Bath & North East Somerset Council Corporate Plan 2008-2011

1.  Executive Summary

This document is the Bath & North East Somerset Council Corporate Plan which sets out our priorities for the next three years. The Corporate Plan will build on past success - which has led to the Council being rated by the Audit Commission as “a three star” local authority which is “improving well.”  We are also seeing increasing levels of satisfaction from the local communities we serve, as evidenced by the recent resident’s survey undertaken by the Council.  (Voicebox)

The Corporate Plan sets out the improvement priorities for the Council and priority actions to address them over the coming years.  The improvement priorities are also supported by the findings of the recent Voicebox survey, which showed the level of affordable housing and traffic congestion as areas of key concern for the general public, as well as concerns over road and pavement repairs, crime and public transport.  

It is recognised that Bath & North East Somerset is at a critical stage in its development, with a number of challenges around affordable housing, a low wage economy and high levels of congestion.  There is a need for substantial investment and a co-ordinated approach both across the Council and the sub-region to tackling these issues.  The area is also set to experience substantial growth over the next 20 years due to the requirements of the Regional Spatial Strategy, which presents clear opportunities as well as challenges. 

The Council is working closely with its partners in the Local Strategic Partnership in order to develop a strong vision for the area.  This will be set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy.  The opportunities and challenges presented by the growth agenda will be met and delivered through the Core Strategy.

The ambitions stated in this plan, need to be considered in conjunction with the resources available to deliver them.  This information is set out in detail in the Financial Plan. 

This Corporate Plan clearly demonstrates what the priorities are for Bath & North East Somerset Council over the next three years and how we will deliver improved outcomes for the people we serve. 

3. Bath & North East Somerset – The Story of Place

Bath & North East Somerset is a great place to live, work and visit.  Over two thirds of the area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and green belt.  The World Heritage City of Bath forms the main urban conurbation with Keynsham and Midsomer Norton and Radstock being the other significant areas of population.  The rest of the district consists of small rural communities including 69 villages. 

Bath & North East Somerset enjoys a unique quality of built and natural environment, world-class arts and culture, a relatively strong economy and low levels of unemployment.  The area has very high levels of educational achievement, low crime levels, excellent public services and a relatively affluent and healthy population.

There are a great many positive things about Bath & North East Somerset.  However, a number of challenges have developed over the last 50 to 100 years bringing the area to a tipping point, exacerbated by the requirement of the Regional Spatial Strategy.  The principal challenges are set out below. 

Community

Bath & North East Somerset has healthy, safe communities and overall levels of deprivation are well below the national average.  However, there are pockets of deprivation within the district.  A small number of neighbourhoods feature within the most deprived 10% in the country, with one featuring in the most deprived 5%[1] which is in stark contrast to the majority of the area and results in significant levels of inequality and impacts adversely on the life chances of the population living in these areas. 

People who live in Bath and North East Somerset continue to enjoy better than average health compared with the country as a whole. For the period 2003-2005, life expectancy was significantly in excess of the national average, although this masks considerable health inequalities within small pockets of the community. 

Although crime levels are low, fear of crime and anti social behaviour are priorities for local people.  Evidence shows pockets or “hotspots” of crime in particular localities.  

Additionally, there are identifiable “communities of interest” such as People with Learning Difficulties and some BME communities who fare significantly less well than mainstream residents with many of the same deprivation issues as the neighbourhoods described above.

Narrowing the gap between the most and least affluent is a real challenge facing the area and impacts on a multitude of factors, including health, educational achievement and access to services.  This leads to a variety of related issues including poverty of aspiration within a number of isolated areas.  Addressing inequality is essential in building stronger communities. 

Economy

The economy in Bath & North East Somerset is relatively strong and recent analysis shows that the direction of travel for continued economic growth in the area is favourable.  There is a healthy knowledge driven economy, a relatively high level of self employment and an excellent skills base.  About 70% of jobs are taken by residents therefore suggesting that the local skills profile does provide sufficient human capital to meet the needs of the local economy.

