Highfields Area Plan 2012 - 2015

www.sraltd.co.uk

Supported by Spinney Hills, Castle & Stoneygate Wards

Highfields Community Association.

& Mayfield Children’s Centre

Highfields Area Plan 2012 – 2015

Content Page

Executive Summary i

1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Demographic and Social Profile 2 3.0 Consultation 3 4.0 The Plan 4 4.1 Education 4 4.2 Local Decision Making 5 4.3 Children and Families 6 4.4 Health 7 4.5 Community Cohesion 7 4.6 Employment and Business 9 4.7 Crime and Antisocial Behaviour 10 4.8 Environment and Housing 11 4.9 Transport 11 5.0 Appendix A 12

Highfields Area Plan 2012 - 2015

Executive Summary

In 2003 the Highfields Area Plan was prepared but not published. This presented both an overview of the Highfields area and a series of priorities for business and public services.

However, in time this plan has been overtaken by changes in the population and the structure of local governance, in particular the independence of the Highfields Centre and the ongoing work undertaken by the Highfields Area Forum who commissioned this work. Equally, the economic climate in 2012 is considerably less prosperous than in 2003 and this is likely to have an effect on many local residents.

Social Research Associates (SRA) was commissioned by Highfields Area Forum and funded by the three local wards (Spinney Hills, Castle and Stoneygate), the Mayfield Children’s Centre and the Highfields Community Association, to update the Area Plan, initially through desktop research and subsequently through stakeholder consultation. Over 60 local organisations, including the City Mayor’s team, local Councillors and Officers from the local statutory agencies and members of the Highfields Area Forum, took part in the discussions. In addition around 700 individuals were engaged via community workshops, replying to a questionnaire and participation at public events.

This report presents the results of this research in terms of local priorities in key areas, as well as 46 actions to tackle these issues.

Desktop Research

Initially, desktop research was undertaken to update the demographic, social and economic overview of the area given in the 2003 Area Plan.

Comparisons between Highfields in 2003 and 2012 are not directly possible because of the changing electoral boundaries and the lack of up-to-date statistics focusing on the area.

However, many of the issues highlighted in the 2003 report remain. Highfields is still an area of high unemployment, poor health and low property ownership. On the plus side, education in the area has improved and crime levels are now lower than in 2003.

Key indicators are:

 Highfields has a younger than average population with a relatively high turnover of residents.  The majority of residents are from BME groups, particularly from an Indian sub-continent background.  Children from schools in Highfields do better than the Leicester average at Key Stage 1 and 2, and have overtaken Leicester averages for Key Stage 4 in the last year.  The average income is considerably below the regional average.  Over 25% of the population are in receipt of benefits compared to 15% nationally.  Unemployment is significantly higher than in other parts of the city.  Crime has been considerably reduced in the area and it is now rated as ‘Average’ for Leicestershire.  There are lower levels of drinking and smoking in Highfields than in Leicester generally, but diet is worse and obesity is at the City average.  The life expectancy for both men and women is lower in Highfields than the rest of Leicester.

Stakeholder Consultation

A number of different mechanisms were used to engage organisations and local people in discussing the implications of the desk top research.

A voting exercise at the 2011 Highfields Festival Meetings with the Highfields Area Forum One to one interviews with Councillors and Officers from the City Mayor’s team, the police, the NHS, local Councillors and community and voluntary sector representatives A questionnaire distributed via local organisations and community meeting points Letters and emails from stakeholders such as head teachers, GPs and transport operators Workshops with local people, including targeted recruitment of young people

The focus of the consultation was to identify priorities and associated programmes to address these priorities. Although these inevitably focused on problems, it was universally emphasised that there are considerable strengths in Highfields; specifically the diversity of the population and the strength of the community cohesion within this, in spite of the area continuing to receive new arrival communities.

The Results

The results which form the basis of the Area Plan show that there are priorities within the nine policy areas, with overall education the highest and transport the lowest. Nevertheless, it was also agreed that all issues are important in providing a joined up approach to improving Highfields as a whole.

Education More local decision making Children and families Health Community Cohesion Employment and Business Crime & Antisocial Behaviour Environment and Housing Transport

The results have been used to write this Area Plan which includes 46 actions - a copy is available by email from the Highfields Centre (email: [email protected]).

