Community Data Profile for Gravesham GRAVESHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL Community Data Profile for Gravesham CONTENTS Page Number Introduction 2-3 1. Location Context 4 2. People and Place 5-11 Conclusion / Key Themes 3. Environment 12-20 Conclusion / Key Themes 4. Transport 21-26 Conclusion / Key Themes 5. Community Involvement & Cohesion 27-31 Conclusion / Key Themes 6. Community Safety 32-43 Conclusion / Key Themes 7. Education and Lifelong Learning 44-51 Conclusion / Key Themes 8. Health and Social Well-being 52-61 Conclusion / Key Themes 9. Economic Well-being 62-74 Conclusion / Key Themes 10. Housing 75-82 Conclusion / Key Themes 11. Culture and Leisure 83-89 Appendices 90-131 Community Data Profile for Gravesham 1 Community Data Profile for Gravesham Introduction This report aims to provide a data profile of the borough of Gravesham and its community. The primary objective is to provide a rounded picture of Gravesham and the report should be used as a tool to provide a context and overview of the borough. The report outlines various conclusions that have been reached based on the research and analysis of key data profiling information that has been collected from a wide range of stakeholders including central and local government, a number of partner organisations and a series of independent bodies. What is a Data Profile and how can it be used? The Audit Commission states that; “an area profile brings together a number of components to help you map the quality of life and services in your local area.” “An area profile helps you to focus on people and place, and identify priorities that cut across service boundaries. Area profiles are useful to; • help local public service providers to identify where improvement is most needed locally; • make publicly available a summary of data and information on the quality of life and local services; and • aid government and regulators to concentrate strategically on those areas that most need support.”1 Fig. 1 – What makes up an area profile 1 http://www.areaprofiles.audit- commission.gov.uk/(0ey1dr3z420slher0ziletzs)/StaticPage.aspx?info=25&menu=57 Community Data Profile for Gravesham 2 As can be seen from Fig. 1, an area profile is formulated through a number of components; a ‘synthesis of findings’. These include, inspectorate judgments, voluntary sector contributions and as in the case of this report, a data profile. This report has therefore been based on the Audit Commissions’ methodology of a data profile2 and all research has been collated and analysed against the ten quality of life themes. Further details of what is covered within the chosen ten themes can be found at Appendix 1 – Defining Quality of Life. One of the key statistical tools used within this report is the 2008 Place Survey. This survey provides information on people's perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. The survey collects information on 18 national indicators used to measure local government performance. Within Gravesham, over 1200 people took part in the survey and these results have been used to enhance the report findings throughout. The findings from this report will allow Gravesham Borough Council the opportunity to better understand the strategic priorities that are prevalent within the local community and ultimately to establish an evidence base to tailor our corporate and business plans to deliver outcomes to tackle these community issues. Data profiling as a method is a continuous process as the council seeks to identify any growing trends within the various sectors of the community and therefore the information outlined in this report should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the latest and most accurate data is captured for analysis. 2 http://www.areaprofiles.audit- commission.gov.uk/(c3320g45aid2hp55qwvqw3nb)/StaticSequencePage.aspx?info=30&men u=59 Community Data Profile for Gravesham 3 1. Gravesham – Location Context 1.1 Location and area The borough of Gravesham is located on the south bank of the River Thames in the north of Kent approximately 32km (20 miles) east of London. Covering an area of 2 99 km and stretching from the River Thames in the north to the crest of the North Downs in the south, Gravesham’s nearest neighbours are the boroughs of Dartford to the west, Medway to the east and Sevenoaks and Tonbridge and Malling to the south. 