THE ECONOMY AND REGENERATION

Across the South East region since 1997 the number of children in relative poverty after housing costs have been taken into account has fallen by 80,000. The number of pensioners helped out of relative poverty after taking housing costs into account is 70,000.

“Sussex has outperformed the national economy every year since 1992…it’s true we have Gordon Brown to thank for much of this growth but it’s also down to businesses becoming more efficient.” Mark Froud Chief Executive of Sussex Enterprise, “State of the Nation” event, Hotel Metropole, Brighton 10th January 2007).

The Labour Government’s Local Authority Business Growth Scheme has awarded £636,000 to Brighton and Hove to help build partnerships with local business and promote long term economic sustainability.

The Brighton and Hove Arts Commission’s “Making a Difference” project, funded by £750,000 from the Government’s Urban Cultural Programme reports that it has involved 13,000 local residents, brought environmental improvements and new opportunities for employment and training, boosting artists’ earnings by £500,000 (Feb 07)

Plans have been unveiled for a £10m revamp of the Open Market as part of the work being carried out by the City Council and the market traders with funding from the Brighton and Hove and Adur Area Investment Framework planning to regenerate London Road. The scheme was one of those studied by Barry Quirk, Chief Executive of Lewisham Council, for his report on community management and ownership of assets commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Businesses in the Lanes and North Laine have used a procedure under the 2003 Local Government Act to vote to set up a Business Improvement District – a 5-year programme to boost businesses in that part of Brighton. All businesses in the BID will pay a levy administered by a Board to implement an agreed programme of activity. (Nationally, David Lepper MP chaired the steering committee for the first 20 pilot BIDs.)

The Business Improvement District is now employing its own security staff using headset video cameras to combat illegal trading, begging, drug abuse and deal with general public safety issues. This is in conjunction with the award winning Brighton Business Forum Crime Reduction Partnership. Andrew Fisher, BID Board Chair said, “ BIDS in other cities have had a real impact on trading… and reducing anti-social behaviour. This is exactly the outcome we hope to achieve in the Brighton BID area. Our patrol officers are ensuring a safer, cleaner, trading district and this can only be a good thing for businesses and visitors alike.” (Feb 07)

Brighton and Hove receives further Neighbourhood Renewal Funding for 2006/7 –2007/8 of nearly £4m in total with funding from the Neighbourhood element of the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund. This is targeted at areas with high levels of deprivation. Tarner is one area which will benefit. (Autumn 2005)

The Lottery - and Awards For All

Recent local grants include funding for –

• A peer-mentoring project by Brighton Body Positive which works with people with HIV/AIDS
• the Artreach Project, a performing arts group for young people
• Queen’s Park Community Association
• The Grace Eyre Foundation working with people with learning disabilities
• Brighton Unemployed Centre Families project
• Downs junior School gymnastics club
• the British Epilepsy Association’s Brighton and Hove Branch.

HOUSING

Brighton and Hove City Council’s allocation by the government of funding for private sector housing renewal is £3,227,800 for 2007/08.

Linked to the government’s setting of Decent Homes targets for improving the homes of vulnerable private sector households, Brighton and Hove City Council with a not-for-profit organisation, South Coast Money Line, has launched a new Home Improvement Loan Scheme for older residents and people on low incomes. You can find out more from 293164 or by emailing psh@brighton-hove.gov.uk (July 2006)

Brighton Housing Trust received a Big Lottery Fund grant of £91,788 over 3 years for a Private Tenant Participation Worker who will match homeless people or those threatened with homelessness and who are not the Council’s responsibility with private landlords.

Brighton and Hove City Council has exceeded government targets 3 years running by bringing 400 empty properties back into use.

HEALTH

The Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust’s funding allocation for 2007/08 is £382 m. An increase of £32m or 9.2 % on the previous year.

In a report from the Audit Commission and the Health care Commission “Better Safe Than Sorry: Preventing Unintentional Injury to Children” Brighton and Hove’s Child Safety Strategy was singled out as a good example for the rest of the country for success in work to prevent injuries to children. The Children’s Injury Co-ordinating Group is chaired by the Primary Care Trust and brings together representatives of health and council services.

