DRAFT

Bringing People Together

A strategy for community cohesion and inclusion in High Peak and Moorlands

Introduction Welcome to our draft cohesion and inclusion strategy. This sets out our approach to community cohesion and social inclusion based on our shared values and the needs of our communities. Since early 2008 High Peak Borough Council and District Council have developed an alliance that has led to shared services resulting in significant cost-savings and improvements in the quality of Council services.

We have developed our joint strategy by building on our separate social inclusion strategies and recognising the links between community cohesion and social inclusion. Our strategy is also closely linked to those of our partners through the Derbyshire and Staffordshire countywide cohesion strategies.

Effective community cohesion leads to stable and well integrated communities with residents who feel that people from different backgrounds get on well together.

Our strategy is based on the desire to build safer and stronger neighbourhoods and is linked to our shared vision for the alliance to deliver key services that will improve the quality of people’s lives in the two authorities and deliver greater value for money.

This strategy shows how we will go about achieving community cohesion and social inclusion for the benefit of all our residents. Who we are The High Peak is situated within the Peak District at the north western tip of Derbyshire and the East Midlands Region. Its Dark Peak and White Peak landscapes and its distinctive townscapes, together with its close proximity to Manchester and Sheffield, make it a highly popular visitor destination and sought after area in which to live. Kinder Scout, at the centre of the High Peak, is the highest point in the Peak District. In area, High Peak is the second largest district in Derbyshire. Whilst two-thirds of the Borough lies in the Peak District National Park, most (93 per cent) of its population lives outside the Park, with the major population centres being around Glossop to the north, and Buxton to the south.

For Government purposes, the High Peak lies within the East Midlands, whilst having links with Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Regions. There are 93,000 residents living in the borough.

The south western border of the borough is shared with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Staffordshire Moorlands is situated at the northern most tip of the West Midlands region and shares its borders with eight local authorities in Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, residing in the county of Staffordshire. The district covers around 222 square miles, a third of which lies within the Peak District National Park and boasts a varied landscape ranging from high Moorlands to wooded valleys. This, together with beauty spots such as the Roaches and Rudyard Lake, embody the picture of this beautiful district. There

are 96,000 residents living in the district, with just over half of these living in the three market towns of , Cheadle and Leek, with the remainder living in various rural villages.

What is Community Cohesion? Community cohesion is about working towards a society in which: • There is a Common Vision and sense of belonging by all communities • The diversity of peoples backgrounds is appreciated and valued • Similar life opportunities are available to all • Strong and positive relationships exist and are developed in the workplace, schools and wider community

In order for community cohesion to be effective we need to ensure that we combat social exclusion as an inclusive community is essential for community cohesion. Social exclusion happens when people or places suffer from a series of problems such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, ill health and family breakdown. When such problems combine they can create a vicious cycle.

Social exclusion can happen as a result of problems that face one person in their life. But it can also start from birth. Being born in poverty or to parents with low skills has a major influence on future life chances.

Our strategy is aimed at creating cohesive communities. These communities will have the following characteristics: • There is a shared vision for the future and a sense of belonging • Young and older people get on well together and people respect each other • People from different backgrounds, particularly those who are under represented have a voice and access to the same life opportunities, employment and services • The gap between ‘the haves’ and ‘the have nots’ is reduced by tackling inequalities that exist • People from new communities are welcomed and are able to settle and integrate • People feel they are part of their community rather than excluded.

These characteristics are closely aligned with those of the Derbyshire Community Cohesion Strategy. In Staffordshire a community cohesion strategy has yet to be developed but the county will work together with local communities, third sector organisations and statutory partners to build stronger neighbourhoods. How are we doing? To answer this we have looked at how our residents have responded to three questions asked as part of a national survey in 2008: The first question looked at

3 ‘The extent to which people believe that their area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together. (National Indicator 1). This revealed that: • 80% of High Peak residents and 79% of Staffordshire Moorlands residents agree their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together. This compares with the best in Derbyshire of 86%, (worst of 68%), in Staffordshire of 84%, (worst of 61%) and best in of 91% -(City of London). The second question asked to what extent residents believed that they could influence decisions in their local area (National Indicator 4) This revealed that: • 31% of High Peak Borough residents and 25% of Staffordshire Moorlands residents agree that they can influence decisions in their local area. This compares with the best in Derbyshire of 34% (worst 23%), in Staffordshire of 28% (worst 21%) and best in England 45%- (Newham London BC). The third question asked how happy residents were with their area as a place to live (National Indicator 5) This revealed that:

• 85% of High Peak residents and 79% of Staffordshire Moorlands residents are happy with their area as a place to live. This compares with the best in Derbyshire of 89% (worst of 72%), in Staffordshire of 89% (worst of 70%) and best in England of 94%-(Ribble Valley).

Both councils are performing well but there is still, room for improvement as we strive to become among the best in the country. Which factors influence cohesion? In Derbyshire an exercise was undertaken to identify factors that contribute to, or detract from a cohesive community. These factors are summarised below: • Higher educational • Varying crime levels More attainment • Varying levels of people cohesive • Higher levels of the who are satisfied with their population that are of local area as a place to live working age (16-59/65) • Higher proportions of • Lower levels of people feeling that they are deprivation involved in decision making • Lower unemployment • Lower levels of young • Higher incomes people not in education, • Higher black and minority employment and training ethnic populations (NEET)

4 • Lower levels of • Lower proportions of educational attainment people feeling they are • Higher levels of involved in influencing deprivation decision making • Higher unemployment • Higher levels of young levels people not in education, • Lower income levels employment or training • Higher crime levels (NEET) • Lower proportions of people who feel satisfied with their local area as a Less place to live cohesive

Further research has been carried out for the Commision for Cohesion has identified a relationship between four sets of characteristics of individuals, communities and cohesion. More detail can be found in the Cohesion Delivery Framework at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/cohesiondeliver y2010overview

Some communities are more cohesive than others The Place Survey carried out in 2009 showed that some communities are more cohesive than others.

The three questions asked in the survey that are relevant for assessing community cohesion where:

• The extent to which you agree that your local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together (National Indicator 1)

• Whether you agree that you can influence decisions in your local area (National Indicator 4)

• The extent to which residents were satisfied with their local area (National Indicator 5)

The answers to these questions have been mapped by ward for both councils and the results are shown on the following maps. These reveal a view of cohesion across both councils and wards where there are lower levels of satisfaction/ cohesion than the county or national average. We recognise that at ward level the data is less reliable, but in this case, can be used as an indicator to explore the issues in more detail. The wards in which there are two or more social cohesion issues taking account of the results of the Place Survey or they are classified in the top quartile of deprived areas in England (according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation), are shown below for each council in alphabetical

5 order. The results for these wards will be examined in greater detail to assess their accuracy and devise appropriate policy responses where necessary.

High Peak Wards

• Burbage

• Chapel East

• Gamesley

• Simmondley

• Stone Bench

Staffordshire Moorlands wards

• Alton

• Biddulph East

• Biddulph North

• Caverswall

• Cheadle North East

• Forsbrook

• Leek North

• Leek South

6 The percentage of people who agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together (NI1)

See key at page 17 for ward names linked to numbers

7 The percentage of people who agree that they can influence decisions in their local area ( NI 4)

See key at page 17 for ward names linked to numbers

8

The percentage of people who are satisfied with their local area as a place to live (NI 5)

See key at page 17 for ward names linked to numbers

9 Some further research has been carried out in Derbyshire to look at the way in which the question asked in relation to people from different backgrounds getting on well together, has been interpreted by respondents. This research was commissioned due to the apparent low levels of community cohesion in some areas of Derbyshire, including areas where this would not necessarily be expected. The aim of this research study was to explore the things that help and harm community cohesion. To achieve this eight discussion groups were undertaken with local residents in these areas during June 2009. One of these areas was in High Peak (Gamesley) where results from the BVPI (Best Value Performance Indicator) Survey, which was carried out prior to the Place survey suggested that there was low cohesion.

The research provided an insight into the range of different interpretations that people could an the question. It also highlighted issues that should be considered when assessing the level of cohesion in an area. There were a number of conclusions resulting from the research that we wish to explore further as we look at results of the Place Survey question and also the strategy for improving cohesion. These were:

• Further work with residents on the understanding of people from different backgrounds getting on well together needs to be done to gain a clearer understanding of cohesion. We will run two focus goups ( one in High Peak and one in Staffordshire Moorlands) to explore this.

• Efforts should be made to tackle worklessness (including young residents who are not in employment education or training and those receiving disability benefit, in areas where this creates the most issues.

• Getting residents more involved in leading community events and local decision making would address a lack of community focus and specific issues facing an area

• Action needs to be taken to tackle judgements based on incorrect perceptions .This means improving understanding between different generations or communities.

Other data shows that many of the factors that lead to less cohesive communities are concentrated in certain areas. The maps of deprivation, levels of unemployment, and benefit take-up show that certain areas are highlighted each time.

The National Indices of multiple deprivation measure a range of factors that can contribute to social exclusion and cohesion. Some of these have been recognized as factors contributing to less cohesive communities. These factors are shown below and all contribute to the overall index classification

• Income

• Employment

• Health Deprivation and Disability

• Education, Skills and Training

• Barriers to Housing and Services 10 • Crime

• Living Environment

These indices have been mapped by ward across both councils to show the more vulnerable wards. Shown Red

The following maps shows these results.

11

12

13 What are we doing? Both councils have successfully implemented a range of projects, initiatives and activities that have contributed to cohesion within our communities over recent years. Staffordshire Moorlands has ‘Beacon’ awards for Transformation of services-Citizen Engagement and Empowerment, Digital Incluusion and High Peak has a ‘Beacon’ award Sustainable Energy. High Peak Is also one of 18 authorities that form a national Network of Empowering Authorities. We have been externally assessed through the IdeA Peer Challenge process as ‘Achieving’ authorities under the Equality Framework for Local Government and are seeking to become ‘Excellent’

Some examples of current activities are shown below:

• Cultural Services provides a range of activities and opportunities for residents of different age groups to participate in sport and recreation that increase wellbeing and satisfaction levels including an Equality Impact Assessment of the service to address any issues of differential service delivery. The service also provides good quality parks and open spaces for residents to relax and enjoy community based activities. We are Quest accredited as Excellent. Quest is the UK quality scheme for sport and leisure. Our Parks teams maintain a wide range of open spaces, both formal and informal for residents and visitors to enjoy. Many parks are supported by Friends groups who add value to the work carried out by the council and encourage community involvement. Other environmental groups are encouraged for example, Glossopdale Rangers carry out improvement and ‘cleanup’ projects in response to suggestions from residents.

• Customer Services have redesigned their services to be more accessible and to provide a ‘one stop shop’ service so that residents can have more seamless access to all their public service needs. Also provide online access to services, adapted for disabilities and languages. We are working towards Customer Service Excellence across the whole alliance.

• Regulatory Services (Environmental Health) deals with a range of enforcement issues that can often lead to local tensions between neighbours and within the wider community such as noise pollution and environmental pollution, food safety, animal welfare, dog and pest control, infectious diseases and licensing for pubs and clubs.

• Visitor Services provide the framework for an enjoyable visitor experience to the High Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands including the management of a major community and visitor facility at Pavilion Gardens Buxton. Our public venues provide many opportunities for people to meet together and socialise, for example, Pavilion Gardens in Buxton offers a wide range of visitor attractions and is a base for Buxton Festival and Festival Fringe.

• Benefits Teams seek to maximise the income of our most vulnerable residents through the assessment and prompt payments of benefits to help reduce inequalities.

14 • Regeneration and Economic Development Services have been active in creating employment opportunities and regenerating our market towns and disadvantaged communities with a range of capital programmes and grant funded initiatives including Single Regeneration Budget programmes in Glossopdale, Gamesley and Buxton and the Peak District in High Peak and the Rural Regeneration Scheme in North East Staffordshire. There are Market Town regeneration schemes in Cheadle, Biddulph and Leek. Guidance and approval of planning projects also provides an important element in setting the balance of the built environment to encourage cohesion.

• Planning Services take the lead in developing the Local Development Framework that sets out how the physical characteristics of the areas will be developed for the benefit of all residents.

• Housing Services provide the strategic framework for housing investment to deliver affordable housing for those in housing need. We particularly target the provision of affordable housing to address housing inequality and target disadvantaged neighbourhoods. We work closely with housing provided partners to provide an effective homelessness service, in High Peak with High Peak Community Housing, an Arms length management organisation and in Staffordshire Moorlands with Harvest Housing and Moorlands Housing, a stock transfer housing association.

