How are we doing?

16 months on.....

When we published the Community Plan “Our Scottish Borders; a vision for the future 2006-2016” in June last year (2006), 6 priorities were identified. For each of these priorities we picked 3 indicators to help you to gauge progress and below is the latest update against these indicators (October 2007):

PRIORITY 1- Strong, inclusive and safe communities
INDICATOR 1- Increase in affordable housing across the region.
Scottish Borders Council published its Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) in March 2007 which proposes to apply a 15% to 25% affordable housing requirement to housing developments. Funding for affordable housing is provided from a variety of sources including grant funding, developer contributions (over £450,000 raised to date) and reductions in council tax discount (from 50% to only 10% on long term empty properties and second / holiday homes).

Activity
Council tax discount funding has assisted the development of affordable housing at Todlaw in Duns, and Dingleton Cottages in Melrose and has secured a housing site at Eyemouth High School. The Council will also provide investment of £350,000 to support development in Hartrigge, Jedburgh and £375,000 to assist provision of a gas supply to the Stonefield area in Hawick. The accumulation of funds gained from council tax reductions is also contributing to the provision of 138 affordable units principally at a previously council owned depot at Dovecot Road/ George Street Peebles. As well as the provision of mainstream affordable housing there will also be the inclusion of facilities for elderly residents and those with special needs.

^{Source- SBC, Planning and Economic Development}

INDICATOR 2- Decrease in both the fear of crime and in actual recorded crime .
Total crimes committed in the Borders during 2006/07 were down on previous years (5407 compared to 5633 in 2005/06), coupled with an increase in the number of crimes solved. According to the recent SBC Household Survey (Dec 2006), 97% of you feel safe in your own homes at night (no change since 2003) and 67% of you feel safe walking alone after dark (increase of 1% since 2003). The Scottish Borders Community Safety Partnership, part of New Ways, will continue to work to address community safety problems of antisocial behaviour, drugs and alcohol, road safety, home safety, domestic abuse and youth issues across the region.

^{Source: Lothian and Borders Police}

Activity
The Partnership recently looked at road collisions in the Borders and identified that some very low cost remedial work would benefit road users.   As a result, work by a variety of agencies is now being carried out on the A72. Young drivers and older drivers have been identified as most at risk of having a collision, so driving experience events have been held recently targeting both groups.

INDICATOR 3- Increase in the number engaged in voluntary activities
This indicator was chosen because it is a good indicator of the “health” of a community. Volunteers and voluntary organisations provide support, care, opportunity, fun, learning etc for people within the Borders and compared to the national picture, we have a very healthy voluntary sector. Volunteer Centre Borders alone registered 513 volunteers in 2005/06 and in 2006/07 this increased to 729. We would like to see this increase by another 20% by 2010. In terms of number of voluntary organisations, www.onlineborders.org.uk had 770 registered voluntary groups in March this year. We are aiming to increase this by 10% each year.

Measurement against this indicator is difficult because there are many volunteers and voluntary organisations in the Borders not registered with a central agency. We know that we have many more volunteers and voluntary organisations in the Borders than recorded for this indicator- both help us maintain our “good health”!

^{Source: Volunteer Centre Borders}

PRIORITY 2- A robust and dynamic economy

INDICATOR 1- Increase in the gross weekly earnings of Borders‘ based workforce
Low wages in the Borders (like most rural areas) is a key issue, arising from the sectoral make up and productivity of businesses in the area.  There is a significant gap between the average wage in Scotland, and the average wage in the Borders. In the original plan, we stated that we would look at the figures for the Borders Resident workforce (which includes people who commute out of the region each day to work). We believe it more significant to focus on wages of jobs IN the Borders. Year on year, the gap between the Scottish average and the Borders average is closing, now sitting at 81% (Scottish average is £412, Borders £335). Although 2006 did not see a further closing of the gap, progress remains on track to achieve the target by 2015, when Borders wages should be at least 95% of the Scottish average.

^{Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)}
 
INDICATOR 2- Increase in the Working age (and overall) population      
In order that Borders businesses grow and local services are sustained (schools, hospitals etc), population growth is important (especially within the working age bracket 16-64). Population is continuing to grow in the Scottish Borders (currently 110,240), although the percentage of those of working age has remained fairly static (59% of our population, as opposed to 63% nationally).  From 2001 – 2006, the Scottish Borders has shown one of the largest increases in population in Scotland (3.1%) when Scotland‘s population as a whole only grew by 1%.

