Deprivation. While not suffering from the same concentrations of deprivation as experienced in the cities and some other local authorities, there are still pockets of deprivation in most of the towns in the Council area. Following the 2001 Census, the Partnership carried out its own deprivation analysis which identified eleven Priority Areas. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) published in 2004 confirmed much of this analysis and this was reinforced when it was updated in the SIMD 2006 which identified ten areas of deprivation – datazones in the worst 15% in Scotland - which almost exactly matched our own analysis. We are now working through the Fairer Scotland Fund in the following ten areas7: Bo’ ness Camelon ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Grangemouth Hallglen Maddiston Westquarter Callendar Park Flats, Falkirk 7 For further information on these areas see: ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇/services/corporate_neighbourhood/policy_performance_review/corporate_policy/community_regene ration/priority_areas_for_regeneration.aspx Middlefield, Falkirk Each of these areas has its own characteristics and vary in size from a population of just 600 to almost 3,000. Various projects and initiatives are underway in these areas. In the SIMD 2006 almost 13,000 people lived in an area ranked in the worst 15% in Scotland – 8.8% of the total population of our area. We expect to review these areas when the new SIMD is published in the autumn of 2009. However it is recognised that many of those who suffer from deprivation do not live in the most deprived areas. There are a significant number of people in our area living on working age benefits. 5,420 people of working age (aged 16-59) were on Income Support in May 2008 and 7,560 on Incapacity Benefit. This represents 6.0% and 8.4% of the working age population respectively and compares with the Scottish proportions of 6.9% and 8.4%. The current state of the economy, with increased costs of fuel etc has an impact on people within our communities and in particular people in our poorer communities. We are monitoring the situation to ensure we have the right balance of services when people most need them. This is particularly important when people require advice for debt and money problems. Joint Statistics for the Council’s Community Advice Service and the 3 CAB’s which cover the Falkirk Council area highlight that in the third quarter October 08– December 08, there was a total of £12.2 million of debt over 374 new cases compared to £6.74 million of debt and 262 cases for the same period in 2007. It is anticipated that there will be a significant demand on these Services in 2009. The Council’s Homelessness Service has indicated that there has been an increase in demand for Debt Advice by people being either made homeless or are at risk of being made homeless due to arrears Council Tax collection rates are only slightly down on the same period last year. However there are some early indications that that the economic down turn will have an impact on Council Tax collection rates. Rent arrears are generally in line with the same period in 2007. Again early indications are that the economic downturn will have an adverse effect on rent arrears. The UK economy is undergoing a significant and deep recession. The UK Government anticipates an economic decline of 1.25% during 2009. The impact of this decline is already being felt by our businesses and communities. While the long term impact of this recession cannot yet be properly forecast we know: Unemployment, which early in 2008 fell to below the Scottish average, its lowest level for 25 years, has increased in the past year and is now 4.1%, with 3,902 people unemployed (Feb 2009). Investment in regeneration projects has slowed. The timescales for delivery of key projects in Bo’ness and Falkirk Gateway have had to be extended due to reduced demand and capacity for investment. Several local companies have announced redundancies or plan to reduce staff levels. Many local companies experience difficulties in accessing funds to maintain cash flow or progress new investment. Additional problems result from increased energy costs or supply chains fragmenting. Other evidence of economic stress has been witnessed in reduced trading activity in town centres and increased claims for hardship relief. A substantial drop in house purchases has been witnessed and enquiries for business properties have reduced. It is anticipated that 2009 will show increases in unemployment, further decline in business confidence and activity and lower levels of investment. Despite this, our economy has substantial strengths. Partners locally demonstrate resilience and a resolve to face the economic challenge in the year ahead: Our economy is strong and diverse, with sectoral strengths in petrochemicals, engineering, food and drink and logistics. Falkirk’s economy includes major companies such as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ltd, BP, Ineos, Forth Ports, Asda and Kemfine. Many companies compete successfully in markets where the recession’s impact will be less significant and where opportunities for business growth can be exploited. Public sector investment programmes in new schools, housing, health, and roads are likely to ‘cushion’ some of the impacts of recession, particularly in construction. The area has capacity to respond to investment opportunities that arise and can exploit the prospects for economic growth to return. We are well-located, have a growing population, a strong commercial and industrial base and presents many excellent development opportunities. Recent business surveys have demonstrated that, despite the economic challenge, local companies remain fairly positive about levels of sales, investment and jobs in the coming year. A solid partnership exists between the