• Communities service provides support for the creation of informed, involved and active communities including the management of community grants and support for the voluntary sector. In High Peak we will continue to promote the Going Local fund to encourage community involvement in local issues. In Staffordshire Moorlands there is also a local grants initiative. The service also includes Community Safety Partnership officers who play an important part in Community Safety Teams, addressing issues of antisocial behaviour, hate incidents and crime. Recent projects include the provision of a new 11 unit womens refuge in Staffordshire Moorlands including some sekf contained units, childrens paly facilities and communal lounge. Both Community safety Teams support a range of diversionary projects to combat antisocial behaviour.

• Policy – Includes the management of citizens panel, focus groups, community empowerment and local democracy week.

All these services will continue to provide a platform for addressing issues of community cohesion and social inclusion.

Both Councils have a role in community leadership with elected councillors in all wards having a responsibility for representing and reflecting the views of their communities

15

Where do we want to be? The objectives of the social cohesion and inclusion strategy are:

Develop strong and effective leadership of community cohesion to ensure people’s voices are heard and build local capacity

Develop and promote a shared understanding of cohesion in High

Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands

Develop a sense of pride and belonging and celebrate what is good about High Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands

Address and promote community cohesion through efficient service delivery.

Visibly work to tackle inequalities that exist in the High Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands

Develop and implement an action plan to combat violent extremism

The Action Plan that follows shows the details of the actions that we will be taking over the next 3 years to achieve these objectives.

16

The numerical code for the wards in both councils is shown below

High Peak Borough Council Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

1 Barms Ward 36 Alton Ward 2 Blackbrook Ward 39 Bagnall and Stanley 3 Chapel East Ward 55 Biddulph East Ward 4 Chapel West Ward 52 Biddulph Moor Ward 5 Corbar Ward 42 Biddulph North Ward 6 Dinting Ward 50 Biddulph South Ward 7 Gamesley ward 41 Biddulph West Ward 8 Hadfield North Ward 40 Brown Edge and Endon 9 Hayfield Ward 32 Caverswall Ward 10 Hope Valley Ward 49 Cellarhead Ward 11 New Mills East Ward 46 Cheadle North East 12 New Mills West Ward 45 Cheadle South East 13 Old Glossop Ward 44 Cheadle West Ward 14 Padfield Ward 33 Checkley Ward 15 Sett Ward 35 Cheddleton Ward 16 Simmondley Ward 34 Churnet Ward 17 Stone Bench Ward 29 Dane Ward 18 Temple Ward 43 Forsbrook Ward 19 Tintwistle Ward 30 Hamps Valley Ward 20 Whaley Bridge Ward 31 Horton Ward 21 St Johns Ward 37 Ipstones Ward 22 Hadfield South Ward 54 Leek East Ward 23 Limestone Peak Ward 53 Leek North Ward 24 Buxton Central Ward 47 Leek South Ward 25 Howard Town Ward 51 Leek West Ward 26 Whitfield Ward 38 Manifold Ward 27 Burbage Ward 48 Werrington Ward 28 Cote Heath Ward

17 Community Cohesion and Social Inclusion Action plan Objective Actions Timescale Responsibility Outcome Develop strong and effective leadership of Implement a range of area- Ongoing. Review Head of Improved NI 1 community cohesion to ensure people’s based arrangements through annually Communities performance voices are heard locality working to ensure that local councillors and lead service heads are aware of community based cohesion issues and implement appropriate actions Publish widely the agreed Joint Consultation on Head of Benefits Raised public Community Cohesion Strategy strategy in April 2010 and Social awareness of Launch Final Strategy Inclusion councils leadership in July 2010 role in cohesion Continue to develop our Head of Annual report of the understanding of local Communities profile of communities and our ability to communities in High respond to their diverse needs Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands Develop and promote a shared understanding Publish the joint Community July 2010 Head of Benefits Raised public of cohesion in High Peak and Staffordshire Cohesion and Social Inclusion and Social awareness of Moorlands Strategy Inclusion councils leadership role in cohesion Provide learning and ongoing Head of development opportunities for Organisational Councillors and Staff on Development Community Cohesion Carry our more research on ongoing Head of Greater the factors that affect Organisational understanding of the community cohesion Development local issues around cohesion

Objective Actions Timescale Responsibility Outcome Develop a sense of pride and belonging and Work in partnership with other Head of celebrate what is good about High Peak and public bodies and the voluntary Communities Staffordshire Moorlands sector to sponsor and promote a range of community based events (including HPCH and Harvest Housing Group Housing events)

Promote the Derbyshire April 2010 onwards Head of Bringing People Together Communities Fund Continue to promote the April 2010 onwards Head of community based grants Communities programmes and local grants in SMDC and HPBC and Going Local funding and review the criteria to take account of community cohesion. Address and promote community cohesion We will identify any areas Priorities for Impact Heads of Service Greater equality in through efficient service delivery where our services are Assessments service delivery delivered differently to determined on an leading to greater residents in a way that could annual basis and satisfaction with lead to less cohesion and programmed into services address these, where service plans appropriate. Visibly work to tackle inequalities that exist in the Implement a range of projects Heads of Service High Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands to tackle inequalities: • Total Place in Glossopdale and Biddulph East • Future Jobs Fund • Health projects including;

19 Objective Actions Timescale Responsibility Outcome o Walk to water o Healthy walks o Shaping Up programme

• Refresh the regeneration strategy to reduce the number of wards that suffer deprivation

Develop and implement an action plan to Work with Community Safety, Head of prevent the threat of violent extremism CDRP and Prevent and Communities cohesion strategies to address issues identified around violent extremism STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS June 2010 Dedicated strategy • Develop an engagement developed procedure to critical incidents across the moorlands September 2010 Increased • Increased awareness of awareness of CRT Community Resilience and Prevent Team and Prevent activities/ training amoung partners • Role out Prevent training Delivery of training for identified key partners within public and public and private sector.

20 Objective Actions Timescale Responsibility Outcome

HIGH PEAK • Implement the Ongoing Head of Derbyshire Communities Prevent Action Plan

• Raise awareness amongst Ongoing More informed staff staff and service users able to report any about the Prevent agenda concerns and their role in identifying risk in local communities

• Work with communities to Ongoing Closer links and capture local knowledge working relationships and challenge and expose with community the ideology that sanctions groups and encourages indiscriminate violence

21 Measuring progress

The Action Plan included in this strategy provides details of the actions and progress that we expect to make. The Key Targets are linked to National Indicators NI1, 4 and 5

Indicator Place Survey Target 20010/11 Target result 2009 20012/13

HPBC SMDC HPBC SMDC HPBC SMDC

NI 1 The extent to which you agree 80% 79% 82% 81 84% 83 that your local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together

NI 4 Whether you agree that you 32% 28% 34% 28% 36% 33% can influence decisions in your local area

NI 5 The extent to which residents 31% 25% 31% 25% 33% 30% were satisfied with their local area

The number of super output 3 6 2 5 areas (SOA’s) within the top quartile of deprived (SOA’s) in existing existing accordance with the Index of Multiple deprivation

Partnership Working

Local Strategic Partnerships Staffordshire Moorlands District Council contributes to Moorlands Together LSP and High Peak Borough Council contributes to Derbyshire Dales and High Peak LSP. The sustainable community strategies produced by both LSP’s help to achieve community cohesion. In the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Sustainable Community Strategy the vision of the partnership is identified as follows: The Peak District will be a distinctive, high quality rural environment with...... people of all ages who are healthy and safe; ... high-wage, high-skill jobs; ... affordable, decent homes for local people; ... towns and villages that offer a high quality of life.

In the Staffordshire Moorlands Sustainable Community Strategy the vision of the partnership is as follows:

By 2020 Staffordshire Moorlands will be recognised as a vital part of a regenerated North Staffordshire sub-region. All our communities will enjoy an excellent quality of life, including access to affordable housing and excellent public services. Our vibrant market towns will be home to a range of successful retail, visitor and knowledge based businesses. We will have a highly skilled and entrepreneurial workforce. Our natural environment will be protected and our carbon emissions reduced.

We are committed to active involvement in our Local Strategic partnerships and in our Joint Equality and Diversity Scheme Action Plan we have agreed to present an annual report to the partnerships on the profile of our communities. This will assist the partnerships in understanding the needs of the different communities and help inform their vision and objectives.

23