livin Newton Aycliffe Local Offer 2012-15

the community at heart

Equality and Diversity

livin aims to ensure that Equality and Diversity lies at the heart of our business and allows our customers to access high quality services tailored to their individual diverse needs. It is our policy to provide access to services and employment equality to all, irrespective of age, race or ethnic origin, gender, marital or family status, religious or philosophical belief or political opinion, disability, nationality or sexual orientation. As part of our commitment we, and our working partners, aim to treat everyone as equal citizens and recognise, support and value the diversity of the communities in which they live. Contact Us Communities Team livin, Farrell House, Arlington Way DurhamGate, Spennymoor, Co. Durham, DL16 6NL

0800 587 4538 (free from a landline) or 0300 111 2234 (low rate call from a mobile phone depending on your network)

contactus@livin.co.uk

livin.co.uk

Local Offers Newton Aycliffe

Welcome to your Local Offer Local offers are the standards set by you, our tenants, that we will use and monitor from April 2011. livin’s previous local offer has been completed and now pledges that in each community we will deliver the local offers or actions detailed in this document. Delivery of the local offers will be monitored by livin tenants. The local offers are based on what we have learnt from your community through producing 19 community plans in 2011 and 2012. The local offers have taken the previous actions from the community plans, remaining promises from transfer and your views to create a new set of standards and actions in your area. livin wants to provide, safe and attractive communities that people want to live and work in. The main Community Plan is still available on www.livin.co.uk and forms the basis of our knowledge about Newton Aycliffe. The intelligence used in this Local Offer comes from a number of different data sources, including the 2001 Census, Experian Mosaic Public Sector Profiles * (locally based information) and from comprehensive consultation with local residents, groups and partner organisations. * This information groups together and classifies households with similar behaviours, characteristics and lifestyles.

Local Offers Newton Aycliffe

Average house price: Population:

£73,032 26,823 livin homes: Average weekly income:

2,801 £411

Your community Newton Aycliffe has a population of approximately 26,823 and the average house price is £73,032. The average weekly income is £411 which is slightly higher than the North East average. livin is the main registered housing provider for the area and owns 2801 properties, consisting of a wide range of house types. livin’s sheltered housing schemes at Gilpin Court and Simpasture Court contain bedsits and one bedroom flats. 19.8% of livin’s properties are one to three bedroom bungalows and 69.28% are two to four bedroom houses. There is a wide range of housing tenures in the town with 61.95% of households own their own home, this is lower than the County Durham average. 33.1% of households live in social housing (including livin properties), this is significantly higher than the County Durham average. 26.1% of households in the community consist of single persons, and 61.45% are couples or families. The community is served by Great Aycliffe Town Council and is part of the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership.

Services and facilities The community has good access to local health services and healthcare such as doctors, dentists and a pharmacy. Newton Aycliffe benefits from a large selection of retail outlets with the majority being located within the town centre location. The town centre is also the location of the library and leisure centre. Travel out of the area is required for specialist goods and services. There are ten local parks and play areas within the community that offer the use of outdoor play equipment and sporting facilities. These areas are well maintained by Great Aycliffe Town Council. There is good access to nursery, primary and secondary school education. Mosaic profile intelligence indicates that the majority of livin tenants and the wider community are more likely not to access services themselves and prefer methods of communication to be direct face to face contact ,or through indirect contact via local newspapers. Using this data livin can look to adapt the way we communicate with our tenants and the wider community in this area to ensure the best possible results.

Crime and antisocial behaviour Your local Beat Team have stated that the majority of issues reported from this community are in respect of noise nuisance, domestic disturbances, alcohol related ASB, assaults (town centre pubs), criminal damage and thefts from vehicles. Residents have raised concerns during consultation that problems of noisy neighbours and drug related crime are problems within the community. Mosaic profile intelligence data helps to support this view of residents with the majority of livin households having a higher than average perception and fear of being a victim of crime. During 2011/2012, livin received 88 complaints of nuisance and antisocial behaviour in the community. Employment The number of residents in employment or actively seeking employment is slightly lower than the County Durham average. When compared to the rest of Durham County, higher than average numbers of residents are employed in skilled trades, (for example, electricians, motor mechanics and plumbers); sales and customer service roles; process, plant and machine operative roles and within elementary occupations (for example labourers, kitchen assistants and bar staff). In May 2012, there was a higher percentage of residents unemployed for both 0 to 6 and 6 to 12 months when compared to the rest of County Durham. In June 2012, 36.1% of residents that were claiming Jobseekers Allowance were between 16 to 24 years old, and a further 15.6% were aged 50 years or over. These are higher than the Durham County averages.

Health The general level of health in the community is better than that of the County as a whole. In August 2010, 11.42% of residents claiming a key out of work benefit were claiming Incapacity Benefit because of disability or illness. This is slightly higher than the County Durham average (10%) and 5.42% higher than the National average. Education 34.85% of residents have no formal qualifications. 20.1% of residents have five GCSE’s with grades C or above, this being higher than the County Durham average. Only 12.1% of residents have a degree or similar qualification, this being lower than the County Durham average of 14.5%. Your community issues:

Jobs Anti-Social Behaviour Lack of parking facilities throughout the community Lack of affordable housing

Your community priority rating livin has been able to rate Newton Aycliffe based on the issues that are important in your community. The areas needing the highest priority have been rated as BRONZE.

SILVER BRONZE

Community Issues Priority Rating 2011 - 2012

Priority Rating 2012 – 2013

Aycliffe Old

Town Aycliffe New

Town Newton Aycliffe

Buying a house SILVER SILVER SILVER

livin housing lets GOLD BRONZE SILVER

Demand for livin housing GOLD GOLD GOLD

Average repair costs per

property GOLD SILVER GOLD

Long term unemployment

(6 - 12 months) GOLD GOLD BRONZE

Average household income BRONZE GOLD GOLD

Rent arrears SILVER BRONZE BRONZE

Qualifications (5 GCSE’s Grade C & Above)

SILVER GOLD GOLD

Community environmental survey SILVER SILVER SILVER

Overall community rating SILVER SILVER SILVER

Your community priority rating explained This rating has indicated a need to reduce unemployment for residents aged 16 to 24 years and 50 years or over, and promote and encourage opportunities for education and training that may help residents access an opportunity for or actual employment. There is also a need to improve money advice in the community to help improve income levels and help reduce rent arrears.

BRONZE

GOLD

SILVER we will plan actions to address the issues and monitor throughout 2012-2015

we will support and maintain throughout 2012-2015

we will take actions throughout 2012-2013

Buying a house In general, homes in Newton Aycliffe are affordable for most households. Therefore this has been rated Silver. However, many residents will require extra support to access affordable housing in the community. livin is investing in Newton Aycliffe to help the community access new and affordable homes and we expect to have started building works on up to a total of 45 new properties by the end of 2014/15. These homes will consist of bungalows and two and three bedroomed houses. Education The percentage of residents with five GCSE grades (Grades C and above) is higher than the County Durham average. We have therefore given a Gold rating to this. The percentage of residents with a degree or professional qualification is lower when compared to the rest of County Durham. Mosaic profile data supports this information stating that the majority of residents in livin households are unlikely to be educated to degree level and additionally, are unlikely to continue education over the age of 16. livin is keen to help increase educational opportunities for its tenants and local residents. We aim to do this by working closely with local educational providers and community groups. Long term unemployment Short term unemployment of up to six months and for those twelve months and over is higher than the Durham County average. However, unemployment between 6 to 12 months is lower than the County Durham average. As a result this indicator has been rated as Bronze.

It is clear that this rating indicates that there may be temporary or short term contract work being undertaken by residents but seeking lasting employment beyond twelve months is difficult so the Bronze rating shows there is a need to work with residents to support and help them achieve long lasting employment. We have identified that people aged 16 to 24 and 50 or over find it particularly difficult to find jobs. livin is committed to supporting this and other age groups into work. Average household income The weekly household income in Newton Aycliffe is estimated to be £1 higher than the North East average. Therefore, this has been rated as Gold. Although livin is aware that there are pockets of low income and benefit dependency. Mosaic profile intelligence indicates that it expects that more than 66% of livin households have an income of less than £15,000, this includes a high proportion of benefit dependant households located in areas of high levels of unemployment. livin is keen to help residents in Newton Aycliffe that receive welfare benefits to learn new skills so they can find employment and increase household income. We aim to do this by working closely with community groups, agencies and local businesses. livin provides a Smart Money Service that can provide information and sign posting about money and debt management. Rent arrears The level of rent arrears in Newton Aycliffe are higher when compared to the rest of livin’s communities. Therefore we have given this a Bronze rating. livin is aware that not all un paid rent is simply a refusal to pay and therefore will offer support and guidance through our Smart Money Team to those residents but take robust recovery action against those residents who refuse to pay.

What livin has done in your community so far ............................................

• Promotion of livin services at Great Aycliffe Show • livin has funded the Christmas pantomime trip for the children at JAFFA Club ( Burnhill

Methodist Church) • Catering & commemorative mugs for Jubilee celebration event at Silverdale House • Catering & commemorative mugs for Jubilee celebration event at ‘Mind’. • 14 new affordable homes built in Newton Aycliffe • Catering & party pack for Jubilee celebrations for Simpasture Court, Gilpin Court, Gilpin

Road and A.C.O.R.N residents group. • livin has supported gym improvements for Aycliffe Amateur Boxing Club • livin has sponsored five junior and youth football clubs in Newton Aycliffe.

Local Offers Newton Aycliffe

Local Offers livin’s Community Coordinator will identify livin tenants and refer them for employment training sessions. livin will deliver a signposting service to livin tenants aged 16 to 24 years with the aim of raising financial confidence. livin will work in partnership with Crimestoppers to address anti-social behaviour and crime and promote tools that will help tenants report those people responsible. livin will coordinate and attend quarterly drop in sessions to address anti-social behaviour. livin will organise two Jobs Fairs in early summer and late Autumn 2013 to provide support to residents seeking to secure employment with transport to them if required. livin will work in partnership with Job Centre Plus and local employers to provide both work experience placements for residents and Employability Training around CV preparation, completing application forms, interview techniques and job search training. livin will develop a pre-apprenticeship programme for residents aged16 – 18 years, focusing on introductions to vocational training, employability training and work experience. livin will refer residents to access up to £1,000 of training via the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership’s Employability Skills Fund with the aim of helping them to gain employment. livin will work in partnership with Durham County Council and local schools to encourage participation in local environmental initiatives. livin will publish its Environmental Assessment Annual Programme detailing the frequency and month(s) of inspection. livin will implement Foundation Of Light family learning initiative to the schools in Newton Aycliffe that are identified as being in greatest need in 2013/14. livin will attend resident meetings and Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings as required throughout the year to discuss issues facing the community and to ensure livin resources are targeted in the appropriate areas. livin will improve communal areas of flats and maisonettes in Newton Aycliffe, including new doors, upgrading of stair wells and the communal bin areas. livin will work in partnership with local health providers to support identified health priorities for the area. livin will investigate high levels of void turnover in the Western and Agnew areas and suggest solutions to address this. livin will provide additional parking at Baliol Road and Clarence Chare. livin will build 45 new affordable homes in the Horndale, Central and Simpasture areas. These homes will consist of bungalows and houses and will be completed by the end of 2014. livin will work in partnership to improve facilities at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre to support and promote local community groups.

Full details of the system used for these ratings can be found in livin’s Community Plans for Newton Aycliffe To view or request a full copy of livin’s Community Plans for Newton Aycliffe please visit www.livin.co.uk or contact us on 0800 587 4538 (free from a landline) or 0300 111 2234 (cheap rate from mobiles depending on your network).