Harlow 2020 Local Strategic Partnership

In 2009, Harlow had a population of 80,6001 people (representing 5.76% of the total population of Essex), making it the 4th least populated of the 12 Essex districts.  Approximately 49,000 people are of working age (16-64) and account for 62% of the population. The towns 75 and over population is projected to rise by 13% from 2004 to 2017.

Harlow is a multi-cultural community, with black and ethnic minorities estimated to account for 12% of the population as of July 2006. Of this group, about two-thirds were born in the UK and 2,000 persons (3.9% of the total population) are classifies as "White: Other White", which includes European and East European ethnic groups, and 1,100 persons are classified as "White Irish". Non-white ethnic groups make up around 8% of the Harlow population, with the largest non-white ethnic minority groups being "Asian" or "Asian British Indian", and "Black" or "Black British African".

Harlow is ranked as the 2nd most deprived of Essex districts, ranked 121st of 354 authorities nationally (where 1 is the most deprived). 9 of Harlow’s 54 LSOA areas are in the 10% most deprived in Essex.

Harlow's employment base is characterised by high economic activity and above average employment rates with 87.9% economically active compared with 82.0% regionally / 78.9% nationally and with 80.7% employed compared with 76.9% regionally / 72.9% nationally. High workplace wages (although resident wages are considerably lower) with £575.80 gross weekly pay against £479.10 regionally / £490.20 nationally. There are however concerns about maintaining a higher business start up rate, over-reliance on a few key employers, and poor transport infrastructure. Since the onset of the recession there has also been a dramatic increase in the JSA claimant rate, with Harlow's model-based unemployment rate still above the national average.

Harlow's primary economic strength lies in its geographical proximity and connectivity by road and rail to the key economic drivers of London, Cambridge and Stansted Airport, The town has a significant presence of international Research and Development, notably GSK, and knowledge-based companies within the sector representing above the national average in Harlow's economy, as well as a historically strong manufacturing and engineering sector, again higher than the average proportion of the economy. The town's logistics and retail sectors have grown significantly in recent years.

Harlow's employers specified the following areas as the town's major strengths within the 2008 Employer and Business Survey; Links to major rail and road routes; Proximity to London; and Proximity to Stansted airport. Harlow's sector base employment is similar to other new towns such as Basildon, and there are higher than average proportions of persons employed within manufacturing and retail, distribution, and hotels and restaurants. In contrast to Harlow's high workplace wages, resident wages and incomes are relatively low and Harlow residents earn on average 30% less than Harlow workplace earners. This is compounded by low skills attainment amongst Harlow adults with nearly one-fifth not having a qualification and only 58.6% holding an NVQ2 or higher, against a national average of 65.2%.

Harlow is a compact, strategically located town in West Essex that was built in the 1950s onwards as one of the post-war new towns. The town’s designer, Sir Fredrick Gibberd, created a town plan based on a series of neighbourhoods separated by green wedges, which are highly valued by local people. These green spaces enabled the residential areas to be built at a higher density containing often experimentally designed housing. The neighbourhoods were designed with access to amenities such as community centres, shopping, primary schools and leisure all within walking distance. Another key principle was each neighbourhood containing its own employment area.

The cost of housing has risen significantly in recent years, however Harlow still remains low cost compared to the region. The average cost of a house in Harlow is £190,300 (based on sales and valuations over the last quarter of 2009). Low resident earnings mean that housing affordability is a challenge for existing residents in the town, even with house prices below regional averages. Harlow's average house price is 8 times the average wage whereas the regional house price to earnings is 7:1. Harlow still retains a high proportion of social housing at approximately 30% and the demand for social housing remains high. As of 31st March 2010 there were 3165 households registered for social housing in Harlow. 

Harlow is well connected by road and rail to London, Stansted Airport and Cambridge. The M11 and M25 run close to the town, and Harlow’s two rail stations are served by the West Anglia Mainline, with fast connections to London and Stansted Airport from Harlow Town.

Despite this excellent location, Harlow suffers from significant congestion due to only one motorway junction serving the town, the A414 runs through the centre of the town and lastly employment areas are located in the Town Centre and to the North and West, whereas the motorway junction is to the south east.

2020 Board meetings are held quarterly in public. Notices of meetings and agendas are published on Harlow Council’s website and will be posted on request. Fliers notifying members of the public of meetings are posted across Harlow. Meetings set aside ‘Question Time’ for members of the public to ask questions of the Board.

The Sustainable Community Strategy is to be refreshed in 2010, and extensive consultation will take place in Harlow. This will be a joint consultation working with Harlow Council’s Planning Dept as part of the Local Development Framework.

As part of a commitment to give people more opportunities to influence decisions and services in their neighbourhoods, Harlow Council decided to pilot a new multi-agency meeting in October 2009.  The event was an extension of a Neighbourhood Policing meeting, which had already been planned and brought together the Police, Harlow Council, The Probation Service, Youth Offending Team, Harlow Education Consortium and Essex County Council. The evening was attended by around 80 people, who heard presentations and had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues that were important to them. 

