A healthy borough but it needs more homes built
CALDERDALE ADULTS are fitter than anywhere else in 20 comparative northern boroughs – but challenges the authority faces include delivering many more new homes.
Statistics were among those discussed by Calderdale Council’s Cabinet, with the borough almost in the top quarter overall, in sixth place out of 20 according to indicators which range from life expectancy to social care, taking in issues including average pay and education along the way.
Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said the indicators were useful pointers to what was being achieved and what still needed to be done. She was pleased the council was top ranking for adults’ physical activity, with a higher percentage – 68.4 per cent – of active adults than any of the other comparable 20 boroughs, which range from St Helens to North Tyneside. Health partners played an important role and activity bringing health benefits. “Our GPs have really embraced the idea that it would be good for people’s health,” she said.
Calderdale scored highly in terms of life expectancy for men and women (fourth and fifth), older people receiving long term adult social care, Progress 8 scores per pupil (second) and percentage of adults with digital skills (fourth). But there were significant challenges including highway repairs (14th), where she said the borough has a very high number of unclassified roads needing upgrading with a potential £54.5 million cost, total crimes (16th), though figures are slightly down on the same point last year, and particularly building new homes (18th).
“We are still doing very badly at provision of new homes, places for our children and grandchildren to live,” said Coun Scullion.
It was frustrating Calderdale had a lot of planning permissions extant but not developed, she said, while the council’s Local Plan was out for examination. Partnerships with social housing providers like Together were being developed. Once the council could deliver on these things there would be an unblocking of the pipeline, she said.
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