About South Gloucestershire - the challenges we face
The improvement priorities described in this plan have been influenced by a number of important challenges, and these are explained in the following paragraphs.
Growth and demographic change
South Gloucestershire is one of the fastest growing economic areas in the country. The population has grown by over 20% in the past 20 years, to 246,000. The area will continue to grow and by 2011 it is expected that:
- The number of households will increase by over 7,000 to 111,000
- The number of people over 65 will increase by 24%
- 12,000 local people will be aged 80+
- The number of 15-24 year-olds will increase by nearly 12,000 to 38,000
The scale and pace of growth presents a number of significant challenges which influence each of the improvement priorities:
- There is continuing pressure on our local environment, particularly in terms of levels of waste and the general appearance of our streets and open spaces
- There is an increasing demand for new development which impacts upon the countryside
- All services will need to anticipate the growth in the older population and plan in a way that maximised people's ability to retain their independence
- Existing facilities for children and young people are already overstretched
- Services will need to be planned in such a way that meets the needs of people of all ages and helps bring different generations closer together
- Traffic congestion is a major issue for the area. Between 1991 and 2002, the volume of traffic on South Gloucestershire's roads increased by about 29%. Whilst the rate of traffic growth has slowed since 1997, it continues to be higher than the national average
- The considerable upward pressure on land values and house prices makes it very difficult for people on low incomes and first-time buyers to afford a home. Demand for affordable housing is high and new approaches to housing need to be developed
Equalities and inclusion
South Gloucestershire is made up of many different communities by virtue of gender, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation. The challenge is both to celebrate this diversity and to ensure that inequalities are addressed where they arise. We have a commitment in our guiding principles to "treat everyone fairly, challenge inequalities and promote opportunities for all".
We want to overcome the barriers that some residents face when using council services or applying for jobs with us.
We will also continue to consult and work with representatives of South Gloucestershire Council's diverse communities. This will help to ensure that they are able to contribute towards the improvement of our services and to fully take part in South Gloucestershire life.
Where we live is important to all of us. This presents further challenges for the council:
- Some of our newer communities have experienced rapid residential and employment growth without the supporting infrastructure and local facilities
- Some of our older urban areas are deteriorating and need to be improved
We will address the challenge of inclusion. South Gloucestershire is generally prosperous but there are some areas and groups of local people who do not fully share the benefits of this.
In general, people on low incomes suffer more from poor health and the impact of crime, are more dependent on public transport and generally have less access to local facilities than those on higher income.
Balancing national and local priorities
The council has already been recognised as a good authority in the first government assessment of local councils. Our ambition is now to be recognised as excellent both by the government and by our residents. This means that we will need to continue to improve our services in a number of key areas. For many of our residents this means tackling issues such as crime, anti-social behaviour, litter and graffiti in our streets and surrounding areas. Other key priorities for residents include caring for vulnerable people and securing higher standards of education.
However, in addition to these local issues, the council will need to respond to the government's extensive legislative requirements, particularly:
- The proposals for reforming services for children, young people and families, including those in the green paper 'Every Child Matters', so that we protect children at risk of harm and neglect and support all children to develop their full potential
- The national requirement to investigate all options for the future of our council housing stock. The response has to be submitted to the government by 2005 and without it no additional investment will be forthcoming
Working with our partners
The issues we are dealing with are very complex. Tackling the different factors that impact on people's lives means that we need to work with many other agencies to develop a co-ordinated approach. Effective partnership working is essential if we are to make a real and lasting difference to the quality of people's lives in South Gloucestershire.
We have joined with the many other organisations, including health agencies, the police, other public sector organisations, parish and town councils, voluntary and community organisations and local businesses to form the South Gloucestershire Partnership. The council's challenge is to provide community leadership, supporting the strategic framework established by the South Gloucestershire Partnership so that individuals and organisations can work together to improve quality of life for everyone in our area.
Making the best use of our resources
We therefore face difficult decisions to balance the rising demand for services, fuelled by population growth, with the funds that are available. In addition we operate in an arena of continual change with many external factors, both regional and national, exerting an influence on the services provided.
We will therefore need to respond to this challenge by using resources wisely, ensuring services are provided efficiently to meet the needs and aspirations of local people.
Our priorities for the future
All these factors present a major challenge for South Gloucestershire Council. Clearly, we will continue to provide a wide range of other services to meet the needs of local people. We also want to provide a clear statement of our key improvement priorities for the next few years to address these challenges.