Stirling Council. Annual Report

Transcription

1 Stirling Council Annual Report 20-

2 Stirling Council Annual Report 20- Foreword from the Chief Executive This Annual Report, covering the financial year 20-, outlines the continuing progress we are making in delivering efficient services for local people. The progress we have made in tackling homelessness and our significant achievement in recycling and composting over 50% of Stirling s waste are especially notable. In November 20 the Council was very encouraged by publication of the Best Value audit, undertaken by Audit Scotland. These major audits are undertaken for all councils and take a close look at how councils are organised to provide services that meet people s needs and whether they are as efficient and effective as possible. The audit of Stirling Council found that our overall performance is good and we have good prospects for future improvement. Since the last Best Value report in 2005, the audit found we have made substantial progress, our governance arrangements are good and we are performing well across a number of areas. Of course, we can always do better. The audit found some service areas where further improvement work is required, particularly roads, waste management and social care. It also suggested we need to improve our partnership working. We have taken all of this on board whilst developing the Council s Improvement Plan. The local government elections in May 20 resulted in changes to the political make-up of Stirling Council. No single party received an overall majority of seats and following negotiations the Labour and Conservative Groups have come together to form a new partnership. This Annual Report covers the period April 20 to March 20, and therefore relates to the period before the new Labour- Conservative partnership took office. One of their first tasks was to put in place a revised set of strategic priorities for the Council, Serving Stirling. In addition to reporting on performance in 20-, this report provides details of the new strategic priorities that are to be implemented over the next five years. Serving Stirling means that we have clear strategic priorities from our political leaders. The Best Value audit gives us independent confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. Our Improvement Plan gives us a firm indication of where we need to focus our improvement efforts. Taken together, these three documents put us in a strong position to move forward, working increasingly efficiently and effectively for the people of Stirling. 1

3 Contents Introduction 3 Page Our Strategic Objectives: we will Diversify the Economy and Nurture Local Business 4 Grow the Visitor Economy 9 Remove Barriers to Employment 13 Provide Learning for Life, Work and Wellbeing 17 Make All Communities Safe Communities 23 Address Housing Needs 28 Tackle Underlying Causes of Poverty and Disadvantage 33 Support and Care for the Vulnerable 38 Improve the Environment 45 Encourage Participation and Responsibility 51 Promote Diversity and Equality and Tackle Inequality 55 Make Stirling More Sustainable 59 Improve the Quality and Impact of Our Services 64 Manage our Resources Effectively 69 2

4 Introduction This report presents an update on progress made by the council towards our priorities and performance targets during the financial year of 20-. The report is structured around the strategic and organisational objectives from Shaping Stirling, Stirling Council s Strategic Plan. For each objective the report then goes on to explain how the council has contributed to the delivery of these high-level outcomes. This includes key activities, events and achievements that have taken place during the financial year across a range of our services and teams. This is supplemented by a summary of related performance indicators, comparing ourselves to the other councils in Scotland wherever possible (the full set of indicators for each section is included in the table at the end). The symbols used are as follows: Status Alert Warning OK Trend (compared to last year) Improving No Change Getting Worse Data Only (no target set) For each of these objectives the report starts with some local contextual information, outlining how we work with our partners at an area-wide level to deliver improvements in the quality of life and opportunities of citizens, communities and customers of public services. A selection of outcome indicators is included for each area - in some cases the figures for these indicators may be older than 20- as a result of a time lag in collecting information. The performance we have reported is always the latest available to us. The complete set of Stirling outcomes and indicators can be found in our Single Outcome Agreement: Further performance-related information can be accessed on the Stirling Council website, including an overview of our performance management framework and a guide to some of the most commonly used terms and phrases: Also in this report where relevant are details of some of the research projects carried out this year to gather customer insight. Further details on any of these projects can be requested from the Performance & Research Team: research@stirling.gov.uk. This research helps the council to understand the needs, preferences and expectations of Stirling s residents and service users. These, along with the results of external inspections that are also presented in this report, contribute to the continuous improvement of our services. In May 20 Local Government Elections were held across Scotland. This has resulted in a change in the political leadership of Stirling Council. Our new elected members have now developed a revised set of priorities for Serving Stirling until Each section of this report provides a list of these new objectives, which will be used for future reporting of our performance. We hope that this report helps our residents and service users to understand our priorities, how we are taking action to achieve them and what current performance figures are telling us about our progress. We welcome all feedback on the Annual Report, as this enables us to make changes to ensure it is even more user friendly in the future. We have therefore set up a short survey, which should only take a couple of minutes to complete: 3

