Uttlesford Futures Local Strategic Partnership

In 2009, Uttlesford had a population of 73,8001 people (ONS, 2009) which is set to increase over the next 10-15 years with new housing development. 45% of residents are aged 30-59, with relatively few residents aged 20-29 (9%) compared with the county average. The proportion of younger (0-19) and older (60 plus) residents is on par with the county (2001 Census).

Uttlesford has a very small representation of black and minority ethnic groups at around 5%, though there are growing migrant worker communities living or working in the District.

There are 585 registered migrants from ‘Accession 8’ countries working in Uttlesford (Essex Trends, 2007). 74% of these are from Poland, 11% from Slovakia, 7% from Czech Republic, 3% from Hungary, 3% from Latvia, 2% from Lithuania and 1% from Estonia. Migrants tend to work full-time in lower skilled and therefore lower income jobs. Agricultural and care work are common in Uttlesford. Only a small minority declare that they have dependants living with them in the UK.

Uttlesford has 34 primary and 6 secondary schools (2 of which are independent). Post-16 learning opportunities are diverse and providers include Adult Community Colleges and the Youth Service Alternative Education Programme. There are no Further Education Colleges and post-16 students who do not remain at one of the three post-16 educational establishments need to travel out of the District.

In 2009 Uttlesford was ranked joint 3rd of the 12 Essex districts for secondary school children achieving 5 or more grades A*-C at GCSE6. In 2009 71.1% of pupils achieved 5 or more grades A*-C. The Essex average was 68.2% and the national average was 70.0%.  .Uttlesford has also seen an increase in the number of 14 year olds reaching the required literacy level from 71% in 1997 to 84% in 2005, 10% above the national average of 74% (DoE, 2005).

Overall educational attainment is high..40.2% of working-age adults are qualified to NVQ level 4 or above (ranked 1st in Essex), this compares to an Essex average of 23.6%. However, 21.8% have no formal qualifications. This is significantly above the regional and national averages (ONS, 2006).Uttlesford has a working age population of 43,100. There are 39,700 economically active, of which 32,200 are in employment and 6,800 are self-employed. There are 7,000 economically inactive, of which 6,000 do not want a job (ONS, 2007).

There are 34,100 jobs in Uttlesford. 24,700 are full-time and 9,400 are part-time (ONS, 2006). 81.1% are in the service sector (2001 Census) - distribution, hotels and restaurants (22.1%), transport and communications (20.3%), finance, IT, other business activities (17.1%), public administration, education and health (17.8%), other services (3.8%). Unemployment is low at 1%. 0.8% claim Jobseekers Allowance, of which more than half are aged 25-49. The majority (73.6%) claim for less than 6 months (ONS, 2008).

There are 4,110 VAT registered businesses (ONS, 2006).

12% of the resident workforce commutes to London and a further 13% works from home (2001 Census). Weekly average earnings are £577.70, much higher than the regional and national averages (ONS, 2007). 45% of people working within the district live outside the area (2001 Census). Workplace average earnings are £491.6 (ONS, 2007).

76.2% of households are owner-occupied. Average household size is 2.46. Single person households make up 9.9% of the district total (2001 Census).

In Jan-March 2010, the average house price in Uttlesford was £308,054, which was the 3rd highest in Essex, above the Essex (£243,993) and national (£224,064) averages.

During 2006/07, 82 new units of affordable housing were built in Uttlesford for allocation to those on Uttlesford District Council’s housing waiting list and shared ownership register. In 2007/08, a further 62 units were delivered. It is predicted that a further 350 units of affordable housing will be built in Uttlesford between 2008 and 2011. This will be a mix of affordable rented, allocated by the Council through Choice Based Lettings and shared ownership units which will be allocated by Moat Homebuy.

In 2002-04 life expectancy for males in Uttlesford was the fourth highest in the country at 79.9 years. The female life expectancy was 81.9 years, also significantly higher then the national average (ONS, 2004). Yet life expectancy for men in Uttlesford is increasing faster than for women and analysis of trends shows that for women, life expectancy is not increasing as fast in Uttlesford as nationally. In Uttlesford there is 14.7 years difference in life expectancy between the highest (Littlebury) and the lowest (Barnston and High Easter) wards.