Highfields Area Plan Workshop – March 2012

The Actions with target timescales Policy Implementation Date(s) Education 1) Support opportunities for travel and outdoor education 2) Enhance careers advisory services within the area and include life skills advice 3) Set up a mentor programme to support and increase the aspirations of young people especially via an accredited arts programme 4) Provide parents with support to help children with homework 5) Provide more out of school activities and study support 6) Provide more opportunities to learn English Local Decision Making 7) Encourage more people to volunteer for local projects 8) Offer incentives for volunteering including training and qualifications 9) Liaise with other voluntary groups especially nearby areas such as St Matthews 10) Use statutory duties such as Equality Impact Assessment at access resources and challenge some funding cuts 11) Work towards more partnership between the Council and Highfields including devolving more decision making and budgets to the community and local Councillors All of these actions are Children And Families intended to be achieved by 12) Use the informal networks and voluntary groups within the community to encourage self-help 2015, with a 2013 start date 13) Make it easier to get help anonymously for some actions, subject 14) Face up to and tackle the dysfunctional aspects of cultural differences to appropriate funding 15) Increase the role of the voluntary sector in providing services for families being identified/received. 16) Provide more out of school family activities Actions For The Plan: Health A regular quarterly update 17) New partnerships with local GPs and the voluntary sector about progress on the 18) Options of accessing health advice and support outside the Highfields area actions will be provided to 19) Healthy cooking at community events the Highfields Area Forum 20) Provide child care so women can attend exercise and yoga classes meetings, with the Actions for Community Cohesion Secretariat charged with 21) Ensure there is good access to Highfields from London Road and the redevelopment of Leicester coordinating the Station necessary actions. 22) Set up exchange visits between people in Highfields and other areas 23) Hold an annual arts festival promoting the vision of “Diversity and Unity” 24) Protect important buildings 25) Make better use of public and funded premises including sharing premises 26) Market Highfields as a place to visit Employment And Business 27) Liaise with banks and credit unions to fund business start-ups 28) Provide targeted support to small businesses including mentoring 29) Set up a business support service to support businesses, especially small enterprises 30) Carry out a skills audit to inform training programmes and career choices 31) Set up entry to work projects targeting unemployed young people 32) Set up incubation units with cheap rents Crime And Antisocial Behaviour 33) Community mentors and programmes to support and inspire young people at risk 34) Family focused programmes on addiction prevention 35) More co-operation between the community and police and encouragement to report crime including anonymously through Crimestoppers 36) Appoint Community Ambassadors to support neighbourhoods in challenging unsocial behaviour Environment And Housing 37) Introduce community recycling points 38) Local community schemes to ‘adopt’ and support neighbourhood parks 39) Neighbourhood clear up and rubbish reporting schemes 40) Set up a scheme for joint apprentice/private sector to buy and renovate housing 41) Stop the creation of more hostels. Transport 42) Encourage car clubs 43) Encourage shared taxi trips 44) Better co-ordination of existing social transport via a social enterprise management project 45) Continue to find an acceptable solution to parking in the wider area 46) Encourage more walking and cycling especially at ‘hot spots’ such as mosques on Fridays iii

Highfields Area Plan 2012

1.0 Introduction

In 2003 the Highfields Area Plan was prepared but not published and this presented both an overview of the Highfields area and a series of priorities for business and public services.

Social Research Associates (SRA) was commissioned to update the Area Plan through desktop research and stakeholder consultation. This report presents the results of this research in terms of local priorities and key actions for the Plan.

2.0 Highfields Today: Demographic and Social Profile

Defining the area

Highfields is not a distinct area in terms of electoral boundaries. At present, it includes a large part of Spinney Hills and smaller parts of Castle and Stoneygate Wards. Equally, the previous area plan used statistics from the former Spinney Hills and Wycliffe Wards, which ceased to exist after the Electoral Commission redrew the boundaries in 2002.

The area sits on the edge of the City Centre, and is bordered by London Road, East Park Road and the Midland Mainline and the statistics for Highfields were taken as a combination of three official output areas Leicester 017, 018 and 022 but these do not include a small area around the railway station. In addition, the perceptions of local people which varies were also acknowledged, so the use of the definition ‘Highfields’ throughout this report is not an exact geographic boundary.

Map of Highfields

Some key facts about Highfields

Full details of the population profile of Highfields based on the best information available is shown at Appendix A and also summarised below. Some of this data is over 10 years old being based on the 2001 Census and will need to be updated when the 2011 results are published.

The overall picture is of a younger, poorer and less healthy population than both the national and Leicester average which is a clear message for decision makers as well as the context for many of the priorities and actions in this Area Plan.