5 We will Diversify the Economy and Nurture Local Business Overall outcomes for the Stirling area Stirling s economy supports around 46,000 jobs, including self-employed, and employing people from the Stirling Council area as well as surrounding authorities. As in the UK and Scotland more widely most jobs are in the services sector, with a slightly higher reliance in Stirling on jobs in construction, motor trades, retail, accommodation and food services, financial and insurance services, and the public sector. Stirling has a lower share of jobs in manufacturing, transport and storage, wholesale, information and communications, arts, entertainment and recreation. Stirling has a thriving business base with 388 active business enterprises per,000 population in 20, much higher than the Scottish average of 290. The business base grew by 9.9% between 2006 and 20, slightly higher than the 9.2% rate of growth for Scotland as a whole. Stirling has a higher proportion of corporate sector employees working for small businesses (less than 50 employees) than the Scottish average. The Stirling Economic Partnership is responsible for developing and delivering an Economic Strategy for Stirling. Members of the partnership include Scottish Enterprise, Raploch Urban Regeneration Company, and the Federation of Small Businesses, University of Stirling, Forth Valley College and Stirling Enterprise, as well as key council services such as Economic Support and Trading Standards. A selection of key indicators that help monitor the outcomes of this partnership is shown below. Recent Performance Number of registered corporate sector enterprises in the Stirling Council area Number of business sites of registered corporate sector enterprises in the Stirling Council area City centre vacancies - ground floor commercial units only 3905 (20) (20) % (20) 7% How the council has contributed in 20- Improving and increasing support for local business In April 20 Stirling s third annual Trade Fair was held in Castle Business Park. The fair, organised by Stirling Business Panel, was sponsored by the Stirling Observer and Central FM and attracted over 60 exhibitors. This allowed new business to be conducted, with local businesses taking advantage of speed-networking sessions. The council has also continued to provide redundancy support to local businesses, assisting companies with employees facing compulsory redundancy. Support is provided by way of information packs, job searches and events for these employees, where they can meet with organisations providing help and advice on employment and other opportunities available to them. In 20 nine companies were supported in this way, involving a total of 72 employees. This is an increase from 20 when there were 63 employees across 6 businesses. The council s Economic Support & Tourism Service has also been involved in a programme of events and activities to help businesses access funding, find out about procurement opportunities and win new contracts. This has included: 4

6 Ongoing Supplier Development Programme workshops, covering topics such as maximising tender opportunities and competitiveness, and expanding procurement horizons over 20 businesses attended the first series of workshops this year. A Cooperative Development Scotland workshop at the Tolbooth in early 20, helping businesses explore ways to collaborate for mutual benefit the event was fully subscribed with 15 local businesses attending. The weekly Stirling Business Panel bulletin, which has continued to provide information on events, support, procurement opportunities and other business related information to over 650 subscribers throughout the year. Communicating business confidence, promoting business support and events, providing news on activities of local businesses and promoting opportunities associated with 2014 through the Stirling Eye business magazine. Identifying and promoting areas of competitive advantage Support of Stirling s cultural and creative industries sector has been a key focus for the council s Economic Support & Tourism Service over the past year. This sector provides important employment opportunities for the increasing number of young people graduating from creative industries courses at the University of Stirling and the newly expanded creative industries department at Forth Valley College. Support of the food and drink sector has also been a key priority, with Economic Support & Tourism raising the profile of Stirling s food and drink offering and improving the performance of the evening economy. Research has been carried out in both these areas over the past months leading to the following outcomes: A Creative Industries Forum and a Food & Drink Forum have been established to represent businesses and people working in these sectors, providing a shared voice and a stronger presence in the local economy. A creative hub has been developed within the Old Town Jail, including design and print studios and space to deliver creative workshops. The Made in Stirling pop up shop has enabled local creative businesses to exhibit their work and conduct market research, while promoting Stirling s creative talent and cultural events to residents and visitors. A local food and drink producers group has been established Stirling Tastes Good. The group made its first appearance at this year s Royal Highland Show and achieved sales in excess of 20,000. A food and drink app has been launched for mobile devices to advise customers of the location and offering of local food and drink outlets. Financial support for the Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival at the Albert Halls in May. The festival sold all 500 tickets in advance and attracted around 30 distilleries with 200 different whiskies. Delivering a supply of suitable business locations and premises Throughout 20- the council s City Centre Management team has championed the Start Up Street project that looks to bring vacant property within the city centre back into commercial or community use. This project is related to and undertaken in partnership with the Economic Support & Tourism Service s creative industries activities. Start Up Street was originally formed in response to workshops held with Architecture & Design Scotland to explore local people s views and aspirations for the city of Stirling. Forty-five people attended, identifying issues and opportunities for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to reinvigorate key streets. Evaluation of the Made in Stirling pop up shop, Start Up Street s first on the ground pilot at 58 Murray Place, will provide learning and guidance for future projects. This pilot has already supported more than 25 local artists and creative businesses. 5