public and private sectors in our area to ensure our response is proactive and effective. The economic downturn demands a response by many partners, in the public and private sectors. We recognise the leadership role the partnership and in particular the Council has and utilising this to harness local capacity to address the economic challenge is vital. There is a need to: Exploit opportunities for investment and, despite the financial pressures, maintain expenditure locally, particularly in the hard-pressed construction sector, to upgrade local infrastructure and maintain the momentum of regeneration projects. Manage the impact on local companies, assisting them to access business support in the form of business advice, grant and loan funding and networking opportunities. Ensure that local organisations target their efforts to reduce the impact of unemployment, guiding people to available jobs and other assistance, while minimising the impact for those hardest to reach. Falkirk Council is a significant player in the provision of business property within the local economy. Our portfolio of industrial, office and retail space comprises over 800 properties and generates a rental income of around £4.5 million. As such there are potentially things we could do for specific businesses that are our tenants. While this approach would no doubt be welcomed by those tenants, we would have to have due regard to the financial history and viability of the business concerned. The implications for our own budgets, which is being stretched during the recession, will also be a factor. Such action would also only help a small number of businesses. It is considered that a more comprehensive and targeted approach to the impact of the downturn is needed. The economic recession will impact many communities, individuals and businesses within the Council area and this demands a joint response by all partners. This response must build upon the existing commitments which have been initiated to develop our economy via ‘My Future’s in Falkirk’. It must progress a set of key actions in the following areas to address the economic challenge. Through the actions of the Business Gateway, Falkirk Council and Scottish Enterprise, a range of support services are available for business start-up and growth. Strong links have been established between the business community in Falkirk and the support network via the Falkirk Business Panel. Action is currently underway to review our approach to business support services with the aim of establishing a new “one-stop” service for business in our area. However there is plainly an urgent need to bolster support to businesses at this time. It is therefore proposed to extend local business support services including those delivered through the Business gateway and in the Joint Working Agreement currently operated with FEAT.
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Single Outcome Agreement
Deprivation. While not suffering from the same concentrations of deprivation as experienced in the cities and some other local authorities, there are still pockets of deprivation in most of the towns in the Council area. Following the 2001 Census, the Partnership carried out its own deprivation analysis which identified eleven Priority Areas. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) published in 2004 confirmed much of this analysis and this was reinforced when it was updated in the SIMD 2006 which identified ten areas of deprivation – datazones in the worst 15% in Scotland - which almost exactly matched our own analysis. We are now working through the Fairer Scotland Fund in the following ten areas7: • Bo’ ness • Camelon • ▇▇▇▇▇▇ • ▇▇▇▇▇ • Grangemouth • Hallglen • Maddiston • Westquarter • Callendar Park Flats, Falkirk 7 For further information on these areas see: ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇/services/corporate_neighbourhood/policy_performance_review/corporate_policy/community_regene ration/priority_areas_for_regeneration.aspx • Middlefield, Falkirk Each of these areas has its own characteristics and vary in size from a population of just 600 to almost 3,000. Various projects and initiatives are underway in these areas. In the SIMD 2006 almost 13,000 people lived in an area ranked in the worst 15% in Scotland – 8.8% of the total population of our area. We expect to review these areas when the new SIMD is published in the autumn of 2009. However it is recognised that many of those who suffer from deprivation do not live in the most deprived areas. There are a significant number of people in our area living on working age benefits. 5,420 people of working age (aged 16-59) were on Income Support in May 2008 and 7,560 on Incapacity Benefit. This represents 6.0% and 8.4% of the working age population respectively and compares with the Scottish proportions of 6.9% and 8.4%. The current state of the economy, with increased costs of fuel etc has an impact on people within our communities and in particular people in our poorer communities. We are monitoring the situation to ensure we have the right balance of services when people most need them. This is particularly important when people require advice for debt and money problems. • Joint Statistics for the Council’s Community Advice Service and the 3 CAB’s which cover the Falkirk Council area highlight that in the third quarter October 08– December 08, there was a total of £12.2 million of debt over 374 new cases compared to £6.74 million of debt and 262 cases for the same period in 2007. It is anticipated that there will be a significant demand on these Services in 2009. • The Council’s Homelessness Service has indicated that there has been an increase in demand for Debt Advice by people being either made homeless or are at risk of being made homeless due to arrears • Council Tax collection rates are only slightly down on the same