^{Source: General Register Office for Scotland (mid-year estimates)}

INDICATOR 3- Increase in Productivity and export performance
We have chosen to measure productivity by looking at Gross Value Added (GVA) (the difference between the value of goods & services produced and the cost of raw materials and other inputs which are used up in production), because GVA for the Scottish Borders remains below the Scottish level. In 2004 (most recent figures available) Borders GVA per head of population was 68% of the Scottish figure (Borders = £11,026, Scotland = £16,334) compared to 69% in 2003. Increasing GVA remains a key task which depends on the continuing diversification away from traditional "lower value" sectors into newer service sector employment, which will ultimately increase wage levels.

^{Source: National Statistics}

Export performance is also an important economic indicator. The export performance of Borders businesses continues to rally, moving back towards the 2001/02 high, in a Scottish climate where overall export performance continues to reduce. A significant proportion of what businesses send overseas relates to local textile production, which despite some recent company closures, continues to perform well. In 2004/05 Scottish Borders businesses exported goods valuing a total of £210 million (compared to £205 million in 2003/04).

^{Source: Global Connections Survey}

PRIORITY 3- A protected and enhanced natural environment

INDICATOR 1- Decrease in total amount of waste produced/increase in recycling/composting
As climate change becomes more of a concern, stringent legislative targets have been set for all Local Authorities in relation to the diversion of waste from landfill. From April 2006 to March 2007, 73,352 tonnes of waste were produced in the Borders, of which 28% was recycled. The target is a 1% reduction in waste produced annually, and 40% of waste to be recycled by 2010. 8% of waste was composted in same period, more than double than the previous period. Trends are moving in the right direction and SBC is grateful to all residents and businesses for their help.

^{Source: Scottish Borders Council}

INDICATOR 2 – Increase in the number of rivers of good (a) biological and (b) chemical quality
Since this indicator was finalised in June 2006, the European Commission introduced its “Water Framework Directive” legislation. Put simply, it requires us to look at our water bodies that are “at risk” of not meeting 'good ecological status‘, so this is the indicator we will now use. In the Borders, 54% of water bodies are currently estimated to be “at risk”    The work of partners such as Tweed Forum and SEPA will ensure that we decrease the % “at risk” for the benefit of everyone; local communities, fishermen, tourists etc.

^{Source: SEPA}

INDICATOR 3- Increase in Bird Populations (key species)
This gives us an indication of the health of biodiversity in our region, and monitors changes under land use and climate change.  Different species are monitored for different land types. For example, for lowland mixed/arable farmland, grey partridge populations are the key indicator (as measured by the Game Conservancy Trust Partridge Count Scheme). The UK target is 4 pairs per km2, and in Spring 2006, Scottish Borders had 4.1. Valleys, hills and upland areas will be monitored using others species e.g. black grouse, peregrine. Through the Borders Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP), New Ways partners will work to ensure that our key biodiversity is maintained and enhanced, and will remain vigilant to ensure that impacts can be addressed as far as is possible.

^{Source: Scottish Borders Council}

PRIORITY 4- Improved health and well-being

INDICATOR 1- Increase in healthy life expectancy for men and women    
Our aim is to make sure that people don't just live longer but that they enjoy good health in old age. Healthy life expectancy in the Borders is already higher than the national figure. For men it's 68.3  (Scottish figure =  65.6), for women it's  71.1  (Scottish figure =  68.6) but that doesn't mean we can't do more.

Activity
The "Guid Fettle" project, operating across the region, increases physical activity levels in older people, which impacts on their physical, mental and social health.

^{Source: NHS Borders}

INDICATOR 2- Decrease in premature deaths from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) & cancer
The good news is that this figure is coming down, for both men and women in the Borders. For example, almost 120 people in the region died, under the age of 75, of CHD in 1992, compared to 55 last year, and projections suggest that this should be fewer than 40 by 2010.

Activity
A Cardiovascular Risk Assessment (CRA) initiative in the workplace enables Borders based employees to have a basic cardiovascular check alongside an individual discussion about healthy lifestyles. In its first year (2006) contact was made with 14 workplaces and 683 people were assessed.  The service is now being extended to cover more workplaces.