A further pilot was held in the Church Langley area in January 2010. The format was slightly changed to reflect feedback from the first pilot, and the community in particularly welcomed the 'marketplace' session where they could circulate amongst stalls staffed by the various local public agencies, to ask questions and pick up useful information. A report on the pilots will be presented to a meeting of the Council's Policy and Resources Committee in the near future.

Info and data used from:

• Harlow / Essex joint strategic needs assessment
• Eastern region public health observatory
• Local surveys from partner organisations
• Floor targets interactive
• The Hub
• PB Views
• Tracker surveys
•  District Profile - these have been commissioned for each of the Essex Districts to inform the Integrated County Strategy and are an independent assessment of local conditions.

Each political party is represented on 2020 at Board level, including the Deputy Leader of Harlow Council.

Following each 2020 Board meeting a précis of the minutes is produced and sent to Harlow Councillors.

Harlow has an all cause mortality rate for females that is below the East of England average, however this is not the case for males with an all cause mortality rate for men aged under 75 which was above the national average (2007).  Harlow is one of two Districts in Essex in the worst quartile for end of life care.  The District also has a higher rate of hospital admissions for cancer related diseases than the average for Essex.  In relation to all forms of cancer, male mortality rates are above the national average (2007).

Harlow was above the national average rate for under 75 circulatory disease mortality rates and above the national and East of England rate breast cancer mortality, and also below the England and Essex average for breast screening.

All agencies are working to address low life expectancy, and need to better target their efforts at areas where life expectancy is lowest.  Currently some interventions which support healthy lifestyles are offered to the whole Harlow population rather than having effort focused on target geographical areas for life expectancy, such as Toddbrooks.

Better co-ordination is needed between programmes which look at individual disease risk factors.  A number of risk factors contribute to poor life expectancy of Harlow men, and work by the Men’s Health Foundation suggests that these are best addressed collectively through a more holistic health check service.  The vascular risk checks programme being introduced by Essex PCTs will begin to address this.

In terms of obesity Harlow was above the Essex and England average with 26.8% of adults classed as obese  in 2005/06. In 2008-9, Harlow had the highest obesity rate in Essex in both reception and year 6 children; 11% of reception-age children were obese, compared to an Essex average of just under 8.4%. 21.7 % of Year 6 children were obese, compared to the county average of 16%14. Obesity figures increased in Harlow between 2007-8 to 2008-9. 

Harlow had a rate of diagnosis for diabetes that is above the average for Essex and the East of England in 2005/06.

To increase participation in sport in the District, in the last two years more than £1.5 million from Local Transport Plan funds has been spent on cycling infrastructure including improvements to the National Cycle Network across the county, including in Harlow.

All Ability Sports and Leisure, established by Harlow Council, made the final of the prestigious National Community Partnerships Awards on Thursday 4 February 2010. The project was nominated in the Sporting Communities category but lost out to winners Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.  All Ability Sports and Leisure was established in response to local demand from parents of children with disabilities, as there was very limited opportunities for them to participate in competitive sport or leisure activities within Harlow. The main work of the group is to develop and promote sporting opportunities and pathways for young people and adults with special needs, as well as their friends and family. 

The group has delivered a number of sporting opportunities and has organised a range of taster days to generate interest aimed at promoting opportunities for disabled people through regular sessions in the following sports: 

• Athletics
• Football
• Judo
• Wheelchair Basketball
• Trampoline
• Multi Sports (Boccia, Badminton, Tri Golf, Table Tennis, Circuits)
• Swimming
• Cycling

Pathways have been established in some of these sports this year by introducing competitive opportunities such as the All Ability Challenge (regional athletics competition) and attending county, regional and national competitions. Much of this work has been made possible by ensuring that coaches are trained to coach individuals with disabilities and special needs, as well as training disabled people to become coaches themselves. This work has been linked to a 2012 Legacy for Harlow through working with Paralympic athletes, having taster sessions at Olympic-related events and through developing performance and talent in competitions at county, regional, national and international events. Several participants that have started sport after joining All Ability Sport and Leisure Group are now achieving at elite levels and have the potential to represent Team GB at London 2012.  In excess of 250 people have attended sessions or taster days organised by all Ability Sports and Leisure. Perceptions surrounding disabled sports provision are changing as a result of All Ability Sports and Leisure, with more sports clubs intent on developing opportunities for people with disabilities and/or special needs.  

It is of key importance to improve engagement strategies with people in Harlow who are subject to health inequalities. A sub group of the Active Harlow Sports Partnership has been established to review how best to achieve an increase in physical activity and healthy lifestyles, particularly in target areas of Summners, Kingsmoor and Toddbrook where life expectancy is worst in the town (the difference in life expectancy across the town is 4 years).The group is reviewing available intelligence on how best to target groups. More use will need to be made of datasets such as the MOSAIC social marketing tool, the 'Change 4 Life' population cluster characteristics and Sport England's physical activity cluster characteristics. These will identify specific discrete groups within the population, based on their circumstances and attitudes, and should inform target group specific engagement strategies.

