Medway Council
Annual Report 2010-11
Foreword from Cllr Rodney Chambers OBE, Leader of Medway Council In this special pull-out for Medway Matters we look at the work the council has done in the last year, what it has achieved and what lies ahead. As with all public sector organisations, the past year has been a challenging one for Medway Council due to the national deficit and cuts in government funding, which created a funding gap of £23.5m for 2011/12. However we managed to close this gap whilst prioritising the frontline services we provide. And it is for this reason that the council has started its Better for Less programme – aimed at changing the way we provide services while improving the outcomes residents see. Unlike some other local authorities, Medway Council is used to providing quality services on a tight budget and this experience is invaluable. There have been a number of notable successes in 2010/11. For instance, our GCSE results continued to improve, and
more and more young people are now sitting A Levels. In addition, our children’s and social care inspection results for the council have been positive and, despite tough economic times Medway has seen youth unemployment fall by 16 per cent and unemployment overall drop by 11 per cent. And in 2010, Medway opened up its 19th Sure Start children’s centre, meaning that wherever people live they have one of these great facilities near them. Regeneration has also continued apace with one of the country’s biggest housing associations, Hyde Housing, working with Medway Council to develop the first phase of the Rochester Riverside regeneration site. Elsewhere, the council again held the most free festivals in the south east, and laid the groundwork for the bid for Medway for become a city in 2012. Medway Park – the £11million regional centre of sporting excellence - hosted the
Modern Pentathlon World Cup in July 2010 and will be a base for several Olympic teams next year. We know there is still much to do, and the council’s work for next year will, of course, be as challenging as ever, but we are also gearing up for 2012 – as we believe it will be a special time for Medway. It will be the 200th anniversary of the Royal Engineers’ in Medway and it is Dickens’ bicentenary. In addition, Medway Park will host the British Transplant Games. Over the next few pages you can find out more about the work we have undertaken, our priorities, and what we intend to do for Medway and its residents.
Our priorities - the things that are important to local people A clean and green environment The council is committed to keeping the streets clean, helping people recycle more rubbish and reducing carbon emissions. And it aims to protect Medway’s existing green spaces in urban and rural areas. What was achieved last year: • The council’s new recycling contract, launched in October, has cut waste sent to landfill. The 36 per cent target for reuse, recycling and composting was met. • Levels of litter dropped and 74 per cent of people were satisfied with street cleaning. • A programme of energy efficiency improvements to reduce the council’s own carbon footprint continued. • 177 new allotments opened at Hempstead Valley, Watts Meadow and Kingsnorth Road with £225,000 invested. • Enforcement action was taken in 201 fly-tipping cases. • Green flag awards secured for The Vines, Capstone Farm Country Park, Riverside Country Park and Hillyfields. • First stage of work to improve park play areas was completed. Cozenton Wheelpark in Rainham opened. We spend per person per year: £52 on collecting rubbish and recycling £14 on street cleaning £20 on green spaces
Key areas for improvement or development The new waste collection and disposal contracts have got off to a good start, but the amount of waste produced in the first place need to be reduced - we all have a part to play in that.
Safer communities It is important that people in Medway are safe and feel safe. The council wants to build safe, strong and cohesive communities. What was achieved last year: • Medway named as one of the top 10 safest authorities in the UK in terms of road safety. • Launch of the ‘Love Medway’ campaign, aimed at tackling litter and other environmental issues. • 29 alleys gated with people saying they feel safer as a result. • 36 per cent more safe house support provided to victims of domestic violence. • 404 fixed penalty notices issued with action taken against 250 illegal waste carriers. 589 untaxed vehicles seized. • Residents feeling that drunk or rowdy behaviour is a problem fell to 13.8 per cent from 20.2 per cent in 2009/10. • Community clean up teams for the White Road estate, All Saints, BrookLines and Strood South were set up. We spend per person per year: £6 on street lighting Key areas for improvement or development We want people to be safe in Medway and equally importantly to feel safe. We want to work with local people to make sure they feel they belong to their neighbourhood and can influence the decisions that affect it.