^{Source: NHS Borders}

INDICATOR 3- Decrease in inequalities in health         
The difference between the premature death rate from CHD in our least and our most deprived areas is the smallest of all mainland NHS Boards in Scotland. But there are other things that we can be tackling locally to close the  inequalities gap further, for example  teenage pregnancy rates, smoking during pregnancy and adult smoking.

Activity
The Borders Healthy Living Network has 1500 participants registered across 5 local areas in the Borders (Eyemouth, Langlee, Selkirk, Walkerburn and Burnfoot, Hawick).  Smoking cessation support, Tai chi, healthy eating, and stress management are just a few of the things going on.

^{Source: NHS Borders}

PRIORITY 5- Learning for everyone

INDICATOR 1- Increase in Educational attainment levels 
Age 5-14 attainment in reading, writing and mathematics in primary and secondary schools continues to rise year on year and this pattern is confirmed by results in June 2007.  Scottish Borders Council‘s attainment levels are above other local authorities areas with whom we compare ourselves.
^{Source: Scottish Borders Council}

INDICATOR 2- Increase in qualifications of the working age population 
Only 31.4% of the Borders working age population are educated to NVQ level 4 (degree level) or above, with 48% educated to NVQ level 3 (Higher
Grade) or above. This compares to rates for Scotland of 35.6% and 51.9% respectively and has much to do with the fact that our economy is made up of predominantly small and medium sized businesses. The opening of the new Scottish Borders Campus at Netherdale, Galashiels (Borders College and Heriot Watt University) should help this situation.

^{Source: Annual Business Enquiry 2007}

INDICATOR 3- Increase in participation in community-based learning 
The latest figures show that compared with 2005, there were more opportunities in 2006 for young people to participate in youth work activity, more opportunities for adults to participate in community based adult learning and more community groups supported to become more effective in their work. Figures are based on a November “Snapshot” each year, submitted to Communities Scotland.

^{Source: National Performance Monitoring Data}

Activity
Since its launch in 2006 Online Borders (www.onlineborders.org.uk) , a source of community-based learning information, has enjoyed a steady increase in membership and the number of visits average out at 2,000 per month.

PRIORITY 6- A well connected Borders

INDICATOR 1- Increase in Broadband connection and home working.
In SBCs recent household survey, 60% of Borders residents said that they have access to the internet. Of those who do, 40% is broadband. By October 2008, all schools, libraries and council offices throughout the South of Scotland will have access to high bandwidths, and as a result of this project, data infrastructure will be available for the commercial sector, creating significant opportunities.

The same survey also established that 3% of people in the Borders work from home, something that is enhanced by increased availability of broadband. Working from home is something that has two advantages; it suits many of us, who have families or dependents and need to work more flexibly; it helps the environment, with less car journeys being made!

^{Source: Scottish Borders Council‘s Household Survey 2006}

INDICATOR 2- Increase in the number of Borders residents with daytime access to a regular (hourly or better) passenger transport service 
Currently 79.5% of households in the Borders have access to an hourly or more frequent weekday bus service and we will strive to maintain at least this level of provision. However, for people who live in more remote rural areas a more flexible type of public transport service is required and Scottish Borders Council is introducing "demand responsive transport" services which are taxi-bus services which run when pre-booked. Fares are comparable to those on conventional bus services.
 

Activity
April this year saw the introduction of a flexible Saturday service in the Yarrow Valley area and a Monday to Friday service started in October. Services like this are now operating in other areas too e.g. Yetholm, Ettrick Valley, Coldstream/Duns. The Council will continue to seek opportunities to develop public transport services in innovative and appropriate ways.

^{Source: Scottish Borders Council}

INDICATOR 3 – Increase in awareness of and usage of the Borders Brand (Our Scottish Borders, your inspiration)
As Borders residents, we know how great a place the Borders is, but for many outwith the region it is often unknown. The New Ways Partners are using the branding in many ways to promote the region outwith the Borders. Many of you already display the car stickers and our flags have been used at a variety of local events this year (Borders Union Show, 4 Abbeys Cycle Challenge, Selkirk Rally). But we need to capitalise on many more opportunities- businesses travelling abroad, tourists sending postcards, international events that are covered in the national media.

Action
In the next 6 months, we are committed to monitoring impact and you should become more aware of the branding being used. A part time Brand Manager , David Wallace dwallace@scotborders.gov.uk , has just been appointed to drive this work forward.

Contact Sarah Glendinning for more information Tel: 01835 826542, sglendinning@scotborders.gov.uk