Age Highfields has a younger than average population, and in particular has considerably more 0-15 year olds than the City of Leicester as a whole or the national average. The population is increasing and the turnover of population is relatively high. Ethnicity Highfields continues to be the most diverse area of the City and British Asian people from an Indian sub-continent background are still the largest ethnic group. However, there has also been a large increase in arrivals from Poland and other East European countries who seem to have stayed on in spite of the recession. Income Wages in Highfields are comparatively low. The estimated average weekly wage across the Highfields area in 2008 was £443.33 against an average in the East Midlands of £600 Benefit claims Highfields has a higher percentage of population claiming benefits than both the local and national averages. For example, there are twice as many claiming Job Seekers Allowance and a third more incapacity benefits compared to the national average. Education At the age of 7, children in Highfields achieve the Leicester average, by age 11 they achieve the national average as also do students aged 16 at Moat College where results have been improving in recent years. Within the adult population, there is a significant literacy and numeracy underperformance. Crime In 2010, crime was average for the Leicestershire Constabulary area and down by 22% on the previous year. The one crime higher than the average was robbery. Health There are lower than average levels of smoking and binge drinking, but less fruit and vegetables are eaten than the City average. The levels of obesity in the area are exactly average for Leicester. Life expectancy is lower than the Leicester average.

Highfields Area Plan Workshop – March 2012 2

3.0 Consultation

A wide range of different mechanisms were used to engage organisations and local people in discussing the implications of the desk top research.

A voting exercise at the 2011 Highfields Festival in which 120 people took part 5 meetings with the Highfields Area Forum who supported and fed into the consultation at each stage of the process 12 one to one interviews with Councillors and Officers from the City Mayor’s team, the police, the NHS, local Councillors and community leaders. A list of organisational and stakeholder participants is shown at Appendix B. A questionnaire distributed via local organisations and community meeting points from which replies received represented over 500 members or individuals. A copy of the questionnaire is shown at Appendix C. Letters and emails from stakeholders such as head teachers, GPs and transport operators Two days of workshops with local people, including targeted recruitment of young people attended by over 60 people

The Plan has been developed from an amalgamation of all these consultations rather than reported separately.

In all cases people were asked to identify their priorities for action in the Local Plan and these were divided into nine broad policy areas. Within this, there were overall priority areas as shown in the diagram below but also priorities within each of the nine areas. However, it was also agreed that all were interlinked and so all needed to feature in the Plan if progress was to be achieved.

Education More local decision making Children and families Health Community Cohesion Employment and Business Crime & Antisocial Behaviour Environment and Housing Transport

4. The Plan

4.1 Education Education has improved in Highfields since the previous Area Plan, particularly at primary level where it now matches and sometimes exceeds the Leicester average. Results improved dramatically at secondary level in 2010 and Moat College has received awards from Specialist Schools Trust for its value added work.

Despite such improvements, stakeholders noted specific educational challenges in Highfields due to the varied nature of schooling and the wide range of backgrounds that pupils come from. In particular, it was noted that boys, especially boys from Indian sub-continent families, and special needs pupils fare relatively poorly at present.

“The special needs register includes those with behaviour problems and these are more likely to be underachieving- and often known in the local community.”

A further issue is that Highfields often receives recent migrants with few language skills. As a consequence ESOL courses are oversubscribed and there are doubts about funding from September, as eligibility criteria are set to be tightened.

“Different nationalities are coming to the area all the time. ESOL is important for functionality of the people learning and also for the cohesion and citizenship agenda.”

Education is improving in the schools in Highfields, but there remains an issue with people who lack basic literacy and language skills, and the long term unemployed. Language is likely to become a bigger issue if English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding is cut, particularly for an area such as Highfields where there is likely to be a consistent demand for classes. Likewise, Highfields Multi-Access Centre (H-MAC) is providing job related opportunities in the area, but is worried about the potential impact of the recession and cuts on those looking for work.

There are practical reasons for the low education rates in Highfields including a high turnover of population from non-English speaking countries. This in turn leads to communication problems between children and schools and also means that some parents cannot provide homework support to their children. Meanwhile, some homes were very crowded and many children had no suitable place to do homework leading to pressure on the already overstretched local library. There were also felt to be particular problems with low aspirations amongst some boys post primary level and with girls from the Muslim community being taken out of education or sent to unofficial local private schools.

Nevertheless, there were strong local aspirations for educational achievement especially amongst immigrant communities and a desire for family support and family learning. The problem lies in not knowing how to support such aspirations.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: EDUCATION 1. Support opportunities for travel and outdoor education. 2. Enhance careers advisory services within the area and include life skills advice. 3. Set up a mentor programme to support and increase the aspirations of young people especially via an accredited arts programme. 4. Provide parents with support to help children with homework. 5. Provide more out of school activities and study support. 6. Provide more opportunities to learn English.

4.2 Local Decision Making

Interaction in Highfields is strong but relatively informal – people meet and talk in the street rather than in organised settings and this does not always fit well with political structures or communication through formal consultation mechanisms. The result is that social problems are only picked up at crisis points. It is also relatively difficult for voluntary groups to recruit and maintain members.