'Harlow Adventure Challenge’ was a one day event for young people aged 16 to 18 taking place at Harlow Outdoors. Participants were provided with information and advice about exit routes and local clubs.  Chelmsford, Braintree, Brentwood, Colchester, and Harlow LSPs are planning to direct significant PRG into increasing participation in sport. This investment will focus on older people, those with disabilities, cycling, those at risk of offending, and other hard to reach groups. This investment will transform sports engagement in these areas.

Harlow was one of 4 Districts in the worst quartile for adults participating in 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport at least 3 times a week in 2005/06.  Harlow is also one of 4 Districts with the lowest adult participation in sport, although this is improving, and one of 3 Districts with below the average satisfaction with leisure sites. Through activeharlow the district is delivering a number of targeted projects to increase participation in sport and physical activity. The district also has an above average percentage of children undertaking 2 hours or more of PE or sports.

The strong correlation between smoking and deprivation means that efforts to engage smokers need to reflect the demographics of the target group.  Social marketing methodology needs to be used more systematically to improve engagement with the worst off men in Harlow, since a health equity audit showed they were underrepresented in services, and had poorer quit rates than the rest of the population.  The PCT has invested considerable effort in social marketing insight work for smoking cessation and this insight work is informing service development.

The district has high rates of smoking prevalence at 27.5% (2nd highest in Essex).  Many of the areas in the highest 20% of all-age smoking-attributable mortality rate in Essex are in Harlow. Several areas have high smoking attributed mortality, particularly Church Langley and Harlow Common.

MSOA005 (Church Langley ward) has the highest rate for female smoking mortality in Essex.

Harlow had a higher rate of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases than the Essex average in 2007.

Harlow was above the national rate for lung cancer mortality for males and females in 2007.

With regard to mental health and well being Harlow had a slightly above average rate of MH hospital admissions in 2005/06, a high rate of MH benefit claimants: above Essex average, but below national average in 2005 and had above the average proportion of the working age population suffering from neurotic disorders/depression in 2000. The male mortality rate for suicide was also considerably higher than in other areas of Essex and higher than the national average in 2007. No county wide surveys pin-point emotional and mental health disorders in young people in West Essex, however it is estimated that 10% of children have a diagnosable mental health disorder and a further 10% have acute psychological emotional problems.

Emphasis is being placed on preventing and treating mental health problems and promoting well-being in Harlow through the West Essex Mental Health Commissioning Group and the Children and Young People's Plan. NHS West Essex are currently tendering for an integrated, stepped model of care to deliver the psychological therapies for people with mild to moderate and more severe mental health problems. This will incorporate early recognition of mental health problems, rapid access to services, clear pathways for treatment (including specialist treatment), access to support and other agencies of relevance such as older people, veterans, employment, black and minority ethnic groups, peri-natal mental health, children and adolescents, drug and alcohol and offenders/ex-offenders. Relapse prevention is also included which is also supported by exercise referral schemes, Essex Libraries, support groups and carer groups.

The Children and Young People's plan aims to deliver universal, evidence based, co-ordinated and fully integrated mental health service/promotion service. Priority areas currently include increasing the workforce and resources for Tier 2 and 3 mental health services, delivering mental health first aid training to teachers within schools for early recognition of mental health problems. A steering group has been established to target poor transitional arrangements of 16-17 year old into adult mental health services. Arrangements are also in place for the availability of 24 hour cover for urgent mental health needs. Lastly, a pilot projectis in place in Harlow schools to trial the implementation of BCFPI (Brief Child Family Phone Interview) which is a screening tool to assist in the referral of children and young people to meet emotional and mental health needs. This also incorporates access to mapping of services available to young people.

Harlow has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Essex (49.6) Understanding reasons for Harlow’s high teenage conception rate is crucial to addressing this issue.  Social marketing insight work undertaken by NHS West Essex shows that there is a specific “Harlow effect” where the social and cultural norm influences teenage conception rates. Greater use of findings from social marketing insight work commissioned through the Children and Young People's Partnership in 2009/10 needs to be made by agencies working collaboratively to address teenage conceptions and sexual health issues in Harlow.

Harlow had a rate of Chlamydia which is nearly 50% higher than the rate for the UK in 2004.  Identifying the most effective ways of engaging the target population for chlamydia screening is ongoing work for the PCT.  Outreach work to promote screening achieves a degree of success but more work needs to be done to achieve the population coverage required.  NHS West Essex is currently reviewing options for call and recall of the eligible population. The nurses at the ‘One Stop Shop’ in Harlow see on average 600 young people per month, school nurse drop-ins are being established in secondary schools, and information leaflets have been distributed widely.