There is a five fold variation in premature cancer death rates between wards within Uttlesford. Cancer mortality for women has been increasing since 1999 and now is the highest mortality rate for cancer in females out of all the localities in West Essex. Breast cancer mortality in this locality is the highest in Essex (NCHOD, 2005). Premature mortality from lung cancer amongst Uttlesford women is well below the national average but worryingly has been increasing since 2001. There is a 10 fold difference in death rates between wards within Uttlesford (NCHOD, 2005). Mortality from suicide and injury undetermined amongst Uttlesford men were less than one per year, however in the last six years, this has doubled and is now two per year (NCHOD, 2005).

Uttlesford has one of the lowest teenage conception rates in the country and is much lower than the average for the region. However, there are some wards in Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow and Stansted Mountfitchet that have rates much higher than the district average (ONS, 2004).

Uttlesford has a rate of 125.5 persons providing unpaid care per 1,000 18+ population, below the Essex average. The district has a high rate of volunteering with 8.3% of adults doing at least an hour of volunteering a week to support sport. 1 in 4 adults participate in 30 minutes moderate physical activity at least 3 times a week (Sport England, 2006) and 70% are satisfied with local sports provision.

There are over 600 voluntary and community groups known to the Council for Voluntary Services Uttlesford (CVSU). Many provide direct services which provide support to people with long-term conditions or provide respite for carers, and enable people to stay at home.  For example, there are 170 known older people groups, 8 learning disability groups, 20 physical disability groups, 76 children’s groups and 9 community transport groups.

Uttlesford is a very safe place to live. It has the lowest crime rate in Essex at 15 per 1,000 population (Essex Police, 2008). Uttlesford suffered 2,489 crimes in the last year at a rate of 7.8 crimes a day. Across a whole district this is extremely low and the vast majority of these were criminal damage, non-dwelling burglaries, and thefts from motor vehicles. According to the British Crime Survey, Uttlesford has the lowest crime of all similar districts across the UK (Essex Police, 2008). Uttlesford has a rate of violence against the person of 8 per 1,000 population, lower than the national and Essex averages (Essex Police, 2007). The rate of crime attributable to alcohol is 4.12 per 1,000 population. This is lower then the national and regional rates and second lowest in Essex. In terms of violent crime attributable to alcohol, the rate of 3.00 per 1,000 population is a lot lower than the national and regional averages and also the second lowest in Essex. It is estimated that 16.6% of adults in Uttlesford binge drink, which is below the regional average. However, Uttlesford has high hospital admissions rates for females aged under 18 for alcohol specific conditions at 46.59 per 100,000 people which is above the regional average (NWPHO, 2007). Rates of people accessing drug treatment services are lower than the national average in Uttlesford (NWPHO, 2007).

In the North West of Essex, of which Uttlesford forms the largest part, the average cost of business crime to the victim is the highest in the region (estimated at £4,000 plus). Theft is the most frequent crime perpetrated against businesses at 53%, followed by criminal damage at 27% and burglary at 20%. Up to 13% of respondents to the Federation of Small Businesses Business Crime Survey 2007 also reported assault as an issue. Credit card fraud was measured at 13%. Crime against business is not a key indicator in current crime statistics but there is a strong will to combat these issues, with 76% of victims prepared to become involved in crime reduction schemes. Up to 87% have already taken steps to reduce the incidence of crime against their business.

The mean annual temperature in Uttlesford is predicted to increase by 2-3°C by 2070 (UK Climate Impacts Programme). Summer rainfall will reduce by 45-60%, and winter rainfall will increase by 15-30%. Overall, the future local climate will resemble Portugal’s current climate, and large changes will be required to adapt our society and its infrastructure to cope.