Brighton General Hospital’s dermatology team were joint second in the “Hospital Doctor” magazine awards for clinical excellence and innovation in hospital medicine. The reorganised Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Unit was officially opened in April 2004 by former Labour Prime Minister Jim Callaghan. £340,000 of the funding for it came from the Department of Health. (Jan 07)

MIND in Brighton and Hove received £194,739 grant funding from the Big Lottery Fund over 3 years from 2005-06 to fund a specialist mental health advice and information project to encourage service user involvement and mental health awareness training to local agencies and employers. *

EDUCATION

Dorothy Stringer High School has once again been designated as a Sports School under the government’s Specialist Schools programme. Specialist Schools have a commitment to collaborate and share best practice with other schools and the wider community. (May 2007)

The government has been targeting school truancy and Brighton and Hove is one of 4 areas where school attendance rates improved last year. Significant improvement was made by St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School. (Feb 07)

Patcham Infants School was one of the schools which achieved outstanding status in this year’s Ofsted Report. (Nov 2006)

Brighton and Hove receive just over £21,000 from the government Publicising Positive Activities Grant for 2007-2008 to promote up-to-date information locally about activities for young people.

The new Children and Young People’s Trust was launched on 1st October 2006. It brings together the former Children, Families and Schools Department of the City Council with South Downs NHS Health Trusts Children and Families Services and will work in partnership with other health and community and voluntary services.

City College is part of a consortium of 7 Sussex colleges and the Sussex Council of Training Providers Ltd to deliver the government’s Train To Gain programme locally with funding of £3.2 million from the Learning and Skills Council. Train To Gain aims to support employees to gain essential skills in the workplace. (October 2006).

In the 2006 Year Six National Curriculum Tests in Brighton and Hove Schools showed the following increases in the percentage of students attaining Level 4 (the standard expected for their age group.)

• English + 4%
• Maths + 5%
• Science +3%

There was also an 8% increase in the percentage of students reaching Level 5 in English showing greater ability than expected for the age group.

Ten Schools which have been part of the Intensifying Support programme over the last 2 years have seen significant improvement over that period with results at Level 4 up by 13% in English, 9% in Maths and 15% in Science over the 2 year period. The biggest improvements have been at Hertford Juniors, St. Joseph’s RC Primary, Carlton Hill Primary and Moulsecoomb primary.

Across the city schools have already met their 2008 targets for the number of schools at which at least 60% of children gain Level 4. (Oct 06)

* Sorted4school is a new 2-year project to improve school attendance and reduce unauthorised absence in the City. Funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government it is being piloted in the Patcham area with Patcham High, Carden Primary, Patcham Juniors, Hove YMCA, Daybreak Family Conferences and AMAZE with 3 workers based at Patcham High.

* A Level pass rates for August 2006 –

• Varndean 98.5% (57.3% at grades A and B)
• BHASVIC 97.4% (53.5% at grades A and B)
• Blatchington Mill 94.8% (40.8% at grades A and B)

Stanford Infants School received the Arts Council’s Artsmark Gold Award for high level of provision in the arts, while St Mary Magdalene Primary School received the Silver Award. (June 2006).

The Drinkware Trust has provided funding towards a new Primary Care Trust alcohol awareness website aimed at school students. www.sussedaboutdrink.net

Investment in Education in Brighton and Hove 1997/98-2006

5-7 yr olds in classes of 31+ taught by one teacher (January figures) 3,422 (48.3%) (1998) 31 (0.5%) provisional (2005/06)

Net Revenue Education Budget £83.170m (1999-2000) £134.422m (2005-2006)

The school funding settlement for Brighton and Hove for 2006-07 is an increase of 6.8%.

Capital Spending on schools since 1997 show increases in funding each year from 1997 when it was £3.9 million. The 2005-06 figure was £5.5 million. In two years there have been major one-off investments related either to PFI schemes or other targeted projects. (2001-2002 - £29.2 million and 2004-2005 £13.4 million.)

Brighton and Hove is one of the Pathfinder Areas for giving all junior school children the opportunity to learn a second language by 2010.

CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY

A report from the Police on the first anniversary of the Licensing Act (November 2006) shows ABH down by 6.3%, GBH by 10.3%. Public Place Violent Crime has increased by 36.6%. But the Police note that this includes vomiting and urinating in the street and “this is one of the offences that is now dealt with more robustly by way of fixed penalty notices….Our assessment is that there has not been a rise in such activity but less acceptance than before and therefore more reporting of offenders…. By intervening earlier and delivering a swift sanction it prevents an escalation later to more serious offending, but it does result in more low level crime being recorded.”

Figures for assaults attributable to alcohol at Royal Sussex County A and E show a slight decrease.

Over the 2006 summer period, using powers under the Act the Police visited 728 licensed premises, issued 52 fixed penalty notices, persuaded 13 pubs to close temporarily on a voluntary basis as an alternative to closure, conducted 123 proof of age purchases at off licences. The Licensing Committee of the Council has also used powers under section 161 of the Act to close or place new restrictions on 5 pubs and clubs.