However, a lack of historical planning of the economy has resulted in a heavy reliance on the public and tourism sectors which in turn has resulted in a low wage economy. 

The desirability of Bath & North East Somerset as a place to live and associated high quality of life has led to very high housing costs, with the area featuring in the 5% least affordable housing areas in the country.  There are serious shortages of affordable / key worker housing which, when considering the low wage economy of the area, presents problems for many people, some of whom have no choice but to commute to work from outside the area. 

The road and rail network are at capacity and congestion across the area is a problem in terms of journey times and public transport travel times, a key impediment to maintaining a healthy economy.  Congestion is also affecting air quality and in areas of Bath City Centre air pollution has reached levels that are higher than the Government recommended acceptable limits.

Environment

A high proportion of the area is classed as rural and there are a large number of thriving villages.  The area benefits from an exceptional natural and built environment with Bath city, as a designated world heritage site having an exceptionally high quality built environment.  However there has traditionally been a substantial under investment in the public realm leading to outdoor spaces and urban environments that need particular attention.  This deters private sector investment which is essential to the future regeneration of the area.     

The requirements for growth contained in the Regional Spatial Strategy are set to have a substantial impact on the area over the next 20 years.  A growth requirement that equates to building a new town the size of Keynsham and Radstock combined presents a major challenge, but also an opportunity to address the shortage of affordable and key worker housing.  However, this growth needs to be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and with the necessary infrastructure in place. 

What the Community Has Told Us

In a recent Voicebox[2] Survey conducted on local residents, the level of traffic congestion in the area was identified as the top issue in need of improving by respondents with 44% identifying it as their top priority.  Road and pavement repairs also ranked highly, lending weight to this as an improvement priority.    Activities for teenagers was the second highest priority, identified by 35% of respondents.  Affordable housing, the level of crime, public transport, cleanliness of streets and the level of pollution also featured in the list of priorities identified.     

Going Forward

The lack of affordable housing, low wage economy and congestion problems leads to a local economy that is unsustainable without major investment and a diversification of the economic base.  These are undisputedly priorities for the area and have been identified strongly through consultation with local residents. 

For the establishment and maintenance of sustainable communities, inequalities must be addressed and the disadvantaged and vulnerable protected.

Additionally, the causes and effects of climate change are becoming increasingly important and will need to be fully considered in all plans and strategies for the future.

Bath & North East Somerset is a great place to live, work and visit.  It is recognised that there are a number of challenges facing the area, however, there are also significant opportunities to address these issues especially through the growth agenda.  

[1] Source: Department of Communities and Local Government, Indices of Deprivation 2007.  Particular super output areas in Bath & North East Somerset feature in the most deprived 10% areas in specific domains.  One features in the most deprived 5% for a specific domain.  For full details, refer to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2007. 

[2] Residents survey conducted in Bath & North East Somerset in 2007 with 5000+ responses.  Data available to ward level.

5.  Our Priorities

The vision for Bath & North East Somerset Council will drive local plans and policies and ensure that the future of Bath & North East Somerset is a sustainable one. 

Underpinning the vision, are the Council’s improvement priorities for the next three years: 

• Improving transport and the public realm
• Building communities where people feel safe and secure
• Addressing the causes and effects of climate change
• Improving the availability of affordable housing
• Promoting the independence of older people
• Improving the life chances of disadvantaged children and young people
• Improving school buildings
• Sustainable growth

For each improvement priority, the plan below sets out the priority actions either underway or planned during the life of the Corporate Plan.  Detailed information underpinning the priorities can be found in the relevent service and financial plans.

The performance indicators contained in the National Indicator Set are also aligned to each improvement priority.  These performance indicators will be used to monitor our progress in delivering the priorities alongside other relevent locally set indicators.  This list will be refined as the Local Area Agreement for Bath & North East Somerset is refreshed.  More detailed local indicators that help support the improvement priorities can be found in service plans.