period last year. However there are some early indications that that the economic down turn will have an impact on Council Tax collection rates. • Rent arrears are generally in line with the same period in 2007. Again early indications are that the economic downturn will have an adverse effect on rent arrears. The UK economy is undergoing a significant and deep recession. The UK Government anticipates an economic decline of 1.25% during 2009. The impact of this decline is already being felt by our businesses and communities. While the long term impact of this recession cannot yet be properly forecast we know: • Unemployment, which early in 2008 fell to below the Scottish average, its lowest level for 25 years, has increased in the past year and is now 4.1%, with 3,902 people unemployed (Feb 2009). • Investment in regeneration projects has slowed. The timescales for delivery of key projects in Bo’ness and Falkirk Gateway have had to be extended due to reduced demand and capacity for investment. • Several local companies have announced redundancies or plan to reduce staff levels. Many local companies experience difficulties in accessing funds to maintain cash flow or progress new investment. Additional problems result from increased energy costs or supply chains fragmenting. • Other evidence of economic stress has been witnessed in reduced trading activity in town centres and increased claims for hardship relief. A substantial drop in house purchases has been witnessed and enquiries for business properties have reduced. • It is anticipated that 2009 will show increases in unemployment, further decline in business confidence and activity and lower levels of investment. Despite this, our economy has substantial strengths. Partners locally demonstrate resilience and a resolve to face the economic challenge in the year ahead: • Our economy is strong and diverse, with sectoral strengths in petrochemicals, engineering, food and drink and logistics. • Falkirk’s economy includes major companies such as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ltd, BP, Ineos, Forth Ports, Asda and Kemfine. Many companies compete successfully in markets where the recession’s impact will be less significant and where opportunities for business growth can be exploited. • Public sector investment programmes in new schools, housing, health, and roads are likely to ‘cushion’ some of the impacts of recession, particularly in construction. • The area has capacity to respond to investment opportunities that arise and can exploit the prospects for economic growth to return. We are well-located, have a growing population, a strong commercial and industrial base and presents many excellent development opportunities. • Recent business surveys have demonstrated that, despite the economic challenge, local companies remain fairly positive about levels of sales, investment and jobs in the coming year. • A solid partnership exists between the public and private sectors in our area to ensure our response is proactive and effective. The economic downturn demands a response by many partners, in the public and private sectors. We recognise the leadership role the partnership and in particular the Council has and utilising this to harness local capacity to address the economic challenge is vital. There is a need to: • Exploit opportunities for investment and, despite the financial pressures, maintain expenditure locally, particularly in the hard-pressed construction sector, to upgrade local infrastructure and maintain the momentum of regeneration projects. • Manage the impact on local companies, assisting them to access business support in the form of business advice, grant and loan funding and networking opportunities. • Ensure that local organisations target their efforts to reduce the impact of unemployment, guiding people to available jobs and other assistance, while minimising the impact for those hardest to reach. Falkirk Council is a significant player in the provision of business property within the local economy. Our portfolio of industrial, office and retail space comprises over 800 properties and generates a rental income of around £4.5 million. As such there are potentially things we could do for specific businesses that are our tenants. While this approach would no doubt be welcomed by those tenants, we would have to have due regard to the financial history and viability of the business concerned. The implications for our own budgets, which is being stretched during the recession, will also be a factor. Such action would also only help a small number of businesses. It is considered that a more comprehensive and targeted approach to the impact of the downturn is needed. The economic recession will impact many communities, individuals and businesses within the Council area and this demands a joint response by all partners. This response must build upon the existing commitments which have been initiated to develop our economy via ‘My Future’s in Falkirk’. It must progress a set of key actions in the following areas to address the economic challenge. Through the actions of the Business Gateway, Falkirk Council and Scottish Enterprise, a range of support services are available for business start-up and growth. Strong links have been established between the business community in Falkirk and the support network via the Falkirk Business Panel. Action is currently underway to review our approach to business support services with the aim of establishing a new “one-stop” service for business in our area. However there is plainly an urgent need to bolster support to businesses at this time. It is therefore proposed to extend local business support services including those delivered through the Business gateway and in the Joint Working Agreement currently operated with FEAT.
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Single Outcome Agreement