7 How the council is performing Number of business property enquiries N/A The number of business property enquiries has decreased slightly from 1430 in 20- to 25 this year. However this is still above the level reported in, when 95 property enquiries were received. The lower figure this year reflects the wider economic situation, but still shows many businesses have an interest in the Stirling area. Number of members of the Stirling Business Panel Stirling Business Panel membership continues to grow and has now exceeded 800 members. The panel gives local businesses a voice, influencing the local response to issues that affect businesses, and promoting events and opportunities to network. Business advice requests dealt with within 14 days of receipt % 97.2% 96.6% 96.8% 95% This year 96.8% of the 156 business advice requests received by the council s Trading Standards team were dealt with within the 14-day target timescale. This is an improvement on last year and is above the agreed target of 95%. This year Stirling was 17 th out of the 32 councils in Scotland for this indicator. Serving Stirling until 2017 Our priority for the future is to develop economic strategies that are flexible and collaborative, including: Discussing economic issues in as open a way as possible. Streamlining Stirling Council s arms length economic development organisations. Considering radical opportunities and projects that can be delivered. Pursuing a strategy for rural broadband. Re-focusing economic strategy on industries that provide high value jobs. Looking at other ways to support the area s rural villages and regional centres. Building on the strength of Stirling s retail sector. 6

8 We will continue to support local business by: Supporting a Business Improvement District for Stirling. Reviewing regulation and practical support for business by engaging with business. Expanding the supply of business land for inward investment. Introducing new models of support for independent traders. Supporting the expansion of cooperative initiatives and social enterprise. Links to further reading Economic information and analysis Open for Business Stirling s Economic Strategy Stirling Eye - the Council s business magazine 7

9 All Performance Indicators Note 1 Number of business property enquiries N/A 2 Number of businesses on the Business Directory N/A N/A Number of members of the Stirling Business Panel 4 Percentage of business advice requests dealt with within 14 days of receipt 5 Percentage of consumer complaints dealt with within 14 days of receipt 6 Film location enquiries responded to by next working day % 97.2% 96.6% 96.8% 95.0% 81.2% 80.8% 83.0% 88.9% 80.0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 90% 7 Film location enquiries followed up if necessary within 5 working days 0% 0% 0% 0% 90% 8 Take up rate on film location enquiries 44.3% 37.6% 27.6% 32.7% 35% Of the 55 enquiries that were received this year 18 became projects. Enquiries from Creative Scotland and Scottish Screen are issued to every film office in Scotland, so often there are no locations that match the request. 8