On a per capita basis, Uttlesford has much higher carbon dioxide emissions than the national average. For domestic emissions Uttlesford is in the top 10% nationally (Defra, 2005). Of the emissions that will be measured for NI186, which include all sources minus motorways, heavy industry and aviation, Uttlesford is in the top 20% (and the second highest in Essex). Particular problems arise from the rural nature of the district, which leads to dependence on private cars for transport and use of high emissions fuels for heating such as oil, LPG and electricity.

Close to both London and Cambridge, Uttlesford is well served by major road, rail and air links. The M11 runs through the district and Stansted Airport is located within its boundaries. However, due to its rural nature there are accessibility issues for some without private transport, especially in outlying villages. The district has a population density of just 1.1 per hectare which is not conducive to the provision of frequent public transport. A recent survey of bus usage in North Uttlesford revealed that 52% of users were aged 65 plus and that 65% of trips were primarily for food and other shopping. The survey also revealed that only 6% of bus users were aged 24 and under (Essex County Council, 2008).

In 2008, Uttlesford had the 7th highest number of KSI casualties in Essex (59 compared to an Essex average of around 60). The district had the 2nd highest number of KSI causalities per capita (82.63 per 100,000 population compared to a County average of around 50 per 100,000 population).  The number of KSI casualties in Uttlesford is on target (baselined 1994-1998) for 2010; after the 3rd quarter of 2009 there have been 32 KSI casualties, 12 fewer than at the same stage last year and 13 fewer than the target for this period.Young drivers and motorcyclists predominate. However, where the numbers of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured fell between 2006 and 2007, the numbers of young drivers killed or seriously injured rose.

Uttlesford is located in the North West corner of Essex and is a very attractive part of the county. The District borders Hertfordshire to the West and Cambridgeshire to the North. It is the largest district in Essex at 63,752 hectares, and is mainly rural in character with four market towns - Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow, Stansted Mountfitchet and Thaxted, and 56 parishes. The market towns have a wealth of timber framed historical buildings and medieval streets. There are 3,751 listed buildings and 34 conservation areas. The District also has a large number of villages with “chocolate box” cottages, fine churches and a scattering of windmills.

The District abounds with small and large green spaces, from tiny woods to elaborate formal gardens. On the Common in Saffron Walden is the largest turf maze in Europe and there is an impressive hedge maze in the Bridge End Gardens. Just outside Saffron Walden is the historic Audley End House which has a formal kitchen garden and is surrounded by superb parkland. The Gardens of Easton Lodge near Great Dunmow have 23 acres of terraces, formal lawns and an elegant Italian garden. Little Easton Manor is a venue for events and shows.

The District also contains the National Trust run Hatfield Forest. This is a rare and beautiful ancient woodland that was once a medieval royal hunting forest with rides, chases, coppice, wood pasture and a warren, ornamental lake and 18th century shell house that was built as a rustic grotto.

The District can claim to have been home to a variety of notable people such as Gustav Holst the composer, William Harvey, Chief Physician to Charles 1 and discoverer of circulation of the blood, William Harrison who wrote the “Description of England” an invaluable picture of social life and institutions in Elizabethan times and not forgetting that infamous highwayman, Dick Turpin!

A few years ago, according to a survey in the Sunday Times it was “the best place to live in England”. Saffron Walden the main town was recently described as the town with the highest number of slim people living in it.

The recent Sport England Active People survey results also supported the view that the people of Uttlesford are generally active and willing to volunteer to support local activities.

The District Council has always been very supportive of facilitating and enabling the local community to have access to a variety of services to enhance their quality of life. The District Council participated in the first Leisure Private Finance Initiative to provide two new Leisure Centres at Dunmow and Stansted and refurbishment of the Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre in Saffron Walden. The District Council also works with the town and parish councils to encourage the development of play and recreational areas and access to public open spaces. The District Council ensures that consultation is undertaken with the local community to establish community requirements and liaises with providers and funding organisations to enable facilities and services to be adequately resourced.