The report concludes, “Brighton and Hove is a safer place to be than last year. 183 fewer victims of serious assault this year as compared with last year and you have an 8.4% less chance of being the victim of a serious injury. It is apparent that concerns over 24-hour drinking leading to significant increase in alcohol fuelled violence and public nuisance across Sussex have not materialised, thanks to a robust response to the new legislation by Sussex Police and its partners.”

A report from the Endsleigh Insurance Company shows Brighton and Hove to be the 6th safest city in the UK in terms of crime reduction.

In February 2005 Brighton and Hove became a Home Office “Together” Trailblazer area running the “It’s your call” scheme making it easier for people to report anti-social behaviour through a single actionline 0845 605 2222.

Useful contacts

Brighton and Hove Partnership Community Safety Team’s headquarters is at 162 North Street – phone 291099. There’s more information on their website www.safeinthecity.net . Funding comes from the Council, Sussex Police and a range of Labour government initiatives including the Home Office Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, Building Safer Communities, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the Children’s Fund, Single Regeneration Budget.

The national Domestic Violence Helpline is funded by the Labour government and Comic Relief and provided by Refuge and Women’s Aid. The number is 0808 2000 247.

Southern Crimestoppers Rat on a Rat campaign encourages people to provide information about drug-dealing on an anonymous phone line. 0800 555 111.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Hotline for reporting road tax dodgers 08000 325 202.

Consumer Direct South East is a Department of Trade and Industry funded scheme offering a consumers advice line to people who feel they have been conned when buying goods and services - ring 08454 040506

ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT

The City Council has launched “Tackling Climate Change Together” – a programme of projects and events to raise local awareness of climate change and providing information to residents about combating it. Included are information for businesses, a Climate Change Ambassadors Scheme for schools and colleges, “beach greenhouse” information points for the summer, a climate change expo, an annual Climate Change Award and Neighbourhood Action on Climate Change. The Council is working with Oliver Heath the government’s climate change champion for the south east. (Jan 07)

Brighton and Hove City Council has once again won Green Apple awards from the Green Organisation. The Council won 3 awards, 2 of them jointly with East Sussex County Council including the top Green Champion Award for their joint guidelines on disposing of construction and demolition waste in an ecologically sound way. The City Council also won a bronze award for its Environmentalist of the Year programme.

The Royal Pavilion Gardens and Preston Park have been awarded Green Flags as part of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s scheme to improve standards in community managed open spaces. The National Audit Office report “Enhancing Urban Green Spaces “shows how nationally urban parks and green spaces have improved dramatically over the last five years. You can find more about the Scheme on www.greenflagaward.org.uk. There is more about the government's programme for local environmental improvement on www.cleanersafergreener.gov.uk.

Transport

Following approval from the Department for Transport CCTV cameras to help keep cars out of bus lanes in Western Road, Dyke Road, Queen’s Road and North Street come into operation from 15th March 2007. This should help to enforce the use of bus lanes only by buses, taxis and cycles and speed up journeys by public transport. In 2005 the government made it possible for local councils to take over bus lane enforcement from the Police. A similar scheme in Croydon saw bus lane infringements fall from 3,750 to 127 in six months.

The City Council’s General Satisfaction Survey of 1,835 residents carried out as part of the Labour Government’s Best Value programme showed a 81% satisfaction rating with local bus services and 78% with transport information compared to national average ratings of 62% and 54%. This placed Brighton and Hove’s bus service ahead of any other in the country.

Brighton and Hove has been chosen as one of Cycling England’s “cycling demonstration towns”, following a bid by the City Council. The City will receive £1.5m over 3 years to promote cycling initiatives. There’s more information about Cycling England on www.cyclingengland.co.uk (October 2005)

Brighton and Hove City Council bus partnership has won an award for excellence and professional achievement from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Brighton & Hove City Council was the only local authority to receive such an award, which covers all transport and logistics organisations in the UK including passenger transport and freight. The council received the Award for Excellence in the field of passenger transport. The partnership with Brighton & Hove Buses has led to increased passenger journeys and customer satisfaction.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The City Council’s General Satisfaction Survey of 1,835 residents carried out as part of the Labour Government’s Best Value programme showed :

• • 68% of residents satisfied with doorstep recycling (Up 18% since 03/04).
• • 71% satisfied or fairly satisfied with libraries (Up 17% on 03/04).
• • 73% believed the Council treats all types of people fairly.
• • 67% believe the Council is working to make the city cleaner and greener.
• • The number of people who think abandoned or burned out cars are a problem in their area is down by 22% since 03/04.

Under the Labour administration Brighton and Hove City Council has been praised by Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Tory Chair of the Local Government Association for being among the 79% of local councils which now have a 3 or 4 star rating. Brighton and Hove has a 3 star rating and is characterised as “improving well”. Lord Bruce-Lockhart says, “This is a ringing endorsement of your council’s commitment to driving up standards and improving its performance to deliver better services for local people…I am sure that you too will wish to congratulate your council on its achievement.”

Two sections of Brighton and Hove City Council have been awarded Charter Marks for excellence in standards of customer service – Registration Services and Local Taxation and revenues. (2006)

Brighton and Hove Council’s Cultural Services including libraries, leisure and sport, arts and creative industries development, tourism, open spaces, Royal Pavilion, galleries and museums has been praised by the Audit Commission.

The Inspectors found that: “Lifelong learning activities are having a positive impact on the lives of some local people. Work in areas of deprivation provides opportunities for local people to participate and benefit from targeted arts development activities. The Council has been very effective at securing funding from a range of sources to support its work and is good at working with other organisations.” The Jubilee Library had previously won the Prime Minister’s Award for Better Public Buildings, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals award for best partnership working on a library scheme and the CILIP delegates’ award for the best new library. Judges were particularly impressed by its high rating on sustainability with low energy consumption, eco-friendly materials and use of recycled rainwater.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY AND SPORT

The Department for Education and Skills has allocated £525,460 to Brighton and Hove from the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds worth £15 million nationally. The Funds, administered by the Council, aim “to give young people control and influence over activities and facilities in their neighbourhood. Through them, young people will have a central role as decision makers and grant givers; project leaders and participants.”

Adventure Unlimited based in Edward Street received £148,835 from the Big Lottery Fund to develop its project to enable more disadvantaged children to attend outdoor educational training courses and to train 12 unemployed adults per year as qualified instructors. The grant runs for three years from May 2005.

EQUALITIES

The Chinese Educational Development Project received £156,892 from the Community Fund to help combat disadvantages faced by people of Chinese ethnic origin in the City by accessing education, training and employment opportunities. The grant is to pay for a full-time project worker, production of information etc over 3 years.

TACKLING POVERTY AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY

From October 2005 Brighton and Hove is one of the 6 areas in the South East to run the new In Work Credit Scheme for Lone Parents designed to help Lone Parents move from benefits to full-time work by providing £40 per week non-taxable in addition to tax credits and befits during the first year back in work.

National Minimum Wage

From October 2006 the NMW is 5.35 ph, the Youth Rate (18-21) is £4.45 ph and the new rate from 16-17 year olds is £3.30 ph.

Nationally the NMW benefits 1.3 million workers. If you think you should be entitled to the NMW are not receiving it, ring the Helpline on 0845 6000 678.

Child Tax Credit

5,500 families in Brighton Pavilion and 16,500 across Brighton and Hove benefit from CTC and other Tax Credits. You can find out about entitlement to it on 0845 300 3900.

Child Trust Fund

Every baby born since 1st September 2002 receives at least £250 to invest in a child trust fund for their future.

Warm Homes

The EAGA partnership which administers the government’s Warm Front Scheme promoting home energy efficiency reports –

1749 Brighton Pavilion residents benefiting between June 2000 and 31st August 2005 from energy saving measures, including 125 homes provided with new central heating, 170 homes with heating repairs or new boilers and 1265 fitted with insulation.

Households could qualify for help from the scheme if they are receiving income or disability related benefit and are homeowners or rent privately.

You can find out more on 0800 316 6014

Pensioners

Households with someone aged 60 or over continue to receive the £200 winter fuel allowance.

Pension Credit

Currently nearly 4,000 individual pensioners in Brighton Pavilion are receiving Pension Credit. For information about claiming the Pension Credit ring 0800 991234

INTERNATIONAL LINKS

Target Tuberculosis based in Queen’s Road was established in 2003 and works with partner organisations in Africa and South Asia, undertaking work to support nationally agreed TB programme. It has recently received Lottery Grant and funding from Comic Relief for their work in Zambia.

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance based in Queen’s Road, one of the major agencies involved in work funded partly through the Labour government’s international development budget, staged an exhibition of photos – “Unheard Voices, Hidden Lives” - produced by local communities involved in its Frontiers Prevention Project sites in Cambodia, Ecuador and India at the Jubilee Library from 13th October- World AIDS Day on December 1st 2006.