Some people felt that some disinclination to get involved was due to a lack of political influence and referred to past problems between local people and the Council - although it was accepted that this had improved and this represented a good opportunity for acknowledging local priorities as identified in the Area Plan. The potential was there as shown by Highfields having one of the highest voting participation rates in the City (59%). Suggestions to build on this interest included more control of resources and an enhanced role for Area Forums, especially in the context of new powers for neighbourhoods under the Local Government Act. Other ideas were to support the voluntary sector by outsourcing more Council services to the locality including employing more local people to deliver them, as well as helping local organisations to access external funding

In particular, there was a feeling that the Highfields area has often missed out on funding to other areas in Leicester and that Highfields Centre could act as a focal point for funding bids on behalf of other local community organisations. However, some stakeholders also spoke about the need to ensure that the centre was accessible by all members of the community, and this came down to the appearance of the building. Several stakeholders noted that the building does not currently have a noticeable or welcoming façade and that this would probably put people off discovering what was inside.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: LOCAL DECISION MAKING

1. Encourage more people to volunteer for local projects. 2. Offer incentives for volunteering including training and qualifications. 3. Liaise with other voluntary groups especially nearby areas such as St Matthews. 4. Use statutory duties such as Equality Impact Assessment at access resources and challenge some funding cuts. 5. Work towards more partnership between the Council and Highfields including devolving more decision making and budgets to the community and local Councillors.

Highfields Festival

4.3 Children and Families

It was accepted that wider family networks were a fundamental feature of support in Highfields and that public services needed to work with families in all departments. However, this also meant that those without family support could be doubly disadvantaged and their needs hidden from mainstream services. Three main areas of need were highlighted, namely: activities for young people; advice for parents; and support for people in family disputes.

Another issue which was acknowledged to be sensitive were some minority cultural beliefs which included views about the role and status of women, disciplining children, disability and sexuality which do not fit with the mainstream culture. Support for victims of domestic abuse including the hidden issue of violence against elderly people was essential. There are some shelters in the city (although of course the locations are secret), but it was felt that advice was paramount. There was some disagreement, but it was generally felt that this was best offered outside the community, although there was support for a first point of contact within the area.

“Domestic violence is an issue that is often swept under the carpet, but I think that the community is mature enough to deal with it openly.”

There has also been some work with schools on the nature of consent, particularly in relation to forced marriage and similar issues, and the need for these messages to reach all parts of the community.

Leading on from this, there was much debate about this leading onto what should be the right balance between support for multiculturalism or community cohesion. The conclusion was that this required balance along the lines of the local ‘Diversity and Unity in the Community’ policy but that some practices such as female circumcision or domestic violence should not be tolerated.

Stakeholders noted several priorities in terms of support for children and families, many of whom are likely to be struggling during the recession.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

1. Use the informal networks and voluntary groups within the community to encourage self-help. 2. Make it easier to get help anonymously. 3. Face up to and tackle the dysfunctional aspects of cultural differences. 4. Increase the role of the voluntary sector in providing services for families. 5. Provide more out of school family activities.

Highfields children at play

4.4 Health

The lower life expectancy in Highfields was in part felt to be due to past disadvantage which would be played out amongst the younger generation. However, it is accepted that there are also problems with alcohol and drugs, especially amongst younger people who are also smoking more than older people.

There are currently a number of health events held in Highfields, coordinated by the PCT community worker and other partners. For example, health workshops have been held at the library and in the area around the parade of shops. Equally, the Children’s Centre and Surestart work with the PCT. However, the proposed reorganisation of the health service, with PCTs being replaced by GPs as service commissioners, means that this type of work potentially faces an uncertain future.

Mental Health and addiction counselling is housed at the Dawn Centre, and whilst the centre serves the entire City, there remains the potential for joint funding bids on addiction, particularly to reduce drug problems in the area.

There were also health problems which some people did not like to talk about including mental illness, sexual health and genetic issues resulting from cousin marriage. A lot depended on local GPs who were not always well informed and there was also reluctance by some to be seen visiting local clinics for such as family planning services.

Another issue was diet with too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables included. There was also a need for initiatives to create more understanding within the community about the needs of people with disabilities or mental illness.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: HEALTH

1. New partnerships with local GPs and the voluntary sector. 2. Options of accessing health advice and support outside the Highfields area. 3. Healthy cooking at community events. 4. Provide child care so women can attend exercise and yoga classes.

4.5 Community Cohesion

Highfields is a fantastically diverse area, with many different nationalities and backgrounds amongst its residents. Generally, most stakeholders felt that people from different cultures got on well together and that this was a particular strength of the area. However, one point consistently raised through the consultation was that the relatively transient nature of the population means that cohesion has be monitored to ensure that hostilities do not build up between new and established communities.