10 We will Grow the Visitor Economy Overall outcomes for the Stirling area One tenth of Stirling s jobs are linked to tourism, indicating the importance of the tourism sector to the local economy. Key visitor destinations and attractions in the area (with the greatest visitor numbers) include Stirling Castle, the Scottish Wool Centre and David Marshall Lodge (both in Aberfoyle), the National Wallace Monument and Bannockburn Heritage Centre. The castle and the history of the area remain important influences for those deciding to visit Scotland, especially those from overseas. Many visitors to the city of Stirling also visit the National Park, but they are increasingly less likely to stay in the city itself. The Stirling Economic Partnership is responsible for developing and delivering an Economic Strategy for Stirling Open for Business - that includes promoting the area as a tourist destination. A sub group of the Economic Partnership has been established called the Culture Forum, with the membership including partner organisations Visit Scotland, Historic Scotland, and the Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, along with the Council s Economic Support & Tourism and Cultural Services. A selection of key indicators that help monitor the outcomes in this area is shown below. Recent Performance Number of tourists visiting the Stirling area 3,936,000 (20) 4,000,000 Value of tourism activity 429,520,000 (20) 400,000,000 How the council has contributed in 20- Promoting the Stirling area as a must see visitor destination In 20 a City of Stirling Discount leaflet produced by the council s Economic Support & Tourism Service was awarded 1 st Place Regional Award by the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors in their Best Brochure Competition. From a possible field of over 19,000 brochures, nominees were narrowed down to a list of 75. A panel of industry experts evaluated the leaflets, looking at headline quality, design, content and overall appeal. The City of Stirling Discount leaflet includes information for visitors to the city along with a map and a range of discount vouchers from key visitor attractions, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. Over 30,000 leaflets were distributed at key sites in Stirling and the Forth Valley this year. In May 20 a new iphone App was developed by the council in partnership with the Stirling Food and Drink Forum. This free resource is a handy guide to hundreds of local places to enjoy a drink or meal, giving directions to each venue and a summary of what is on offer. Strengthening the vibrancy and economic potential of the City This year the council s City Centre Management team have promoted and facilitated the development of the Façade Enhancement Scheme, a geographically focused façade grant funded improvement scheme delivered in partnership with Stirling City Heritage Trust. To date seven properties in King Street with four different private ownerships will have their shop fronts improved under the scheme, with work due to be undertaken in autumn. 9

11 In partnership with a local design company and with input from council services, other agencies and the private sector, the City Centre Management team has also continued to develop the highly successful summer and Christmas city centre focused publications. These publications encourage people in the Forth Valley area to utilise the city centre and support local businesses. The brochure is delivered to 0,000 homes twice a year and is 66% funded from private sector contributions. The production model developed in Stirling is now used in Falkirk, Perth and Dundee utilising the local Stirling design company partner. Maximising the potential economic benefits of sees the 700 th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles, and Scotland s second Year of Homecoming. The council is preparing for this by creating an exciting and varied programme of events, providing the necessary physical and infrastructure, and identifying ways to connect with and involve people and businesses at home and across the world. It is hoped that the key signature event Clans 2014 could generate an additional 3.5m for the local economy. The international gathering of the clans, proposed for July to coincide with the Stirling Highland Games, would take place across a number of venues in the city and feature a Clans Village, cavalcade procession between the village and the castle, entertainment on the castle esplanade, and a programme of musical and other cultural events. The council has agreed an events programme, building upon well-established dates in Stirling s cultural and events diary, such as various Highland Games and sporting fixtures, with new events including Clans 2014, enhanced New Year and Easter celebrations, a Bannockburn 700 weekend featuring re-enactments, the official opening of the National Trust for Scotland s new Visitor Centre, and a potential youth arts festival and school event. How the council is performing Number of visits to/usages of council funded or part funded museums expressed per 00 population This year the number of visits to / usages of the Smith Art Gallery & Museum has risen to 717 per 00 of the resident population, which is well above the target of 634. This includes visitors to the museum s website, which now includes a range of downloadable activities as well as detailed information on exhibits and collections. This year Stirling ranked 21 st out of the 32 councils in Scotland for this indicator. Number of these visits that were in person (expressed per 00 population) This shows improvement from last year s 405 per 00 of the population to 507 this year. As well as individual s visiting the museum these numbers include group visits of pupils from Stirling s schools and adults attending adult education events. This year Stirling ranked 20 th out of the 32 councils in Scotland for this indicator.

12 Serving Stirling until 2017 We will continue to focus on tourism and the marketing of Stirling by: Marking the historical significance of 2014 in a way that leaves a lasting legacy. Improving and promoting Stirling with an integrated destination marketing strategy that works. Creating a transport network to move people around the whole of the Stirling area. Renewing facilities to support tourism such as tourist information centres. Links to further reading The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum Tourism and visitor attractions pages on the Stirling Council website Visit Scotland: Loch Lomond, The Trossachs & The Forth Valley

13 All Performance Indicators 1 Number of visits to/usages of council funded or part funded museums expressed per 00 population 2 Number of these visits that were in person expressed per 00 population Note