Improving Transport and the Public Realm

Our Transport Vision http://www.westofengland.org/downloads/Our_Future_Transport_October_2007.pdf  explains how we and our West of England partners will address congestion, access and air quality issues over the next 20 years.  Government funding and support has been agreed in principle for £110millilon of improvements through 2 major schemes - the Greater Bristol Bus Network and the Bath Transportation Package.  Five other sub-regional schemes are in preparation.  The Greater Bristol Bus Network and the Bath Package are at an advanced stage and they will improve bus routes, Park & Rides, accessibility, bus frequency, pedestrian access and information across the sub-region.  Further investment bids will be pursued in 2008/09 for implementation over the next 5/10 years.   

Transport improvements go hand in hand with enhancements to our public realm and the Future for Bath & North East Somerset document.  http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/future/Bath/A+Spatial+Framework/Living+heritage.htm explains how we plan to invest in simple, high quality, pedestrian friendly public spaces. 

Over the next 3 years priority actions to deliver this improvement priority are:

1. Achieve “full consent” status for Bath’s Transportation Package so we can deliver:

• A new Park & Ride site and expansion to our current sites
• New Bus Rapid Transit between Newbridge through the city  and to the East of Bath
• Showcase bus routes
• Parking & travel information systems
• Pedestrian & access improvements

2. Prepare a full business case for submission of a £840million Transport Innovation Fund bid for transforming transport provision in Bath and the sub region

3. Improved effectiveness of Home to School Transport for eligible children and young people

4. Community reparations work by young offenders

5. Creative use of our commercial estate and section 106 agreements to release capital for improvements to the public realm

6. Use of CIVITAS and New Growth Points funding to improve city signage and to test new ways of improving air quality and more sustainable travel

List of Indicators from National Indicator Set

NI 167 Congestion – average journey time per mile during the morning peak

NI 168 Principal roads where maintenance should be considered

NI 169 Non-principal roads where maintenance should be considered

NI 175 Access to services and facilities by public transport, walking and cycling

NI 176 Working age people with access to employment by public transport (and other specified modes)

NI 177 Local bus passenger journeys originating in the authority area

NI 195 Improved street and environmental cleanliness (levels of graffiti, litter, detritus and fly posting)

NI 198 Children travelling to school – mode of travel usually used

 

Building Communities Where People Feel Safe and Secure

Crime in Bath & North East Somerset is low by comparison to many other areas.  However crime, and in particular the fear of crime, has a significant impact on communities and individuals.  The Council will continue to work with all its partners - notably the Police - to address specific pockets of high crime, and to target specific types of crime where these are local priorities, including tackling domestic violence, addressing anti-social behaviour and reducing the impact of drugs and alcohol on communities. 

The Council will pay particular attention to reducing the impact of crime and the fear of crime on how people live their lives. For example, tackling hate crime means addressing the current low levels of reporting, so raising awareness is therefore a key element of this work.

As a member of the Community Safety Partnership, the Council has a significant role in supporting communities to tackle local issues as well as making sure that its services – in particular those associated with the appearance of neighbourhoods - are delivered well. The Council will also use its licensing powers to achieve its overall aims.

Over the next 3 years, the priority actions to deliver this improvement priority will be:

• Developing further the PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings with the Police and others to empower local community groups to address and resolve issues which are important to them
• Implementing our new Neighbourhood structures so that our environmental services are aligned more closely with partners; services.  This means we can respond even more quickly to local concerns about the Council’s key areas of responsibility - such as litter and graffiti
• More “Deep Clean Keep Cleans” and “Environmental Action Days” which focus the work of public services on getting things done locally: A recent Deep Clean Keep Clean in Keynsham saw litter bins replaced, litter cleared up and 95% of the “target area” deep-cleaned
• Increasing the quality of parks and open spaces - for example, working with local communities to achieve 7 "Green Flag" awards
• Extend our work with other agencies, including the Courts, to provide greater support for victims of domestic violence and abuse, and bring more offenders to justice
• Working with the Police to reduce offences associated with the “night-time economy”- for example continuing our marshalling schemes
• Improving the effectiveness of drug and alcohol treatment – with a fivefold increase in the treatment available for alcohol misuse
• Increased targeting of Youth Service support to hot spots