“(Last year).Young people were fighting over space which they determined to be their own and with more new communities coming into the area, this was leading to friction and increased tension. Unless something specific is done around it, then it will likely to lead to more fighting later on in the year.”

An associated point is that young people from different backgrounds often relate to the Highfields area before any other allegiance. This has both positive and negative implications, as whilst a strong connection with the Highfields area is beneficial for the community, there is also the problem of some people becoming territorial.

Related to this issue is a tendency for local people to be insular and not travel outside the Highfields to the wider city whilst similarly, those from other parts of Leicester do not visit Highfields.

Discussions on ‘Diversity and Unity in the Community’ in the area highlighted that the tension between cohesion and diversity is something that needs to be consistently reappraised, but also that community organisations such as the Highfields Centre, The Race Equality Centre and their respective partners are in a position to continue their longstanding good work in identifying and overcoming these issues. It is important to note that overwhelmingly the cohesive nature of the area as a whole was seen as a strength, but there was recognition that work was needed to ensure that this remains the case.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: COMMUNITY COHESION

1. Ensure there is good access to Highfields from London Road and the redevelopment of Leicester Station 2. Set up exchange visits between people in Highfields and other areas 3. Hold an annual festival promoting the vision of “Diversity and Unity in the Community” 4. Protect important buildings 5. Make better use of public and funded premises including sharing premises 6. Market Highfields as a place to visit

Faith and Community buildings - St Peters Church, Central Mosque, Shama Women’s Centre & African Caribbean Centre

4.6 Employment and Business

It was noted that businesses in Highfields can be quite isolated and have poor marketing skills and an adverse comparison was made with the ‘Golden Mile’ in Belgrave. In comparison, people rarely came into Highfields to use the businesses but it was difficult to engage existing businesses and get them to change their practices.

“I’ve tried events and visits, but it is really difficult to get to some of the businesses in the area to participate.”

An issue noted in addition to the high unemployment in the area, was that businesses in Highfields frequently had poorly defined career paths for employees and this had a detrimental effect on the lives of workers in the area.

Many of the education and training needs of the area are handled by the Highfields’ Multi Access Centre (HMAC) who run training, advice and job brokering in partnership with several other agencies. In particular, they provide assistance based on ‘a journey’ including help with basic literacy to specific skills targeted at opportunities in the workplace. Moreover, HMAC work with the Chamber of Commerce to ensure that their training is focused on the areas where jobs are likely to be available. They also offer advice and support to people on the etiquette and standards expected from employees which people who have not been employed before may not know.

HMAC was evaluated shortly after it opened and one of the issues highlighted by the ensuing report was that a high level of basic training and support was required for many people in Highfields to get into work. This meant that getting people through training and into work was a slower process than initially expected, especially as some families had experienced second or third generation worklessness.

One key need that emerged through the consultation was the requirement for a sustained and locally based business support service, equivalent to the Multi Access Centre, together with assistance to new businesses, particularly SME’s. There are existing business associations in the city, but it was felt that people setting up new enterprises needed particular help. One key need was highlighted through the suggestion of business incubation units for new start-ups:

“We’ve got lots of young people in the area wanting to set up businesses and social enterprises, record labels artists, all sorts, but we really need accommodation for them (new businesses).”

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS

1. Liaise with banks and credit unions to fund business start-ups. 2. Provide targeted support to small businesses including mentoring. 3. Set up a business support service to support businesses, especially small enterprises. 4. Carry out a skills audit to inform training programmes and career choices. 5. Set up entry to work projects targeting unemployed young people. 6. Set up incubation units with cheap rents.

4.7 Crime and Antisocial Behaviour

Crime has reduced in the area since the previous Area Plan, particularly in recent years, and the current crime mapping shows the level of offences are around average for the County. Prostitution is in decline, although not completely eradicated, especially around the London Road. However, antisocial behaviour and drugs were still considered an issue.

“Crime is improving, but anti-social behaviour and drugs are still a problem. Parents need drugs advice- I’ve seen children from the primary school with dealers and it’s all so open. Police stings have been effective, but they only work in the short term- work with parents and families would be best.”

There was felt to be a need for projects providing genuine outlets for young people in particular and to focus on work at places of worship to stop young people starting to take drugs. Another option raised was work with parents and families to alert them to the dangers and warning signs of drug use.

There are some problems of alcohol related crime, particularly within the Eastern European communities that have arrived more recently and generally towards the Evington Road end of Highfields. Equally, the area has an uneasy relationship with the Dawn Centre, which offers advice, counselling and accommodation. The Centre is focused on clients city-wide who attend at Conduit Street, and at the nearby Wet Centre, so there was some feeling that its location had a negative impact on Highfields.

