Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Quality of Life Report 2009 Hertfordshire Environmental Forum

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March Background 2. Key Findings from 2009 Report - Economic slowdown - Areas of high performance - Natural resource and environmental challenges 3. Further information and publication

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Background Annual report – first published 1992 Collaborative production 17 sections – economic, social and environmental Over 40 indicators plus additional information Wide and varied audience Recognised by Audit Commission for Best Practice

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Changes in reporting for 2009 Review of indicators to incorporate new National Indicators (NIs) Refocusing of Economy & Employment “Leisure” section becomes “Culture”

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March Key findings Economic slowdown Areas of high performance Natural resource and environmental challenges

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 County’s economy still fundamentally strong despite recession JSA claimants double in a year from low baseline Median earnings remain high Skills base remains very competitive vs regional and national

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Prices dip whilst sales volumes fall by 58% to 15 year low Affordability remains low -Hertfordshire East of England - 8 -England - 7

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Traffic levels drop – a sign of a slowing economy? Despite improvements in public transport use, car remains dominant mode County continues to see an increase in pupils travelling sustainably to school

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Crime continued to fall in the county in 2008/09 and Hertfordshire ended the year at its lowest level since 2002 making the county one of the safest in England Home burglary is a concern; having been at its lowest level in 2006/07 it has increased in the past year

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Continued high performance in the county’s schools Attainment levels at foundation key stage (NI 72) improved for 5 th consecutive year Attainment levels at key stage 4 (NI 75 – 5 A*-C GCSEs incl. English and maths) improved by 1.3% to 59.2% (national average 50.4%) Ofsted inspections 2008/09 – primary schools judged as ‘outstanding’ rose by 17% to 33% of schools (national average 13%)

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March % reduction in net additional homes completed Development on PDL - 93% - up 6% on 2007/08 - exceeds national target (60%)

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 New indicator to measure fuel poverty Renewable energy generating capacity – very low in comparison with neighbours Residential consumption – small reduction in gas; little change in electricity Commercial consumption – 6% reduction in gas; little change in electricity

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Little change in domestic consumption – still high River quality improves slightly on previous year - 73% ‘good’ or ‘very good’ - 95% ‘fair’ or better

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Summers: temperatures could increase by 2.4°C – 4.5°C with up to 26% less rainfall by the end of the century Winters: temperatures could increases by 1.0°C – 3.7°C with up to 26% more rainfall by the end of the century Carbon dioxide emissions from residential, commercial & industrial and road transport sources continue to fall

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Household waste reduced by 2% Recycling of household waste up from 37.6% to 44% St Albans, North Herts & Hertsmere performing particularly well Amount of household waste sent to landfill fell below 50% for first time (49.7%)

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March % decline in house sparrow numbers (2006/07) Sky lark numbers down Improvement in song thrush numbers (2006/07) and hare sightings up (2009) against long term decline Lack of volunteers continues to affect monitoring 92% of SSSIs in a favourable condition

Environment and Planning Panel 9 th March 2010 Publication date: End of March 2010 Website: