CYNEFIN Place Based Change Programme Neath Port Talbot Place Analysis August 2013 1 2 Content Background 1. Neath Town Centre a. Democracy b. Demographics c. Key Statistics d. Tenure e. WIMD f. Crime & Community Safety g. Partnership Working h. Potential Projects 2. Neath East a. Democracy b. Demographics c. Key Statistics d. Tenure e. WIMD f. Crime & Community Safety g. Partnership Working h. Potential Projects 3. Briton Ferry a. Democracy b. Demographics c. Key Statistics d. Tenure e. WIMD f. Crime & Community Safety g. Partnership Working h. Potential Projects 4. Neath Stakeholders 5. Communities First in the area 6. Neath SWOT Analysis 7. Conclusion 8. Proposed Work 9. Gallery 10. References 3 Background It has been acknowledged that too often poorer communities, whilst facing the greatest challenges, are least able to cope, access services, participate in decision making and influence the environmental challenges they face. They may also be least able to benefit from all that the environment offers. There is a pressing need to tackle poverty and to create greater social justice through local place-based plans to counter environmental inequality. The overall aim of the Cynefin work is to create better empowerment and a better quality of life for communities, bringing the benefits of a good environment to people’s doorsteps and helping them develop more sustainable life styles, encompassing skills development, employment and stronger community cohesion. This will be achieved by better integration and coordination of public, private and Third Sector support in response to particular local needs, empowering communities to take action to improve their sustainability and quality of life The local level is where people feel a sense of place and pride in their community and where there are multiple opportunities for integrating delivery of policies to achieve environmental, social and economic outcomes. Following discussions with the Chief Executive of Neath Port Talbot CBC and a group of stakeholders the ‘PLACE’ report has been compiled in order to explain why Neath North, Town Centre and its outlying wards of Neath East & Briton Ferry have been chosen as the ‘PLACE’ where the work of Cynefin could be focused. This report identifies key statistics, stakeholders, organisations and the community which shape the environment of these Wards. 4 Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of 19,258 in 20111. Neath is located on the River Neath 7 miles (11 km) east northeast of Swansea. CYNEFIN is a 12 month pilot project with a contingency for a further 12 month extension; this PLACE analysis will highlight the potential projects which could deliver sustainable development on the ground to its residents via partnership working. Key Background Statistics: 139,812 people live in Neath Port Talbot (NPT) making a density of 3.2 per persons per hectare compared to 1.5 per person per hectare in Wales as a whole Compared to the Welsh average life expectancy in NPT is lower for both males and females 9.1% of conceptions in NPT are to underage females (aged 13-15) compared to 7.8% across Wales Services is the top sector for employment in Neath Port Talbot 29.4% of the population of NPT have a limiting long term illness compared to 23.3% across Wales Briton Ferry West, Neath East & Neath North are all in the top 10% of deprived LSOA’s in Wales 25% of working age residents in NPT claim employment benefit compared to the Welsh average of 14.7% NPT has the 9th lowest average household income in Wales 22.7% of pupils are entitled to free school meals compared to 19.9% across Wales making NPT the 4th highest in Wales 2 1 2011 Census 2 Key Statistics for Neath Port Talbot – Abstract paper from National Assembly for Wales et-al & Draft Neath Port Talbot SIP 5 1. Neath North - Town Centre Neath North - Democracy Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Population 139,812 (2011 Census) Neath North Population 3,942 (2011 census) Density 23.8% Neath North 3.2% Neath Port Talbot 1.5% Wales Welsh Assembly & UK Parliamentary Constituency Bethan Jenkins AM Peter Hain MP Councillors Alan Lockyer – Labour Mark Protheroe – Labour Demographics Age Structure 2011 Census Age Structure Neath North Neath North % Neath Port Talbot % Aged 0-4 174 4.4% 0.12% 5-14 360 9.1% 0.25% 15-24 406 10.3% 0.29% 25-44 927 23.5% 0.66% 45-64 1071 27.2% 0.76% 65-74 452 11.5% 0.32% 75+ 552 14% 0.39% Female Residents aged 16 - 84 = 1,399 Male Residents aged 16 – 84 = 1,422 Children aged 0 – 15 = 1,121 6 Key Statistics 5th Highest deprived Ward in Neath Port Talbot Neath North is in the top 10% of deprived LSOA’s in Wales 43.1% of residents in Neath North are economically inactive 4.54% of residents are students 40.3% of homes have no access to a