The police have quite a strong relationship with the local community especially in St Peters. To some extent, this is a legacy of the community policing scheme, but also because of the (sometimes controversial) monitoring work done by local residents to highlight drug dealing and environmental crime.

There was appreciation of the work done to improve crime figures in recent years, but recognition that improved facilities and opportunities, particularly for the young, would be the only way to ensure that this improvement is lasting, especially in a recession.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: CRIME AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

1. Community mentors and programmes to support and inspire young people at risk. 2. Family focused programmes on addiction prevention. 3. More co-operation between the community and police and encouragement to report crime including anonymously through Crimestoppers. 4. Appoint Community Ambassadors to support neighbourhoods in challenging unsocial behaviour

4.8 Environment and Housing

Although there is a constant and growing need for housing in Highfields, there is no prospect of much public sector provision and the relatively low rate of owner occupation implies continued reliance on the private rented sector some of which is substandard.

A particular issue for some residents is environmental hygiene. It was noted that wheelie bins in narrow terraced streets are constantly on the pavement and this causes an obstruction for people with pushchairs and in wheelchairs. Several stakeholders noted that these bins are sometimes knocked over by pedestrians and the wind and there was a resulting issue with rats and foxes picking up spilled rubbish.

In addition to this, there were several community based schemes and litter picks that were mentioned and could be expanded through the area in partnership with local wardens who review local environmental standards on a six month basis.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING

1. Introduce community recycling points. 2. Local community schemes to ‘adopt’ and support neighbourhood parks. 3. Neighbourhood clear up and rubbish reporting schemes. 4. Set up a scheme for joint apprentice/private sector to buy and renovate housing. 5. Stop the creation of more hostels.

4.9 Transport

Several key issues with regard to transport were identified in the summary, mainly parking and public transport timetables. These were supported by stakeholders, who noted that the residents’ parking scheme in South Highfields had a beneficial effect on many of the problems there. To some extent, it was felt that parking problems were inevitable due to the nature of the terraced housing, very high population density, local aspirations to own a car and the narrowness of streets in the area. There was also concern about access for emergency services.

Bus services whilst adequate at peak hours are sparse in the evening and even those services running are faced with earlier stops. Another issue of concern is that services do not link to shift patterns for major employers or to employment destinations.

To overcome some of these problems, people were supportive of the potential of community transport, especially if this could be combined with jobs for local people such as vehicle maintenance and driving skills. It was also noted that there are several minibus projects in the area from Moat College, African Caribbean Centre, Highfields Centre etc. There was a need for some form of management to stop duplication and increase targeted coverage. It was felt that this would be best planned through a form of social enterprise or via a community transport initiative.

ACTIONS FOR THE PLAN: TRANSPORT AND PARKING

1. Encourage car clubs 2. Encourage shared taxi trips 3. Better co-ordination of existing social transport via a social enterprise management project 4. Continue to find an acceptable solution to parking in the wider area 5. Encourage more walking and cycling especially at ‘hot spots’ such as mosques on Fridays

APPENDIX A

Highfields Today: Demographic and Social Profile

1 Defining the area

Highfields is not a distinct area in terms of electoral boundaries. At present, it includes parts of Castle Ward, Spinney Hills and Stoneygate Wards. Equally, the previous area plan used statistics from the former Spinney Hills Ward and Wycliffe Ward, which ceased to exist after the electoral commission redrew the boundaries in 2002.

The area sits on the edge of the City Centre, and is bordered by London Road, East Park Road and the Midland Mainline.

As a consequence, the statistics for Highfields will be taken as an aggregate of three middle output areas: Leicester 017, 018 and 022. These are highlighted on the map below.

Highfields also includes a small area around the railway station which is not covered by these middle output areas.

2 Population

Table 1: Ages in Highfields

Ages Groups in Highfields (2009 estimates)

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

0% 0-15 16-24 25-49 50-64 (Male) 50- 65+ (Male), 60+ 59 (Female) (Female)

Highfields Leicester East Midlands England

Highfields has a younger than average population, and in particular has considerably more 0-15 year olds than the City of Leicester as a whole or the national average.

The population turnover for the three output areas between 2001 and 2008 was similar in each of the three output areas: there was an average loss of 37 people in every one thousand.

3 Ethnicity

The 2003 Highfields Action Plan could only cite the pre-publication estimates from the 2001 Census. Equally the figures that were used from the 1991 census refer to the now defunct Wycliffe Ward.

Consequently, the figures for ethnicity (shown in table 2) show a considerable difference to those in the previous Area Plan. However, it is probable that these are already out of date, as there have been a number of trends in migration since 2001 and these are likely to be amplified in an area such as Highfields with a high population turnover.

Unfortunately there are no reliable, recent figures for the ethnic breakdown of the area, either by output area or by ward. However, Roberts-Thompson (2009) has assembled data from various sources for the city as a whole, showing a large increase in arrivals from Poland and other East European countries. The author states that these groups have generally stayed in the city despite the recession. The nationality of new migrants and housing applicants throughout Leicester are shown in tables 3 and 4.

Despite these changes, by far the largest ethnic group in the area remain Asian and in particular British Asian people from an Indian sub-continent background. This was noted in the previous Area Plan and issues for the Asian population of the area, such as language difficulties, unemployment and poor conditions for those in work were all considered.

Table 2: Ethnicity in Highfields in 2001

Ethnicity in Leicester 017, 018 and 0.22 @ Census 2001

Chinese or other ethnic group: Other ethnic group (Persons) 0.4% Chinese or other ethnic group: Chinese (Persons) 0.3%

Black or Black British: Other Black (Persons) 0.5%

Black or Black British: African (Persons) 3.8%

Black or Black British: Caribbean (Persons) 3.4%

Asian or Asian British: Other Asian (Persons) 4.8%

Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi (Persons) 4.0%

Asian or Asian British: Pakistani (Persons) 4.9%

Asian or Asian British: Indian (Persons) 52.5%

Mixed: Other Mixed (Persons) 0.7%

Mixed: White and Asian (Persons) 0.7%

Mixed: White and Black African (Persons) 0.2%

Mixed: White and Black Caribbean (Persons) 0.9%

White: Other White (Persons) 1.8%

White: Irish (Persons) 0.7%

White: British (Persons) 19.7%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%

Highfields

Table 3: Numbers of adult new arrivals into Leicester by country 2005/6 to 2007/8 (NINO)

Country Numbers Poland 7340 India 4740 Slovak Republic 1130 Portugal 640 Pakistan 480 China 440 Czech Republic 370 Zimbabwe 330 Netherlands 280 Nigeria 250 France 100 Germany 90

Table 4: Nationality and number of household applicants on the Leicester City Council Housing Register, 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2009.

Nationalities Total Number of Household Applicants Indian 261 Zimbabwean 152 Portuguese 109 Polish 82 British 63 Somalian 60 Iraqi 44 Dutch 36 Afghan 31 Pakistan 25 Turkish 17 Congolese 16

4 Income The estimated average weekly wage across the Highfields area in 2008 was £443.33 against an average in the East Midlands of £600 (Nomis).

5 Educational Attainment The education system is structured such that by age 16 pupils will have passed through four 'Key Stages'. Key Stage 1 is usually assessed at age 7, and pupils are expected to have reached Level 2 or above in Reading, Writing and Maths. The percentage of pupils from Highfields achieving this level is shown in Table 5.

Table 5: Level 2 Achievement at Key Stage 1

Level 2+ Achievement Sept 08-Aug 09

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10% Reading Writing Mathematics

Highfields Leicester (Unitary Authority) East Midlands England

Key Stage 2 is usually assessed at age 11, and pupils are expected to have reached Level 4 or above in English, Maths and Science.

Table 6: Level 4 Achievement at Key Stage 2

Level 4+ Achievment Sept 08-Aug 09

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10% English Mathematics Science

Highfields Leicester (Unitary Authority) East Midlands England

Table 7: Moat Community College GCSE Results

GCSE Results (5 A-C inc English and Maths)

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10% 2007 2008 2009 2010

Moat College Leicester National Average

At Key Stage 4 it is usual for pupils to take GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) or equivalent qualifications. Table 7 shows the GCSE results for Moat Community College.

The conclusion is that the Educational Attainment in the area shows that pupils are up to the Leicester average at Key Stage 1 and the national average by Key Stage 2.

At GCSE, results have been lower than both the local and national averages, but results from Moat College for 2010 show a considerable improvement and a level of achievement that exceeds the Leicester average.

6 Benefit Claimants Up to date figures for benefit claims are not available for the three output areas, but are collected by ward. As shown in table 8, Spinney Hills has a higher percentage of population claiming benefits than the local and national averages. In particular, 8.2% claim Job Seekers Allowance against a national average of 3.5%, whilst 9.6% claim incapacity benefit against a national average of 6.7%.

Castle Ward, which includes a small part of Highfields, has a lower than average percentage of benefit claimants, but again this is likely to be a result of the City Centre location.