More work needs to be done to promote 1) breastfeeding as the preferred feeding method, and 2) an environment where the social norm is breastfeeding, through for example, target group role models and breast feeding friendly venues.  This issue is being considered as a priority topic by the NHS West Essex Social marketing Board.

Breast feeding is encouraged and promoted by midwives and health visitors throughout pregnancy. Breast feeding initiation in 2006/07 across all five PCTs ranged from 69%-75%, above the national average of 69%. However, there are pockets of lower rates. In 2005/06 there were four districts in Essex below 69%, including Harlow.  A low breast-feeding rate means that infants are less protected against a range of potential problems & are more likely to become obese later in childhood.

Harlow is the only area in Essex to have an MMR vaccination rate higher than the England average in 2005/06.  Harlow also has the joint highest percentage of birth weight babies below 1500 grams (1.9%).

Harlow has the lowest proportion of older people receiving social care services in the area (72.8 per 1000).

Harlow Council and West Essex Primary Care Trust have been working together to deliver nurse-led clinics in sheltered housing complexes.  This scheme is designed to offer routine testing, close to where people live, for conditions which can be prevented or controlled if diagnosed early, but which can lead to hospital admission if undetected.  It is anticipated that the Nurse-Led Clinics in sheltered housing complexes will expand in time to include, e.g. benefits advice, home safety advice etc.

An exciting new ‘Reach Out’ service will be supported by CWOP partners. It is based on direct community work to improving access to services, benefits, increase in training/skills and employment. It will be implemented in areas of highest need, which includes Harlow.

In terms of support for carers, Harlow had the lowest rate of unpaid carers in 2006/07. ‘Caring for Harlow Carers’ is an active voluntary sector organisation in Harlow which provides information and support to carers.

'Children Looked After' number 77 per 100,000, which is the highest figures, relative to population, in Essex.  Harlow is also amongst the highest for numbers with a Child Protection Plan in Essex.

The children’s hearing services working groups have improved services and outcomes for children and families. Independent government commissioned auditing of the working groups and services has taken place in Harlow and Colchester, and has rated the social care element as excellent.

Harlow has the lowest proportion of owner occupiers (60%) in the county, with the social rented sector accounting for 35% if the housing stock. Harlow also had the highest percentage of lone parent households in the ECC area in 2001.  Harlow had at 13% the highest proportion of households on the LA housing register in 2006. Finally Harlow has the highest level of homelessness in Essex - 7.81 per 1,000.  More than double the county-wide average in 2005/06.

Analysis of demographic data and other local information identified the fact that there were a number of children in Harlow who were experiencing poverty as a result of their parents separating. A multi agency bid was made to the DCSF to fund a pilot project to Co-ordinate Local Services for Separated or Separating Parents. The bid was successful and secured £450,000 over two years. The pilot is now up and running, and has successfully commissioned local voluntary sector organisations such as Harlow Welfare Rights and Advice Service and Women's Aid to provide the services. Families can now access different levels of intervention and support - dependant upon need. For some, this will just be a sign posting to relevant agencies or helping with completion of applications for benefits. However, for those who need more in-depth support, this can be provided through caseworkers who will work with individual families.                                                                                                            

Primary, secondary and special schools in Harlow operate within a set of particularly challenging circumstances. For example, Harlow has the highest percentage of children living in poverty in overcrowded and single parent households, and the lowest percentage rate on the Child Well Being Index in Essex. Whilst such deprivation factors and allied negative cultural/aspirational factors are not absolute determinants of levels of educational outcomes, they are significant influencing factors. This means that schools in Harlow need to work harder and be more effective than schools where such factors do not apply in order to try to achieve similar outcome levels.

Compared to Essex and national averages, educational attainment in Harlow at all levels and all ages is low. However the long term trend of educational attainment and allied proxy measures is wholly positive.

At primary level, percentage progression by 2 levels in English between Key Stage 1 and 2 has risen from 78.2% in 2007 to 80.2% in 2009 and in maths from 71.7% in 2007 to 80.6% in 2009. achievement of at least 78 points across the early years foundation stage has risen from 36.5% in 2007 to 37.5% in 2009. Achievement at level 4 or above in both English and maths at Key Stage 2 has risen from 65.0% in 2007 to 67.7% in 2009.

In 2009 Harlow was ranked joint 6th of the 12 Essex districts for secondary school children achieving 5 or more grades A*-C at GCSE7. 67.5% of pupils achieved 5 or more grades A*-C (up from 59.1% in 2008). The Essex average was 68.2% and the national average was 70%.  In 2009 there was only 1 secondary school where fewer than 30% of pupils were achieving 5 or more GCSE grades A*-C including English and Maths compared to 3 in 2007.