vehicle compared to 30.2% across Neath Port Talbot 37.1% of Residents have no qualifications Total households 1897 73.64% (1397) of Households are classified as being in deprivation 84.39% (1601) of Households are single parent families 2821 Residents aged between 16-74 48.28% (1362) residents aged between 16-74 are economically inactive All statistics taken from the 2011 census Fairyland Fairyland is a small enclave in Neath North, a pocket of high deprivation where the average house price is £53,772 compared to the average house price in Wales of £150,808.3 Historically it has always been a difficult community to engage with but has grown in confidence with support from various agencies including Communities First, Keep Wales Tidy, Playworks and Groundwork. NPT Homes own 98 properties in Fairyland with the remainder being privately owned. The lack of skills, high benefit claimants and unemployment in the area has meant a slow decline in the aesthetic appearance on the estate and community cohesion amongst its residents. During a consultation in 2011 its residents expressed the need for a cleaner, healthier and safer environment to instil community pride in the area. The key statistics above are for the whole of Neath North which includes Fairyland into its demography. 3 Zoopla.co.uk & http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/regions/html/region4.stm 7 NPT Homes have limited data for the area after sampling 18 out of their 98 households: 33% (6) tenants identified themselves as ‘Single’ and having a son or daughter living with them 89% (16) tenants answered ‘yes’ to the following question in relation to benefits “Do you or anyone living with you receive any benefits or tax credits?” 33% (6) tenants identified themselves as “unemployed” 22% (4) tenants stated that they would be interested in future “Training or employment” opportunities 78% (14) tenants stated that they would not Tenure Neath North Neath North Total Households 1,897 Tenure Homes Owned Outright 34.5% Homes Owned Via Mortgages 23.6% Shared Ownership 0.3% NPT Homes 13.7% Other Social Landlords 12.5% Private Rented - Landlord or Letting Agency 11.4% Private Rented Other 1.7% Living Rent Free 2.3% 8 Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) WIMD 2011 is a measure of deprivation for small areas in Wales. It ranks Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA’s) across eight key demains: Income Housing Employment Access to Services Health Community Safety Education Environment Although WIMD does not provide deprivation ranks for local authorities as a whole it is possible to look at the ranking of LSOA’s within a local authority. Neath Port Talbot has 91 LSOA’s: 17 LSOA’s (19%) fall within the 10% most deprived LSOA’s in Wales The majority (73%) of LSOA’s in NPT are more deprived than the Welsh average WIMD Income Employ Health Education Housing Environment Access Com ment to Safety Services Neath 1465 1225 941 1224 1448 1606 594 1091 354 North 1 Neath 92 139 13 148 460 420 447 1674 1280 North 2 Neath 271 173 295 268 357 905 1043 1888 98 North 3 The urban area of Neath North 2 is the 5th most deprived area in Neath Port Talbot and encompasses the ward of Fairyland; comprising 37.6% of social or private rented housing with the predominant landlord being NPT Homes. The urban area of Neath North 3 is the 19th most deprived area in Neath Port Talbot and mainly encompasses the Town Centre area; comprising predominantly of retail and commercial businesses, hotels, pubs and cafes. Crime & Community Safety 9 http://www.ukcrimestats.com/Neighbourhood/South_Wales_Police/Neath-North Chief Superintendent Julian Williams for the Western Division of South Wales Police covers Neath & Port Talbot. Inspector Huw Griffiths covers the Neath area PCSO Andrew Neal covers the Neath North area Partnership Working: Partners I have consulted with in Neath North include: Neath Communities First Cluster Forward For Fairyland Neath Town Council Neath Town Centre Events Committee Neath Business Consortium Audience Participation Manager, Victoria Gardens Neath Chamber of Commerce NPT Homes Neath Town Centre Manager Groundwork Playworks Fairyland Allotment Society NPT Credit Union Groundwork Neath Special Events Team Gnoll Park NPT Renewal Area Keep Wales Tidy Proposed Works Having carried out a period of consultation with the relevant partners, residents and attended PACT meetings in the area, there is general consensus that the community in and around Neath Town Centre would benefit from stronger community cohesion. The four proposed projects all include elements of bringing the community together and promoting partnership working. Due to the complex demography of Fairyland it will be the primary beneficiary of the initial CYNEFIN projects.