1.2 Physical Characteristics Gravesham borough has a striking urban-rural split, primarily divided by the A2 road. The land to the north of the A2 is urban based and is included within the Kent Thameside regeneration project outlined in paragraph 1.3. The rural area to the south of the A2 and to the east of Gravesend, 78% of the whole borough, is virtually all Green Belt land. Much of this land is of significant landscape and biodiversity value with the nationally important landscape of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty located in the south and east of the Borough and the internationally important biodiversity area of the North Kent Marshes located in the north east of the Borough. Gravesham as a place to live consists of Gravesend (including Milton, Denton and Chalk) and Northfleet, the towns at the heart of the borough and the rural and semi rural villages of Cobham, Higham, Istead Rise, Luddesdown, Meopham (including Harvel and Culverstone), Shorne and Vigo. 1.3 Kent Thameside Regeneration Kent Thameside is the commercial and residential development powerhouse of the government backed Thames Gateway region. It has been identified as a priority area for long-term sustainable economic, social and environmental regeneration. The project focus lies between Dartford’s boundary with Greater London in the west to the North Kent Marshes to the east of Gravesend. Within Gravesham specifically, this will impact on the land to the north of the A2, recognised as being a major growth area with the ability to accommodate significant levels of housing and employment development. This ambitious cross-boundary programme is backed by substantial financial support from central and local government agencies. The project aspires to deliver 30,000 new homes and 50,000 new jobs (36,000 by 2026 and specifically, up to 10,000 in Gravesham), 12,000 homes of which have already been delivered. The effects of the economic downturn may well impact on the scale/time frame of the project outputs but the intention to deliver new town centres, new cohesive communities and neighbourhoods remains. Given its importance and scope towards Gravesham’s development, the Kent Thameside project is referred to in parts throughout this report. Community Data Profile for Gravesham 4 2. People and Place 2.1 Population 2.1.1. Total Population The total population of the borough at the time of the last Census of Population (2001) was 95,717. However, estimates in 2008 suggest the population has continued to increase and now totals 98,000.34 This represents an estimated increase of 2.39% since 2001 which, over the same period, is far below the average for Kent County Council (KCC) districts (5.78%) and also below the average for England (4.04%) and places Gravesham at 11th out of 12 in total population sizes across KCC districts. Alongside immigration which is discussed further at paragraph 2.2.1, the increase in Gravesham’s population, albeit below local and national averages, can be explained by the change in the live birth and death rates for Gravesham. Between 2003-07, Gravesham recorded a year on year average increase in population (birth vs. death rate) of 319 people.5 Further analysis of the birth and death rates is provided at paragraph 8.2.3. In regards to changes in population across the various age ranges, Fig. 2 below highlights the changes between the 1991 census and the latest population estimates of 2008. Set out in this format, Fig. 2 reveals some interesting trends. As a general trend Gravesham, although having a younger population than the KCC average, is an ageing population. Based on Fig. 2, between 1991 and 2008 every age group above and including the 35 – 44 category has increased in size. None of the age groups below 35 have increased and, in fact, there are evident decreases. To put this into a more specific context, the sharpest percentage increase has been in the numbers of people aged 85+. This group has increased to total 1900 over the period in question, a jump of 72.7%. On a wider and more representative scale, the number of people aged 60+ in the borough has increased by 4000 during the same period, a rise of 22.35%. Fig. 2 – Population changes between 1991 and 20086 3 Office for National Statistics (ONS). 4 Historically it has been found, by way of census, that these estimates are actually underestimated. 5 Births and Deaths in Kent [Kent County Council 2007] 6 A District Profile for Gravesham Borough [Kent County Council - 2009] Community Data Profile for Gravesham 5 In regards to gender statistics, Gravesham follows traditional patterns with every age group over the age of 60 having more females than males. Indeed the 85+ bracket has over twice as many females than males. The only other notable statistic is in the school attending age group – ‘upto 15 years old’. Within this group there are over 5% more males (9,300) than females (8,800). 2.1.2 Predicted Population Change to 2026 KCC forecasts suggest Gravesham is set for a sharp rise in population and by 2026 is expected to total 112,500. This prediction, outlined in the South East Plan Strategy-based Forecasts 2008, represents an increase of 15.5% from the estimated 2006 population figure on which the report is based.