The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) rank for Uttlesford falls in the fourth quartile at 341, which makes it one of the most affluent areas in the country. Uttlesford is the least deprived District in Essex. However, due to its rural nature there are areas which are amongst the 25% most ‘access deprived’ wards in England (IMD, 2004)

Although the full details of the recent place survey have not yet been released the indications are that Uttlesford residents are very satisfied with the quality of life in the district.

Uttlesford District Council has developed Multi-agency Community Forums, the District is split into north and south and three meetings for each area are held on an annual basis to link in with the District Council’s Committee cycle. Key agencies are represented by senior officers who make formal presentation updates on core and partnership work. A workshop session then allows agency representatives to meet with members of the community to discuss any pertinent issues. Question time sessions are held on two occasions throughout the meetings. Questions and answers are published and distributed as well as placed on the website. Council officers perform the co-ordination role by ensuring answers are received to those questions that cannot be answered immediately.

Partners also participate in Joint Action Panels led by the Police to discuss issues and also link into the Neighbourhood Action Panels.

The District currently has 17 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in operation.

Council officers regularly attend the Leisure Contractor’s Customer Forums to ascertain satisfaction levels and explore service improvements required y the customers.

The Sustainable Community Strategy is currently being refreshed and the District Council is working with ECC Community Engagement Team on a project to plan a model of community engagement for the LSP and the District Council.

Uttlesford DC is implementing a consultation programme over the coming months with ECC Community Engagement Team and utilising the £10,000 allocated to districts to conduct face to face consultation. The consultation will culminate in the Uttlesford Futures Assembly planned for October 2009. The Assembly will analyse consultation so far and provide a further opportunity for partners and the public to comment on the refreshed version of the Sustainable Communities Strategy.

The District Council publishes quarterly editions of Uttlesford Life which are distributed with Essex Works magazine.

Extensive consultation has been undertaken on the Local Development Framework Core Strategy:

• Scoping and evidence gathering, consultation by face to face questioning and web based survey etc.
• Consideration of issues and options
• Consideration of draft proposals and policies
• Preparation of final document to plan the future development of the district.

The District Council has participated in a Building Capacities East Migrant Worker Project that undertook investigations and a major survey all of which resulted the establishment of the REVI Group to support the migrant communities.

Uttlesford Futures has considered how the contents of the Empowerment White Paper is already complied with and has incorporated further requirements outlined into the LSP work programme for further investigations and development.

Additionally, the District Council encourages community representatives and individuals to have a say by addressing Council Committees prior to the formal commencement of the meetings. Committee agendas have formal items for the reporting back on community engagement issues via the Multi-agency Community Forums.

The Uttlesford Futures Local Strategic Partnership Structure:

Uttlesford Futures Assembly – annual meeting of interested parties to determine the content of the Sustainable Community Strategy.

• Uttlesford Futures Board (Chaired by a District Councillor)
• Uttlesford Futures Management Team
• There are six Thematic Working Groups:
• Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP)
• Healthy Communities and Older People (HCOP)
• Economic Development, Learning and Skills Working Group
• Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy Group (CDRP)
• Environment Working Group (EWG)
• Transport and Accessibility (T and A)

There are four further sub-groups

• Safer Healthier Communities (Alcohol, Drugs and Domestic Violence)
• Youth Initiatives Working Group (the Youth Forum is represented on this Group)
• Social Care Forum.
• Road Safety Working Group

The Thematic Working Groups have previously funded and delivered projects and are currently developing a new set of action plans to ensure resources are used to meet the needs of the community. Some of the plans are to carry out a business survey to find out what support local companies need and Uttlesford District Council is looking into the provision of job clubs to provide employment help and advice.

The agencies involved in the partnership are:

• Council for Voluntary Services
• Essex Fire and Rescue Services
• Essex Police
• Learning and Skills Council
• Essex County Council
• Federation of Small Businesses
• Sustainable Uttlesford
• Uttlesford Association of Local Councils
• Uttlesford District Council
• NHS West Essex 

The following documents have been used as sources of statistical information to determine the areas that the partnership needs to concentrate on:

• 2001 Census
• Local Area Agreement
• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
• Sustainable Communities Strategy
• Strategic Assessment
• Uttlesford District Council’s Corporate Plan
• Leisure and Cultural Strategy
• Children and Young People’s Partnership Plan
• Housing Needs Assessment
• Budget Community Consultation Process
• Parish Plans
• Uttlesford at Play
• Tracker Survey
• Place Survey
• Mosaic
• 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.

The politicians and officers engage with a wide range groups and organisations at Regional, County and District level. Uttlesford Futures is represented on the Regional LSP Practitioners Group (alongside ECC representation), Essex Partnership Forum, LSP Chairs Group and the LSP Lead Officers Group. All of which provides considerable opportunities for consideration of partnership working issues and to collectively develop a strong approach to maximising our resources in Essex.

Uttlesford Futures is fully engaged in the Performance Reward Grant process with ECC colleagues which has resulted in a diverse range of projects being delivered in Uttlesford to contribute towards achieving successful outcomes for the local and national performance indicators. The PRG process has been a useful process in highlighting to partners how important it is for specific LSP initiatives to link in with the County-wide Thematic Working Groups for a more uniform approach to dealing with some of the similar issues faced both at County and local level.

The Multi-agency Community Forums are important vehicles for the community to question the agencies and politicians and to inform the direction that the organisations should take to fulfill community requirements.

Uttlesford Futures is currently considering how the COMPACT can be used to ensure that it is most effective in improving working arrangements with the voluntary sector.

Uttlesford is one of four Districts whose residents have the longest life expectancy and is in the best quartile for end of life care.  In 2007 it was above the national average for female mortality rates for all forms of cancer and had the highest mortality rates for both breast and prostate cancer; the trend in relation to breast cancer is now reducing possibly due to increased awareness campaigns. Uttlesford was also above the East of England average for hypertension. 

HELP – Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Programme has been run in the 3 Leisure Centres over the last 3 years and has been particularly successful in reducing participants’ blood pressure levels, increasing weight loss and fitness levels.  The programme provides advice and activity sessions including Healthy Walks and tending allotments.   The scheme is being rolled out to the more rural areas of the district by using community and village halls.  A seated exercise programme is commencing in sheltered accommodation to encourage residents to remain as active as possible for as long as possible.

Uttlesford also has a lower obesity level than the national average and was above the England rate for participation in sport in 2005/06.  The MEND (Mind Exercise Nutrition and Do it) programme is being delivered to children with obesity problems and their families to educate them about the benefits of healthy eating and regular exercise.  Post MEND activities have been set up in all of the Leisure Centres at low cost to the participants to ensure that activities continue to be available to them and for the MEND participants to continue to support each other as part of the group.

Uttlesford was above the England rate for participation in sport in 2005/06.  Uttlesford District Council has entered into a 32 year Private Finance Initiative to provide leisure facilities and until Government funding was withdrawn participated in the free swimming initiative for both under 16s and over 60s.  Uttlesford District Council also provides Sports Outreach Workers to work with young people in the evenings to develop basketball and football.

NHS West Essex runs smoking cessation programmes.  This is part of work undertaken with young people and will be part of a youth education day.  The work links into other events such as the Carnival Community Day

The male suicide rate was above the national rate in 2007. Uttlesford had the lowest rate of the working age population claiming benefit/allowance for mental health or behavioural problems in 2005.  The Teams Around Schools, Children and Communities (TASCC) manages the Tier 2 workers who feed into various working groups to plan improvements for young people’s Mental Health.   There is also Mental Health worker representation on the LSP Healthy Communities and Older People’s Forum.

In relation to teenage pregnancy the APAUSE programme has been run in local schools, and the C-Card is promoted in Uttlesford.  Teenage pregnancy and sexual health messages are also delivered via the Reality Roadshow project.

NHS West Essex runs Chlamydia Screening programmes and awareness of sexually transmitted diseases will be included in the youth education day.  As above the C-Card is promoted in the District.

In 2005 Uttlesford was one of two Districts with the highest rates of babies born with low birth weight higher rates than the East of England and ECC. 

The NHS is leading on promoting breastfeeding and information is available via parenting programmes and the children’s centres.

Uttlesford had a higher rate of MMR immunisation of 2 year olds in 2005/06 than ECC and close to the rate for the East of England.

To provide support for people to live at home and for carers the Social Care Forum supports the agencies involved in supporting people such as Uttlesford Carers, the Voluntary Car Journey scheme and Uttlesford Community Travel (which is also funded by the Council).  Leisure Centres in the District offer a concession card which allows carers to attend with the “cared for” free of charge.  The Council for Voluntary Services Uttlesford maintains a database of voluntary support organisations and the web based Services for Older People’s Directory. 

In relation to the protection of vulnerable people, Uttlesford Futures has contributed towards the Safer Doorstep Campaign led by the Police to educate vulnerable people about how to protect themselves from crime and to establish neighbour support to deal with the problem of nuisance callers.  The Home Audits project is being developed to provide residents with advice and guidance on how to reduce energy costs and improve safety and security in the home (PRG funded).

Uttlesford was below the regional average for households accepted as homeless in 2005/06.

Uttlesford Futures working groups (the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, the multi-agency Youth Initiatives Working Group and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Group  contribute towards the development  and delivery of a range of projects to meet the needs of local children and young people such as Firebreak; Crucial Crew; Reality Roadshow, Motorwise; Operation YAM – youth event to communicate support that can be provided by local agencies during the Summer break.

The Play Strategy and Big Lottery funding has recently delivered 2 new play areas and 2 new multi-use games areas, secured part-time temporary Play Outreach Workers and supported further access to the Buffy Bus pre-school children and their parents.  A number of parenting schemes are being delivered in Uttlesford.  The Schools Sports Partnership feeds into the Youth Initiatives Sub-group and delivers after school sports initiatives such as athletics.  Further investigation by Uttlesford District Council is required into the development of after school athletics courses due to the considerable number of children currently wishing to participate

In relation to exclusion or absenteeism from school, Uttlesford Futures Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) supports the Essex Association of Boys and Girls Clubs Respect programme which provides young people at risk of being excluded or lacking in confidence with opportunities and encouragement to develop a sense of self worth.  Members of the partnership also support the Alternative Education Project for young people excluded from school.

The Youth Offending Team is taking on the removal of graffiti from buildings in the District.  This is not a major problem but it is closely monitored.  The CDRP is also providing Parish Councils with graffiti removal kits to enable them to deal with small scale occurrences.

Projects are being developed in the District to support NEET (Not in Education, Employment and Training) young people in gaining confidence, improving skills and providing encouragement to apply for jobs and training courses, for example Engage Plus – partnership with Catch 22 young people’s charity (PRG funded); Juice Bar – a social enterprise company; Z-Bikes – a moped loan scheme to provide young people with transport to access training and employment in partnership with Catch 22.  Uttlesford District Council is investigating whether there are appropriate projects aimed at NEET young people can link up to provide a more seamless approach are being investigated.

Uttlesford had a high rate of managerial and professional workers in 2006, although more than a fifth of working age adults had no qualifications.

Uttlesford had the highest rate of new business registrations in 2006.  The number of VAT registered businesses in 2007 was: 4,305, and in 2008 weekly average earnings were £601.6; and workplace weekly average earnings were £484.4.

The number of affordable homes built in 07/8 was 50.  The estimated shortfall in new affordable housing units is 570.  Uttlesford is in the best quartile for 2007/08 performance regarding the percentage of non-decent LA dwellings; it also has the lowest rate of council tax benefit recipients in 2007 and the lowest rate of lone parent households in 2001. Residents rated affordable housing a particularly high priority although there was low demand for social housing in 2006.  Current Planning guidance has increased the percentage of social housing required for housing developments.

Uttlesford District Council works in partnership with Town and Parish Councils to ensure the countryside is protected and maintained.  Uttlesford Futures is supporting intensive work with the businesses occupying a single industrial estate to assist them to reduce their carbon footprint. (PRG Funded).  The Home Audits project will encourage residents to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions by providing advice and guidance, as well funding home safety improvements (PRG funded.)  This is an enhancement to a new scheme (Herts Essex Energy Partnership) that has East of England Regional Assembly funding for grants and loans for energy efficiency improvements and low carbon technologies in private homes.  Uttlesford District Council has a climate change strategy and a cross department working group.  Uttlesford has an ongoing programme of emissions reduction improvements to buildings and fleet including energy efficiency, and consideration of renewable and alternative fuels. Uttlesford District Council has sought to engage its partners on the benefits of carbon management.

On a per capita basis Uttlesford has a higher tonnage of CO₂ than the average for the UK, it was also the District with the largest ecological footprint in 2001/02.  Level of pollution is an issue for Uttlesford residents in the Tracker survey. Uttlesford District Council is working with Sustainable Uttlesford to develop carbon reduction initiatives. Uttlesford Futures may possibly hold another Peak Oil Presentation.

Planning policy and the Local Development Framework take environmental protection into account when new developments are proposed. New housing must meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 standard. New non domestic dwellings must meet BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standard. Domestic extensions must have basic energy efficiency improvements to the existing dwelling when extended as a condition of planning.  In 2007/08 59% of new homes were built on previously developed land.  All applications were checked for compliance with sustainability standards

Uttlesford District Council and Uttlesford Futures work closely with ECC Highways Department to improve highways issues.  In particular, a representative from the Highways Department attends each of the Uttlesford Community Forum Meetings to communicate with the local community about work in progress and to seek the views of the community. 

Public transport was a high priority for residents in the 2006/07 General Survey. The Transport Working Group has developed an action plan incorporating improvements to public transport, cycling provision and implementation of the Quality Taxi Scheme.

A review of street cleaning is being undertaken and recommendations will be implemented to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service

Uttlesford District Council has a Waste Management Strategy and it is exploring partnership options with neighbouring councils to provide better value for money services. Uttlesford District Council’s performance for waste recycled and composted was significantly better than the England average in 2007/08.

The district had the 2nd highest number of KSI causalities per capita (82.63 per 100,000 population compared to a county average of around 50 per 100,000 population).  Uttlesford Futures delivers projects to children and young people to communicate road safety messages, for example Crucial Crew, Motorwise, and the Reality Roadshow.  ECC Road Safety Officers are based in the Uttlesford District Council offices and work closely with partners, community groups and schools to create awareness of road safety issues and deliver cycle training initiatives.  Police and Road Safety Officers work together on a range of initiatives to improve road safety, including Bike Safe, random testing of motorist, and monitoring speeding campaigns.  Parish Councils and Volunteers participate in community speedwatch campaigns.

Uttlesford had a rate for estimated prevalence of drug misuse in 2004/05 which was above the Essex average.  Uttlesford District Council employs a Community Development Officer to deliver Drugs and Alcohol education to school children and young people and to work closely with the Essex Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service on initiatives and events.  Uttlesford Futures secured £13k Home Office funding for educational materials and a specialist Police vehicle initiative.  The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) has run training sessions for local licencees and the proof of age card operates in Uttlesford to try to tackle underage drinking.

Uttlesford District Council hosts the CDRP funded Anti-social Behaviour Officer and is currently pursuing the temporary employment of a Family Intervention Project Worker funded by the Performance Reward Grant to provide further support to families either at risk of being involved in anti-social behaviour or at risk of losing their homes due to participating in anti-social behaviour.  The partnership has participated in running the Prison ‘No Way’ scheme to educate young people about the outcomes of offending.  This scheme has formed part of the Alternative Education Programme. 

Uttlesford District Council also undertakes campaigns at hotspot times such as Halloween and Fireworks night.  An Anti-social Behaviour Officer and a Drugs and Alcohol Worker participate in Police operations such as Moonscape to educate young people caught behaving anti-socially.  This anti-social behaviour related work contributes towards preventing young people from entering the criminal justice system.  The District had a higher rate of abandoned vehicles in 2005/06 than the Essex or England average and was in the worst quartile. 

Uttlesford Futures contributes towards the funding of a Police Community Support Officer.  The possibility of Parish Councils contributing to this scheme is being considered.  In the majority of cases of this type of crime the perpetrator is known to the victim, rather than there being random incidences.  The District Council will be endeavouring to communicate this fact to the local community to increase awareness.

Uttlesford District Council raises awareness of the impact of domestic violence through the “Safe Uttlesford” information web site, the District also works with families through the local Family Centre and the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs).

Uttlesford is a low crime area and with few incidences of serious acquisitive crimes it is difficult to identify clear patterns and trends.

The Police specialist unit provides support to victims of serious sexual offences.  Further agency support is provided as required, for example via Uttlesford District Council’s Housing Department and by referral to Women’s Refuges.

The Police Schools Liaison Officers work in schools to create awareness of the definition and effects of bullying, this is also addressed through the Reality Roadshow project.  The Uttlesford Police Division now has a Youth Partnership team in place and has developed a web site through Facebook to communicate with young people.

In the Place Survey 2008/09 68.2% of Uttlesford residents felt safe after dark.  Uttlesford also had the lowest rate of recorded crime in 2006/07.  Through multi-agency meetings the police and partners reinforce the message that Uttlesford is the safest District in the county.

The Strategic Assessment has identified the following priorities for the partnership to concentrate on during 2009; Anti-Social behaviour, Fear of Crime Drugs and Alcohol Related Crime and Other Crimes e.g. domestic violence, burglary.

Uttlesford District Council will be utilising as many methods as possible to communicate to local residents that whilst the incidences of the above are low the Police continue to receive the support of the partnership where appropriate to tackle crime in the district.

Uttlesford Futures is leading on an Access to Services project to better understand whether the issues relate to transport, lack of services or lack of awareness of services available.

The Leisure Private Finance Initiative has secured the provision of three high quality centres for 32 years.  Uttlesford District Council participated in the Government’s free swimming initiative for both the under 16 and the over 60 year olds.  Uttlesford District Council is applying for funding for the construction of another swimming pool in the district under the free swimming initiative.

A vibrant new exhibition showcasing beautifully colourful textiles mostly from pre-revolutionary China was held at Saffron Walden Museum in March 2010.  Silks of Life: Traditions, Fashions and Culture of Pre-Revolutionary China tells stories about Chinese life and culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the use of exquisite textiles produced in that era.  The exhibition centered on the themes of birth, marriage and the role of the family. On show were a Chinese wedding dress and special occasion gowns embroidered with rich symbolic designs, as well as a delicately embroidered child’s waistcoat, robes worn during pilgrimage and worship, and military and civil servants’ costumes.  Alongside the wealth of garments on display were e a number of accessories, such as an elegant pair of silk shoes worn when binding a girl’s feet from childhood was still in practice.  Silks of Life shed light on the relationship between Chinese society and fashion, offering a glimpse into the important role that colour, design, tradition and symbolism in fashion played in Chinese life. The influence of Chinese themes on Western design were also explored, through beautiful textile samples on loan from the Warner Textile Archive.  Silks of Life tours Essex during 2010 as part of the celebration of Essex County Council’s 20 year partnership with the Jiangsu province in China. It was created to celebrate these links in partnership with the Museums in Essex Committee.  The exhibition was produced by Essex County Council, Saffron Walden Museum, Braintree District Museum Trust Ltd. and funded by The Essex Jiangsu Festival, Essex County Council and the Museums in Essex Committee.

Uttlesford has the highest number of clubs and societies in Essex.  Uttlesford District Council distributes Community Projects and Leisure and Cultural Grants schemes and works with community groups to further improve voluntary community initiatives.  Uttlesford District Council also provides Leisure and Cultural grants to contribute towards the development of arts initiatives.  The Saffron Walden Museum participates in a range of county-wide initiatives and exhibitions.

Uttlesford District Council has secured £50k Big Lottery funding for the development of a play area as part of a larger recreation ground development in a rural part of the district.  There is also multi-agency support for children centres and parenting programmes.