List of Indicators from National Indicator Set

NI 16 Serious acquisitive crime rate

NI 17 Perceptions of anti-social behaviour

NI 19 Rate of proven re-offending by young offenders

NI 20 Assault with injury crime rate

NI 30 Re-offending rate of prolific and priority offenders

NI 32 Repeat incidents of domestic violence

NI 40 Drug users in effective treatment

 

Addressing the causes and effects of Climate Change

The Council's primary focus has been on managing waste.  Over the period of the corporate plan, the Council will broaden its approach to include reducing its own carbon footprint and providing leadership for the area to reduce its carbon footprint (including its approach to transport) and build resilience to unavoidable climate change. 

Over the next 3 years priority actions to deliver this improvement priority are:

1. To reduce the Council’s carbon emissions by 2% per annum by:

• Implementing Our Big Energy Challenge to reduce energy consumption in public and voluntary sector buildings across the district      by 10% by 2010
• Implementing improved in-house recycling
• Implementing flexible location working for our staff
• Making changes in our capital programme for new build and   adaptations of current assets to achieve lower or zero carbon    emissions from buildings
• Reduced emissions from all our new vehicles
• Where possible sourcing our food products locally

2. To raise awareness about how the community can reduce their carbon footprint and apply influence to achieve reductions in emissions

3. Review planning processes and ensure that the new Local Development Framework contains policies that will deliver the government’s target for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016

4. Continue to work towards our aspiration of ‘zero waste’, through action and education to reduce waste production, as well as increase recycling

• Sustaining and improving our excellent track record in recycling as one of the top Unitary Councils
• Reach agreement on sub-regional waste solutions
• Introduce food waste collections throughout the district

5. Following the LGA Climate change commission report, the Council will review in the light of the report:

• Its planning processes and building standards;
• Its sustainable procurement policies

List of Indicators from National Indicator Set

NI 185 CO2 reduction from Local Authority operations

Ni 186 Per capita CO2 emissions in the LA area

NI 187 Tackling fuel poverty – people receiving income based benefits living in homes with a low energy efficiency rating

NI 188 Adapting to climate change

NI 191 Residual household waste per head

NI 192 Household waste recycled and composted

NI 193 Municipal waste land filled

NI 194 Level of air quality – reduction in NOx and primary PM10 emissions through local authority’s estate and operations.

NI 197 Improved local biodiversity – active management of local sites

 

Improving the availability of affordable housing

The Affordable Housing Delivery Plan aims to increase the availability of affordable housing that “meets the needs of those who cannot afford to secure decent housing on the open market either to rent or buy” by focusing attention on six key priority areas:

• Planning             
• Land                                                                                              
• Funding                                                                                       
• Tenure                                                                                         
• Sustainability                                                
• Cross-authority and Partnership working

Over the next 3 years priority actions to deliver this improvement priority are:

• Delivering the first stage of major affordable housing schemes in Keynsham and Bath
• Getting the most from section 106 agreements through 35% affordable housing requirement
• Improve access to housing for vulnerable people both through mainstream social housing and the commissioning of specific housing schemes
• Grant & low cost loans to improve poor private sector housing
• Prevention of homelessness (reducing demand on social housing) by - Supporting access into private sector housing using the deposit bond scheme and Ensuring the Supporting People Programme targets helping vulnerable people to sustain their tenancies

List of Indicators from National Indicator Set

NI 125 Achieving independence for older people through rehabilitation/intermediate care

NI 139 The extent to which older people receive the support they need to live independently at home

NI 143 Offenders under probation supervision living in settled and suitable accommodation at the end of their order or licence

NI 145 Adults with learning disabilities in settled accommodation

NI 147 Care leavers in suitable accommodation

NI 149 Adults in contact with secondary mental health services in settled accommodation

 

Promoting the independence of older people

The relationship between health, social care and wider community services will be integral to the creation of a high quality care system which is fair; accessible and responsive to the individual needs of those who use services and their carers. 

