State of Cannock Chase

LAA Planning WorkshopSeptember 2006

Stephen Brown, CEO, Cannock Chase Council

Cannock Chase is the most deprived Local Authority area within Staffordshire.

Cannock North (3 SOAs) Cannock East (2 SOAs)Cannock South (2 SOAs) Etching Hill & The Heath

*Indices of Deprivation 2004

Hednesford NorthNorton CanesHagley Brereton and Ravenhill

The following wards contain Super Output Areas (SOAs) within the worst 25% in England*:–

Statistical Overview

Key Deprivation Themes:

Education, Skills and Training

Employment

Health and Disability

Income

Public PerceptionTop 5 priorities for making somewhere a better place to live (2005):

Low levels of crime (67%) Health services (59%) Affordable decent housing (57%) Education provision (46%) Job prospects (36%)

Low levels of crime and health services have remained people’s top priorities since 2003.

Job prospects has seen an upward trend over the past two years with more people regarding this as a higher priority.

Public Perception

Top Five Priorities in need of improvement:

2005: Activities for Teenagers

Low level of crime

Road & pavement repairs

Clean Streets

Health Services

2003: Low level of crime

Road & pavement repairs

Activities for teenagers

Clean streets

Health services

Children & Young People

The District continues to have some of the lowest levels of education attainment and participation in Staffordshire

In 2005, 49% of pupils achieve 5+A*-C or equivalent, 7% below the national and 5% below the County average 66% of Y11 pupils continued in F/T education compared to 73% for Staffordshire and nationally

10% of school leavers were not yet settled

Children & Young People Income Deprivation affecting children indicates that 18% (3,458) of children are income deprived

Youth unemployment proportions are higher in Cannock Chase 34% compared to 29% in Staffordshire and 30% nationally

Young people perceive Rugeley town centre to be least safe whereas Cannock town centre is perceived by this age group to be the safest of the three town centres.

For the past two years activities for teenagers has been regarded as the top priority in most need of improvement.

Safer & Stronger CommunitiesSlight fall in the fear of crime, but violent crime, criminal damage and ASB is increasing.

Almost half of local people are reported to be either very or fairly afraid of becoming a victim of crime

Only 4.5% of people feel unsafe in their neighbourhood during the day, but 38.2% of people feel unsafe at night, compared to 15.5% in 2002

53% feel unsafe in their town centre at night

68% state they feel unsafe because they see no visible presence in their neighbourhood

Safer & Stronger Communities

Local people are most concerned with:

Nuisance teenagers

Using/dealing of drugs

Anti-social behaviour

Cannock East ward is the worst for acquisitive crimes

Western Springs ward for assaults and ASB

Healthier Communities & Older People

Life expectancy for the District shows improvement but remain s lower than the national average

key health issues include coronary heart disease, cancer and teenage conception rates

31% do not spend any of the days in their week exercising for 20 minutes that makes them sweat/out of breath

16% of the population aged 60+ are affected by income deprivation*

*Indices of Deprivation 2004

Healthier Communities & Older People

The most popular physical activity is housework/childcare followed by walking. Cycling is the least popular.

Just over half of local people would favour all indoor public areas to be smoke free

Health services are one of the top priorities in making Cannock Chase a better place to live

Economic Development& Enterprise

Gross weekly wages for residents are 18% lower than the average for GB.

VAT Registered businesses show a growth of 12% between 2000 and 2004

Between 2002 and 2003 the total number of jobs has increased by 3%, but;

Unemployment in Cannock Chase has grown steadily over 2005- 06 and the number long-term unemployed has increased by 20% between 2004 and 2006

20% of working–age residents have no qualifications, compared to 15% for GB.

Sustainable Development

Easy access to parks and open spaces

Lowest levels of carbon emissions within Staffordshire

Amount of household waste recycled is improving

Local people considered the following issues to be of importance:

Improve public transport

Encourage organisations to consider the environmental impact of the services they provide