Children and young people having the best start in life Medway Council wants children and young people in Medway to be safe and cared for, succeed in learning and thrive. What was achieved did last year: • 19 sure start centres became fully operational. • 53.9 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A*-C grades (including English and maths) at GCSE, up from 51.7 per cent in 2009. • Educational attainment for looked after children was above the national average. • Special Educational Needs assessments issued in 26 weeks increased to more than 90 per cent. • We effectively responded to a 13 per cent increase in children’s social care cases by investing in additional frontline staff. • A new strategy was launched to improve pupil performance whilst the number of schools being monitored for improvement by Ofsted fell to four from five. • Aut Even, a centre offering respite care for parents of disabled children, was rated as ‘good’ in February 2011. We spend per pupil per year: £3,462 on a primary school place £4,341 on a secondary school place Key areas for improvement or development It remains important for the council to ensure Medway’s most vulnerable children are safe, with a focus on providing early help to families under pressure. With regards to education we will continue to work with primary schools to raise standards at key stage 2.
improved public transport, tackling congestion and reducing car use. What was achieved last year: • The council adopted its third Local Transport Plan setting out its development and transport vision to 2026. • Construction of the new Chatham bus station began. • Completed 57 of the planned 60 new bus shelters. • Started work on improving Gillingham station together with Network Rail.
Older and vulnerable people maintaining their independence Encouraging and supporting people to stay healthy and improving quality of life are key priorities. The council has a key role to play in helping older and vulnerable people maintain their independence. What was achieved last year: • A campaign was carried out across Medway to ensure older and vulnerable adults are safe and treated well with staff properly trained. • The innovative ‘fast-track’ occupational therapy service for equipment has proved highly popular and the waiting list has reduced by a third. • More than 300 people are now being supported and advised by the Dementia Advisor Service. • Those receiving direct support - direct payments and personal budgets - up to 1,812 people from 706 last year.
We spend per person per year: £28 on road maintenance Key areas for improvement or development There have been short-term congestion problems resulting from road changes but Medway is now beginning to see the benefits. We continue to work for a reliable and efficient local transport network.
Everyone benefiting from the area’s regeneration
We spend per week: £538 on each older person in care
The whole point of regenerating Medway is so that all residents, businesses and visitors benefit. Social and economic regeneration and protecting heritage and the environment in Medway are all of great importance to the council. What was achieved last year: • The £11m Medway Park Centre of Sporting Excellence was delivered on time and within budget. Events hosted included the Great Britain wheelchair rugby Super Sixes and the Modern Pentathlon World Cup. • Opening of Rochester Community Hub creating a one-stop shop for council services.
Key areas for improvement or development We want to make it possible for people to maintain their independence and have even more choice over the care services they need. We want to support people to make healthy lifestyle choices that might benefit their longer-term well-being, from giving up smoking to taking regular exercise.
People travelling easily and safely Supporting the development of Medway’s transport system, with a focus on
Where the money came from - £644m School and education grants £202m
• 409 people have found employment and 654 have accessed support since November 2009 through the Flexible New Deal programme. • 100 empty properties have been brought back into use. • Community workshops gave residents the chance to get involved in tackling neighbourhood concerns. • 96 per cent of homeless families were helped within 28 days despite a 10 per cent increase in applications. • Planning approval given for the Chatham Waterfront development. • Excellent attendance at events held in Medway with around 10,000 people watching the 2010 finale of the FUSE festival; 8,500 at the first English Festival and 4,000 at the Under Siege youth event. • New running, cycling and walking routes open at Capstone Farm. • Medway Archive and Local Studies Centre won an award for ‘best archive of the year’; Eastgate House passes first hurdle in its bid for £1m of improvement funds. We spend per person per year: £17 on libraries £2 on leisure centres Key areas for improvement or development The council continues to support local firms to grow and create jobs plus attract new investment. We want to ensure existing and new homes are of a high standard.
How the money was spent - £644m
Other government grants £128m
Housing (including benefit payments) £126m
Services for children £284m
Revenue support grant £11m
Adult services £84m
Other council services £42m
Council tax £98m
Business rates £74m
Charges for services etc £131m
Highways and transportation £39m
Leisure and cultural services £26m
For more details phone 332744 or visit www.medway.gov.uk/annualreport
Services for the environment £43m