Email: