The State of Sandwell 2009
This years State of Sandwell Report is based around the key areas of Sandwell’s local area agreement (LAA) and the three new shared priorities for 2010/13 - Active and well people; A safe, clean place to live; Educated and skilled people in employment. We have listed appropriate national indicator numbers to aid in interpreting where figures fit into the LAA. This document only scratches the surface of the rich picture that makes Sandwell unique.
We are closing the gap with GCSE results, and absences are falling. Some challenges exist for our young people: teenage pregnancies are still high in Sandwell; and children here are more likely to be obese.
Mortality rates from circulatory diseases increased in 2007, but the trend is falling at a faster rate than the national average. Participation in sport remains low, and smoking prevalence remains high.
The economic future will be turbulent for Sandwell, the economic downturn has led to significantly increased numbers claiming out-of-work benefits.
The downturn has led to decreasing house prices within the borough. Whilst the numbers of net additional homes built remains high for 2007/08, this predates the impact of the recession. Since 2004 there has been a gradual increase in the number of affordable homes built.
Spending on public sector housing has seen significant reductions in the numbers of non-decent homes.
For more information, download the document here.