People, irrespective of illness or disability, are supported to: live independently; stay healthy and recover quickly from illness; exercise maximum control over their own life and where appropriate the lives of their family members; participate as active and equal citizens, both economically and socially; have the best possible quality of life; retain maximum dignity and respect.

Our work will shift the balance of services away from heavy dependence on acute care to provide more and better preventative health, supported living and social care in the community. 

Over the next 3 years priority actions to deliver this improvement priority are:

• Continue to exceed the Government guidance on concessionary fares for older and disabled people (we start at 9am, Govt guidance states 9:30am)  These concessions are also available on our Park & Ride schemes
• Expand our 3 successful dial a ride schemes for residents who cannot easily access scheduled bus routes
• To commission an increased range of housing and supported living options for older people including older people with mental health problems, learning difficulties and physical and / or sensory impairment
• More older people supported to live independently in a home of their choice, including older people with learning difficulties and dementia
• Fewer inappropriate referrals to sheltered housing and residential care, fewer hospital admissions and delayed discharges
• Increased range of community based support services for people with dementia
• Develop ‘access to physical care and therapy’ protocol for people in mental health in-patient beds
• Increase availability of prevention and healthy living options e.g. balance classes, falls prevention work
• Merger of Community Team for Older People and Intake & Re-enablement teams to develop Intermediate Care Service
• Consolidate and develop services which prevent admission to hospital and facilitate early discharge
• Commission day service providers for new community resource centres with a focus on those with high physical care need and dementia
• Increase choice and control through roll out of individual budgets
• Open next 2 community resource centres: extra care flats; dementia day centres; residential care
• Completion of restructuring of domiciliary care: assessment and re-enablement service & re-commissioned long term provision
• Community Teams Project: with the Primary Care Trust integrate community health care provision and social care teams

List of Indicators from National Indicator Set

NI 125 Achieving independence for older people through rehabilitation / intermediate care

NI 131 Delayed transfers of care from hospitals

NI 139 People over 65 who say that they receive the information, assistance and support needed to exercise choice and control to live independently

NI 141 Number of people achieving independent living (main target in JA submission)

 

Improving the life chances of disadvantaged children and young people

This entails targeting effort and resources on those at most risk of under achievement and reducing the ‘gap’ between key groups and the wider population of children and young people.  Good progress has been made during 2006-07 and 2007-08, this will continue into 2008-09.

Over the next 3 years priority actions to deliver this improvement priority are:

• Increase attainment / achievement of key groups of Black and other Minority Ethnic Children and Young People by 50%
• Increase attainment / achievement of Children in Care by 50%
• Implement “Aim Higher for Disabled Children” and improve community and respite facilities
• Provide a stronger focus on improving attainment / achievement in areas of deprivation using our Children’s Centres to target young children at risk of under achievement
• Engage Children and Young People, Parents and Carers in the development and design of services through implementing our participation strategy

Improving School Buildings

The Council has a proven track record in the delivery of new schools and substantial refurbishments.  Our aim moving forward is to seek out resources to improve upon this record and provide the learning facilities that our Children and Young People deserve.

Over the next 3 years priority actions to deliver this improvement priority are:

• Complete review of secondary school provision and staff consultation on changes
• Rebuild Writhlington School
• Rebuild St. Keyna Primary School
• Complete phase 2 build of Fosse Way School
• Agree primary priorities and align capital grant to deliver these
• Agree secondary priorities and align capital grant to deliver these
• Promote early ‘BSF’ bid to the Government
• Continue investment in Early Learning / Childcare and community facilities

List of Indicators from National Indicator Set

NI 54 Services for disabled children

NI 62 Stability of placements of looked after children: number of moves

NI 69 Children who have experienced bullying

NI 70 Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries to children and young people

NI 72 Achievement of at least 78 points across the Early Years Foundation Stage with at least 6 in each of the scales in Personal Social and Emotional Development and Communication, Language and Literacy (Statutory)

NI 73 Achievement at level 4 or above in both English and Maths at Key Stage 2 (Threshold) (Statutory)

NI 74 Achievement at level 5 or above in both English and Maths at Key Stage 3 (Threshold) (Statutory)

NI 75 Achievement of 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and Maths (Threshold) (Statutory)

NI 92 Narrowing the gap between the lowest achieving 20% in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile and the rest (Statutory)

NI 101 Children in care achieving 5 A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent) at Key Stage 4 (including English and Maths) (Statutory)

NI 107 Key Stage 2 attainment for Black and minority ethnic groups

NI 108 Key Stage 4 attainment for Black and minority ethnic groups

NI 111 First time entrants to the Youth Justice System aged 10 – 17

 

Sustainable Growth

Bath and North East Somerset lies within a growth area defined by government and articulated through the Regional Spatial Strategy.  The Council wishes to positively contribute to the growth of the West of England whilst maintaining the distinctiveness of the places that make up the district. 

Bath and North East Somerset has been defining the unique added value that we can offer the sub region.  The challenge is housing growth at rate of more than three times historic provision within a constrained and designated built and natural environment.  Economically the District is diverse but for each place economic diversification and growth is necessary. 

The combination of employment diversification and housing provision has to address the infrastructure provision in order to reduce congestion, improve housing affordability and drive competitiveness.  For growth to be truly sustainable the Council has committed to engage with communities and partners in regular dialogue to hear views before decisions are taken. 

Over the next 3 years priority actions to deliver this improvement priority are:

• Produce a Core Strategy and Site Allocations Development Plan Document
• Prepare Regeneration Delivery Plans for the urban areas that set out actions required to implement development and regeneration on key sites
• Develop a sub regional Programme of Development which clarifies infrastructure requirements necessary to accommodate the housing growth
• Complete a Business Growth and Employment Land Study that provides evidence about the current economy, identifies future land and premises requirements and identifies target growth sectors
• Protect strategic employment sites and seek to allocate and deliver new employment space
• Attract infrastructure funding and investment from developers, government and agencies that will enable and unlock growth (e.g. Growth Area funding)
• Work with the Universities to maximise innovation and spin-off business opportunities to create new jobs
• Collaboration with business support agencies, the business community and education providers to continue to provide business support to promote indigenous growth
• Target key sectors (e.g. ICT and Creative Industries) through indigenous expansion and an Inward Investment Strategy (with sub regional partners)
• Deliver a successful partnership with business groups through a City Centre Manager and Limited Company to deliver destination management improvements

List of Indicators from National Indicator Set

NI 151 Overall employment rate

NI 152 Working age people on out of work benefits

NI 153 Working age people claiming out of work benefits in the worst performing neighbourhoods

NI 161 Learners achieving a Level 1 qualification in literacy

NI 162 Learners achieving an Entry Level 3 qualification in numeracy

NI 163 Working age population qualified to at least Level 2 or higher

NI 164 Working age population qualified to at least Level 3 or higher

NI 165 Working age population qualified to at least Level 4 or higher

NI 166 Average earnings of employees in the area

NI 170 Previously developed land that has been vacant or derelict for more than 5 years

NI 171 VAT registration rate

NI 172 VAT registered businesses in the area showing growth

NI 173 People falling out of work and on to incapacity benefits

NI 174 Skills gaps in the current workforce reported by employers

NI 182 Satisfaction of businesses with local authority regulation services

NI 183 Impact of local authority regulatory services on the fair trading environment

NI 184 Food establishments in the area which are broadly compliant with food hygiene law

 

Continue to 6. Value for Money,  Resouces and Delivery