Attendance at both primary and secondary levels has improved by 2% over the last 3 years, with primary schools at 94.2% compared to 94.5% nationally and secondary schools at 92.2% compared to 92.6% nationally. Primary Persistent Absence has improved from 3.0% to 2.4% in 2008/9 and is on target to achieve 1.87% in 2009/10 academic year. Secondary Persistent Absence increased from 7.8% in 2008 to 8.2% in 2009, but is on target to reduce to 5.16% in 2009/10 academic year.

Pupil behaviour, judged by rates of permanent and fixed term exclusions is similarly significantly improved, with no permanent exclusions at primary level and only one at secondary level in 2008/9 academic year.

Most significant is the judgement delivered by value-added and rates of progress measures which show Harlow schools outperforming all schools in Essex and nationally. 

The success rate for adults aged 19+ living in Harlow in gaining a qualification rose to 80% in 2007/08 (71% in 2006/07).  This is 1% below the average success rate for Essex in 2007/08.  The success rate for young people aged 16-18 living in Harlow in 2007/08 was 88.6%.

The Teaching and Learning Strategy adopted by Harlow College is designed to achieve excellence and to enable learners of all ages to reach their potential.  Targets have been applied to the strategy in order to improve outcomes to ensure the learning delivered has a strong and positive impact on learners.  It is expected that the success rates will improve in 2008/09.  This performance data is collected and published by the Learning and Skills Council.

Harlow is ranked as the worst district in Essex for education, skills and training (46% of small areas in the 20% most deprived).  Whilst the College Strategy will continue to raise the educational attainment of residents in Harlow, the learning opportunities for adults are becoming more restricted.  In response to Learning and Skills Council expectations, course fees charged by the College must now be set at 47.5% of cost.  This will be prohibitive for some Harlow residents.  In addition, Learning and Skills Council funding for adult learners in 2009/10 will be cut by 2%.  The funding for the Train to Gain initiative for employed learners is also likely to diminish over the coming year with less opportunity for new starts on the programme.

To deliver improved educational attainment for adults in Harlow, a strategy will be required to promote increased demand for learning matched by adequate levels of funding.  It is proposed to build a Higher Education Centre on the Harlow Campus in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University.  The restriction on growth in HE places however, will impact adversely on the development of HE in the town.

Stimulating business start up in Harlow has included participation in the IIC funded Developing Entrepreneurship programme.  This programme, led by Harlow Renaissance, delivered an extension of the Young Enterprise programme into primary schools, targeted outreach to young people and additional business start up surgeries via Business Link. It had a significant impact on the number of people coming forward to consider starting their own business (see case study: Harlow Entrepreneurship Programme 29-6-09). As part of this the District Council in partnership with Business Link has also established start your own business surgeries and workshops in the Civic Centre.  Harlow 2020 has sought to ensure businesses survive and grow in the district. Using PRG funding; provision has been made for 20 'business support vouchers'. These vouchers are targeted to specific sections of the business community, and used to stimulate action in following up plans developed with the support of Business Link. A specific example of how this can work is 'Emerald On-Line' (case study attached).

The Harlow Enterprise Hub is a new business centre opened with on-site business support aimed at SMEs, a proportion of which to be from innovative/knowledge based sectors.  The centre opened in December 2008 and now provides space for 24 businesses. The town centre north redevelopment ‘The Quarter Harlow’ has produced a masterplan that has been through a successful public consultation. Work is now progressing on securing arrangements with anchor tenants prior to commencing the process of appointing a development partner. The completed scheme, expected in 2016, will enhance Harlow’s position as a sub-regional shopping centre and contribute to Harlow’s offer as an attractive business location.

Harlow’s working age population demonstrates high levels of economic participation. Workplace earnings in Harlow are higher than national average; our concentration of Research and Development employment is second only to Cambridge. The Town Centre is also weathering the economic recession better than comparative areas.

Key challenges for business expansion are improving infrastructure needs, particularly transport and tackling congestion (i.e northern bypass to connect to new M11 junction to the north of Harlow), improving electricity supply capacity, providing improved quality business accommodation and in particular ensuring grow on space for the Hub, and, realizing the opportunity of Stansted Airport expansion in terms of attracting off airport business development to Harlow. Ensuring Harlow Business can access opportunities arising from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Continuing to develop entrepreneurial skills in the local community. Improving and promoting Harlow’s image and developing an inward investment approach.

Redundancy Support Group continues to work with companies and individuals in Harlow facing redundancy, connecting them with sources of information, advice and support and drawing in regional resources.

Harlow College has secured funding to deliver programmes for people at risk of and made redundant and additional funding for programmes for individuals unemployed for six months plus.

Harlow has the county's highest unemployment rate of 4.3% and one of the fastest growing rates in the region. 37% of wards are in the 20% most deprived in the county which is the third worst of all Essex Districts.  Job prospects are therefore a high priority for Harlow residents.

Therefore getting people back into employment is now a key challenge. A bid to the Future Jobs Fund is currently being investigated.  Skills and education attainment levels remain an issue of concern for the resident population leading to the huge disparity between the workplace earnings on offer and the lower earnings of Harlow residents.  Improving skills levels and therefore access to quality employment with decent pay will remain a high priority.  Improving the further and higher education offer in Harlow will be critical to this success and will encourage workforce development and training.

Ensuring a range of affordable homes is a key priority for Essex and Harlow residents rated affordable housing a particularly high priority in the tracker survey.  During 2008/09, 35 new affordable homes were built in Harlow.  This was less than had been estimated, but is due to the current economic climate and the difficulties being faced by developers and house builders at a time of recession.

Work has taken place with owners of private sector empty homes and during 2008/09 4 long term empty homes were returned back into use.  This has provided additional housing for those in housing need.

During 2008/09 Harlow Council developed a rent deposit guaranteed scheme, and helped 37 households into suitable accommodation in the private sector.

Harlow Council will be working with other Essex local authority partners to increase the amount of new affordable housing built in Harlow (and the other Essex authorities), and have developed an action plan to take forward.  As part of this project the 12 Essex authorities have received funding which will be used to employ a project officer to assist in the delivery of the action plan.

Harlow Council recognises the importance of reducing energy usage in both its own operations and across the dictrict. Harlow is one of three districts with an ecological footprint less than the average figure for England (in 2004) and is continually working towards reducing its carbon footprint and encouraging residents and local businesses to do the same. Harlow Council's work on this is tied into our Sustainability Strategy, implemented in 2009.

The district emissions for Harlow are measured annually by the Department for Energy and Climate Change. Harlow's carbon emissions include those from industry and the commercial sector, domestic emissions and those from road transport.

Harlow is one of four districts which are higher per capita emitters of CO₂ and has established a definitive operational baseline 'carbon footprint' from which to assess improvements. DEFRA data is used to calculate the per capita emissions for the district. Our emissions have been going down but will only continue to do so if we all act together. Our current emissions per person are 7 tonnes; this amount of carbon weighs the same as 7 adult giraffes or 70 baby elephants.

Harlow Council has, with effect from October 1, 2008 joined a ‘buying consortium’ to purchase all its energy (gas and electricity) needs. This consortium specializes in identifying sustainable sources and reducing the partners’ carbon emissions and carbon footprint.

Harlow Council, in partnership with the Energy Savings Trust, Kier Harlow, Mark Insulation and Sustain Services have embarked on a rolling programme of cavity wall insulation to the town’s housing stock, having now completed over 400 jobs with a net reduction in energy usage to householders and reduction in carbon emissions. The Council is also a member of the HEEP scheme. This is a government funded scheme to provide grants to help private residents to save energy and cut costs. Only appointed contractors on the scheme can carry out work including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and up to 50% grants/loans for renewable energy installations.

Under Harlow's waste contract dry recycling, including paper, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, cardboard, tins and cans are taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) whereby items are separated for onward processing. In March 2010 27%* of residents' household waste was sent as dry recycling to the MRF which is a 4% improvement on the same month in 2009.

A weekly food waste service sees scraps such as fruit and vegetables, meat and bones, fish, bread, pastries as well as tea bags and coffee grounds put into a green container rather than in with the non-recycling and sent to landfill. All food waste collected is taken to an in-vessel composting plant whereby it is turned into compost. In March 2010 15% of residents' household waste was food waste sent for composting. Food waste collection started in October 2009.

*At the time of publication these figures had not been verified by ECC. The best information available was used.

The Government predicted that overall crime and anti-social behaviour would rise during the economic recession, which has not been the case for Harlow. However serious acquisitive crime, which has seen a positive reduction, still remains high in the district. ECC 'All Crime' figures issued in April 2010 show a reduction of approximately 5500 offences equating to a 6.4% reduction. Essex Police force reduction is 7.1%. Harlow shows the best improvement in the last year compared with other districts, with a reduction in volume for 'All Crime' of 10.8%. There were 6368 ASB related recorded crimes from April 07 to March 08 which was reduced by 11.18% from April 08 to March 09. Harlow experienced a further reduction of 10.89% to 5040 from April 09 to March 10 compared from the previous years ASB related recorded crimes.

Work continues through the Safer Harlow Partnership (Harlow's community safety partnership) to reduce the public's perception of anti-social behaviour. Many issues that were once major concerns have been tackled through co-ordinated partnership working.

Achievements to date - A year or two ago the local community was experiencing serious problems from people illegally riding mini-motorcycles. The 'Catch and Crush' initiative was so successful that this is no longer a problem in Harlow. Similarly the public will have noticed a considerable reduction in anti-social behaviour related to fireworks and to Halloween night because of the success of the 'Operation Bang Out Of Order' campaign that is run in the autumn of each year. Partnership working has significantly reduced anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol consumption in the town centre and other localities. Neighbour nuisance is dealt with swiftly, using mediation wherever possible, but enforcement may be used where this fails. Perceptions of anti-social behaviour are disproportionate to the actual level of anti-social activity, so communication and awareness-raising of the partnership's successes are important activities.

Harlow Council is actively engaged in the Essex Drug and Alcohol Referral Team (DART), programme managing work with NHS and voluntary sector partners - from the Westminster Drug Project and Open Road (major regional drug charities) to the Harlow-based Alcohol and Drugs Advisory Service.  Crucial Crew event for all Year 6 pupils in Harlow, focusing on personal safety awareness and includes a drinks spiking scenario.

An Evaluation Report of the Harlow Alcohol Pilot by Westminster Drug Project outlines the above activity in more detail.

A programme of School Theatre Workshops for years 7-9 has been was rolled-out in 2009.  Local treatment providers held a drug treatment awareness stall in the Harvey Centre during National Tackling Drugs Week 8-12 June 2009 and promoted the national Frank Campaign. Stronger Communities officers have been supporting local schools with alcohol and drugs awareness programmes for year 6 pupils for the past 2 years, and ASB awareness programmes for the past 4 years.

The Safer Harlow Partnership continues to roll out a programme of local radio advertisements throughout the year. Radio advertising is one element the Partnership use in local awareness raising campaigns; adverts are commissioned using local knowledge, data evidence and known crime timetables; when possible the adverts are used to compliment/dovetail with Home Office national campaigns.

The Partnership is measured annually on the public's perceptions around crime, ASB feeling safe, parents taking responsibility and people. In terms of reducing the public's perception of crime, Harlow has made huge strides in managing the night time economy, such as the Harlow based Criminal Justice Alcohol pilot which successfully targeted prime and prolific offenders. A range of partnership initiatives to work towards all of the measures are in place. A communications toolkit and awareness raising strategy have been developed for the Partnership which includes:

* Ensuring frequent media coverage about the work of the SHP and successes in preventing/detecting crime and anti social behaviour eg high publicity press given to the work to reduce anti social behaviour in the Stow area, the successful Bang Out Of Order campaigns etc.

* Commissioning radio broadcasts highlighting the work of the Partnership and giving important information about crime prevention, particularly prioritising areas that have been of concern to the partnership eg domestic burglaries etc.

* Having regular feature articles in the Harlow Times magazine, which is delivered to every home in Harlow, outlining what the Partnership does

* The youth toolkit has identified those young people most likely to commit anti social behaviour/crime and the Challenge and Support project and the Family Intervention project use a milti-agency approach to work with those young people and families most likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour

* Work to take forward the 'Justice See, Justice Done' agenda in Harlow by identifying opportunities for 'Community Payback' initiatives whereby offenders undertake high visibility work to improve the facilities in the town

* Work with Harlow's Muslim community to create better understanding between local residents and those attending the Muslim Community Centre

The Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership have also delivered a teenage pregnancy and alcohol related publicity campaign.  The Partnership also funds diversionary activities for example KICKZ, Firebreak and Cafe Youth.

Investment in increasing the volume of test purchases of underage alcohol sales.

It has been estimated that Harlow has a drugs misuse prevalence of 8.6 per 1,000 population; the highest in Essex in 2004/05.  The area also has high rate of users in treatment.  The male alcohol specific hospital admission rate is 309.27 (highest rate in Essex). The female rate is 84.34 (2^nd lowest rate in Essex).

It is estimated that 17.6% of the adult population in Harlow binge drink, which is above the regional average, and is the second highest prevalence across Essex.  Young people are able to buy alcohol most easily in Epping Forest and Harlow.

Alcohol related assault data sharing project to inform enforcement activities (aimed at ages 16+).

Seeking funding for to provide alcohol liaison support and brief interventions within the Emergency Department (and specific hospital wards) and Criminal Justice System.

There were 1095 alcohol related recorded crimes from April 2007 to March 2008, which reduced by 14.9% to 933 from April 2008 to March 2009. Harlow experienced a further reduction of 8.68% to 852 alcohol related recorded crimes from April 2009 to March 2010 compared from the previous years' recorded crimes.

In terms of serious violent crimes and assaults causing injury 930 offences were committed from April 2007 - March 2008 reducing to 761 offences from April 2008 to March 2009, a decrease of 18.17%, however the number of offences increased from April 2009 to March 2010 to 834. This equates to a 9.50% increase on the previous years' recorded crimes.

Harlow Sanctuary Scheme enables victims of domestic violence to remain in their own homes and feel safe and also prevents a homeless application.  From February 2009 to March 2010 five properties in Harlow now have a Sanctuary Scheme installed - all of the properties are Council owned. One of the properties with the Sanctuary Scheme Plus already in situ has been reused in full for a new client via Harlow Council's 'Interest Moves' policy. The Partnership has match funded the scheme with the Council since the scheme was initiated. Sanctuary Schemes are expensive, with an average cost of £2000 to convert a property.

The Safer Harlow Partnership has made a further contribution this year to maintain employment and deployment of a Women's Aid Safety Worker (WSW) for Harlow for the period April 2010 to March 2011 to guarantee that the WSW service is available within the Harlow area. WSW are required to make contact with all (100%) known female victims and current partners of all male offenders attending the IDAP programme between April 2010 to March 2011, to offer the services of the WSW and ensure that those female victims and current partners (who do not wish to engage with the WSW) are given an increased awareness of services available. This contributes to the safety of victims and helps reduce repeat incidents of domestic violence. The WSW will liaise with IDAP staff (either case worker or programme tutor) to obtain offenders history prior to WSW starting work with the victim along with the offenders ongoing progress whilst working with the victim. WSW will also attend 75% (3 of 4) Harlow Inter-Agency Domestic Violence Forum meetings from April 2010 - March 2011.

Harlow no longer has the highest rate in Essex for repeated domestic violence, however reported incidents have increased. From April 2008 to March 2009 there were 634 offences registered which increased from April 2009 to March 2010  to 765, a difference of 20.7% being the highest increase in Essex. Safer Harlow Partnership’s Domestic Violence Forum Group has engaged with and supported the introduction of a MARAC in the Harlow area.  This provides greater support for high risk victims of domestic violence and reduces repeat incidents. The group supports national and countywide initiatives during domestic violence week and local awareness raising initiatives throughout the year.

Harlow and Broxbourne Women’s Aid has established a specialist unit in Harlow which provides more intensive support (including longer staffing hours and a specialist support programmes) to support women with complex needs.  This facility bridges the gap in service in terms of what can be done to support women with the most serious drug and alcohol problems and prevent them from returning to situations that put them at further risk of victimisation. The Partnership has agreed to continue match funding to support the employment of the qualified Drugs and Alcohol worker for the specialist unit. The specialist will liaise very closely with the services provided by other agencies to enable service users to address the problem and reduce the risk of repeat victimisation and/or re-offending. The expected outputs are - reduction in repeat offending as women are less likely to return to the perpetrator; reduced risk victimisation by previous or other perpetrators; higher level of engagement with domestic abuse services and other partner agencies; harm minimisation and to reduce crime to resource addition.

Essex Police have initiated a comprehensive training programme for all police officers in the Harlow division with the intention of increasing the number of DV prosecutions.

Essex Change is a community domestic abuse prevention programme for non-convicted men (and an associated woman's service for (ex) partners of the men attending the group sessions) who want to take positive steps to change the way they behave in relationships. A new Essex Change support venue is to be established in the Harlow area during summer 2010, which can support approximately 10 members. Representative from Relate and Essex Change attend the partnership's DV Forum group meetings.

In terms of serious acquisitive crimes there were 1560 offences from March 2007 - April 2008, rising to 1595 offences from March 2008 to April 2009. This equates to a 2.24% increase in offences.  However the number of offences reduced from April 2009 to March 2010 to 1400, a 12.23% reduction on the previous years' recorded crimes. 

To help reduce antisocial behaviour in the District initiatives include ‘Be Smart-Be Safe’ a high-profile campaign for older people.  The handbook was originally piloted in December 2007 to five areas in the county (Braintree, Basildon, Tendring, Harlow and Canvey Island) and was so successful it has now been updated and is being expanded countywide.

Safer Harlow Partnership’s ASB Sub Group has produced a Practitioner’s Guide to ASB initiatives and projects in Harlow and distributed to all relevant agencies.  The outcome is that now all agencies have a greater understanding of how each organisation fits together to tackle ASB and what is available to assist with intervention programmes etc. Other ASB projects and initiatives include working in partnership with Harlow Council, Essex Police and the Youth Offending Team. The 'adopt a box' scheme was set up with Virgin Media to discourage criminal damage to  street furniture. Operation 'Bang Out Of Order' was in force leading up to  and during Halloween and Fire Work night to prevent incidents of criminal damage. Operation 'Hadrian's Wall' was in force to combat issues of criminal damage and anti social behaviour in a local shopping area. The Family Intervention project, the Senior Parenting Practitioner and the Challenge and Support projects all work well with those who have been identified as likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour.

The Safer Harlow Partnership (Harlow’s Community Safety Partnership) has achieved significant reductions in levels of crime in Harlow.  Several very innovative schemes have been developed which have received national acclaim (e.g.  Talking CCTV, the ‘Catch and Crush’, 'Bang Out Of Order', 'Operation Nono', 'Red Card Yellow Card' initiatives, and Taxi and Street Marshals Scheme) and the Safer Bars Accreditation Scheme.

Essex County Council, Essex Police and Harlow District Council have been working in partnership to successfully tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Harlow.  The initiative, which targeted The Stow area, is the ninth undertaken under the Operation Impact banner – a campaign to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour across the county.