Table 8: Benefit Claimants May 2010

Benefits Claims in Spinney Hills May 2010

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

0% Total Job ESA and Lone Carers Others on Disabled Bereaved claimants se e ke rs incapacity parents income benefits related benefits

Spinney Hills Leicester City Great Britain

7 Crime Crime in the area is measured according to electoral wards, so it is not possible to gain recent statistics for the three output areas. Spinney Hill was considered to have an average level of crime of Leicestershire in 2010 and this was down 21.8% on the previous year for October, November and December. The one crime that was rated ‘high’ in comparison with the Leicestershire Constabulary area as a whole was robbery, which remained unchanged from 2009.

Castle Ward, which includes a small area of Highfields by the railway station, was considered to have a high crime rate in all areas during the last three months of 2010. This had also decreased 4.3% compared to October, November and December of 2009. However, Castle Ward includes part of the City Centre and crime figures are likely to be inflated by this.

8 Health Health indicators for the three output areas show lower than average incidents of smoking and binge drinking, but residents eat fewer fruit and vegetables than the residents in the City at large. The levels of obesity in the area are exactly average for Leicester.

Table 10 shows that residents in the Spinney Hills ward have a slightly lower life expectancy than people in Leicester generally.

Table 9: Health Indicators for the Leicester 017, 018, 022

Health Indicators for Highfields (2003-5)

35% 30% 30% 27% 27% 23% 25% 21% 19% 20% 17% 15% 9% 10% 5%

0% Model Based Model Based Model Based Model Based Estimate for Estimate for Binge Estimate for Obesity Estimate for Smoking (Persons) Drinking (Persons) (Persons) Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables (Persons)

Highfields Leicester

Table 10: Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy in Spinney Hills 2003-7

82 81.3

80 79.1

78 77.2

76 74.6 74

70 Male Female

Spinney Hills Leicester

9 Parking and Car Ownership A key issue voiced in the previous Area Plan was the lack of available parking in the area, which was exacerbated by people parking in the area to visit the City Centre. In response to this, a residents parking scheme for South Highfields was introduced in 2008. However, anecdotal evidence from the wider area indicates a continuing problem and the Council are currently considering an extension of the scheme.

Table 11 shows a low rate of car ownership in the area. However, parking problems are chiefly caused by the narrow Victorian streets and limited parking space. 19

Table 11: Cars per household

Number of Cars per Household 2001

60%

50% 50% 44%44% 42% 40% 38%

30% 27% 24%

20% 15%

10% 7% 4% 2% 1% 0% 1% 1% 0% No Car 1 2 3 4 or more

Highfields Leicester England

10 Neighbourhood and Community The estates at St Matthews, St Marks and St Peters were initially chosen as neighbourhood management areas to receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF). In the event, the St Peters project received a lower level of funding and was dropped after an interim evaluation in 2007.

The neighbourhood management scheme in St Matthews and St Marks came to an end in 2009 following the end of NRF funding. A number of improvements to the area had been secured, including increased police presence and lower crime, activities for young people and environmental improvements.

11 Housing Housing statistics are shown in tables 12 and 13. At the 2001 Census the level of owner occupation (including people with mortgages and shared ownership) was considerably lower than national rates. Correspondingly there were high levels of social and private renting.

Table 13 shows percentage of empty property in the area. Across the three areas the percentage is the same as the Leicester average; however 017 and 022 middle output areas show slightly higher rates than the national or city averages.

Table 12: Tenure

Tenure in Highfields 2001

80% 69% 70%

60% 57%

50% 42% 40% 37% 28% 30% 19% 20% 17% 12% 9% 10% 4% 3% 3% 0% Owner-occupied Social rented Private rented Other

Highfields Leicester England

Table 13: Vacant property

Vacant Properties March 2007

25%

20%

15%

10%

4.4% 4.7% 5% 3.8% 3.5% 2.1%

0% Leicester 017 Leicester 018 Leicester 022 Leicester England

2.12 Summary Comparisons between Highfields in 2003 and 2011 are not directly possible because of the changing electoral boundaries and the lack of up-to-date statistics focusing on the area.

However, many of the issues highlighted in the 2003 report remain. Highfields is still an area of high unemployment, low health outcomes and low property ownership. Education in the area has improved and crime levels are now lower than in 2003.

Key indicators are:

 Highfields has a younger than average population with relatively high turnover of residents.  The majority of residents are from BME groups, particularly from an Indian sub-continent background.  Children from schools in Highfields do better than the Leicester average at Key Stage 1 and 2, and have overtaken Leicester averages Key Stage 4 in the last year.  The average income is considerably below the regional average  Over 25% of the population are in receipt of benefits compared to 15% nationally.  Crime has been considerably reduced in the area and it is now rated as ‘Average’ for Leicestershire.  There are lower levels of drinking and smoking in Highfields than in Leicester generally, but diet is worse and obesity is at the City average.  The life expectancy for both men and women is lower in Highfields than the rest of Leicester.