14 We will Remove Barriers to Employment Overall outcomes for the Stirling area The Stirling Council area has similar levels of economic activity to Scotland, although the male unemployment rate has crept above the Scottish figure more recently. Levels of self-employment are higher than Scotland as a whole. Traditionally, earnings of Stirling residents have outperformed Scotland figures but the most recent reports show a convergence of gross weekly pay. As with many indicators, there is a wide range in the proportion claiming job seekers allowance across different communities, from less than 1% up to 15-20% in areas of greatest deprivation. Geographic access to employment (and other) opportunities remains an issue for large parts of the rural area, which are classed as within the 5% most access-deprived. The Stirling Economic Partnership resources and implements a range of economic interventions across the Stirling area with the aim of addressing barriers to employment such as cultural difference, vulnerability or geographic isolation. Members of the partnership include Stirling University, Forth Valley College and Scottish Enterprise, as well as key council services including Employment, Communities & Youth. A selection of key indicators that help monitor the outcomes of this partnership is shown below. Recent Performance School leavers in positive and sustained destinations (further & higher education, employment or training) 86% (20) 90% Job seekers allowance rate of working age population 3.3% (20) 2% Percentage people who are unemployed or not involved in the labour market due to ill health or disability 9% (20) 8% Average earnings of residents living in the area who are employed 508 (20) 491 How the council has contributed in 20- Maximising job opportunities for local people In June 20 the council held an overwhelmingly successful Careers and Jobs Event at the Albert Halls in Stirling. The event was free and aimed at those who were considering a change of career, looking for work, facing redundancy, leaving school, college or university or wanting to start their own business. Forty organisations exhibited at the event including local employers, recruitment agencies, training providers and support organisations as well as specialist job search, career, business start up, volunteering, tax, welfare and benefits advisers. Over 360 people came along to the Careers and Jobs Event and feedback was extremely positive. 95% of visitors and all of the exhibitors found the event useful, and everyone agreed that it should be held on an annual basis, or more frequently if possible. 13

15 Supporting young people to move from school to further education, training or employment The More Choices More Chances and 16+ Learning Choices initiatives have continued this year. The aim of these closely related strategies is to support all young people in the age range of into positive destinations. Joint working between schools, partners and the Education Service has been improved through the creation of a Strategic Senior Phase Partnership. Through this partnership schools have a chance to influence post-school developments. They have also identified their priorities for the programmes pupils will access at the new Forth Valley College from 20. Fuller and more visible information has been developed on options post-16 by holding a School Leavers Event and circulating Labour Market Information to school staff, increasing pupil and teacher awareness of opportunities and encouraging positive attitudes about young people s job prospects. The council also continues to promote internal opportunities, monitoring its workforce s demographic profile to identify opportunities for entry-level positions. Providing appropriate skills development training and support In January 20 a 1 apprenticeships in 0 days programme was launched with Young Working Lives, a group that focuses on finding employment for work-ready individuals between the ages of 16 and 25 who are not currently in education, employment or training. The challenge set in Stirling was to create 1 apprenticeship opportunities in 0 days, and this target was achieved with a total of 131 apprenticeships agreed. The programme has been welcomed locally as well as being recognised by the Scottish Government as a great way to help fill current vacancies within a company and to ensure the workforce is appropriately skilled. It is also an opportunity to support local young people who are ready and willing to work, but finding it difficult to compete against sometimes higher skilled or more experienced applicants. Full support and guidance is given to the employer and candidates, and both are mutually rewarded: employers gain a keen, new recruit, and the young person gains their first step on the career ladder. Encouraging and supporting provision of accessible, affordable childcare Family support and community childcare continues to focus on children from pre-birth to 3, to deliver against the early intervention and prevention elements within the council s Early Years Framework. In addition to focusing on the most vulnerable children under the age of 3, the council was successful in September 20 in bidding in collaboration with the Scottish Childminding Association for funding from the Early Years Action Fund. Subject to review at the end of year 1, funding will be secured for a total of 3 years, in order to further develop community childcare in Stirling as an inclusive and comprehensive service that provides a community based solution to early intervention and family support. How the council is performing Young people supported by youth learning moving into training, employment or further education % 33.9% 37.9% 38.4% 40% The economic climate has caused a reduction in the opportunities available for young people. Despite this, performance has improved again this year and now sits at 38.4% - only slightly below the target of 40%. Youth Services has now started to monitor the percentage of these young people who sustain their positive destinations. 14

16 Employability clients moving into training, employment, further education, or voluntary activity % 86.0% 82.6% 83.0% 72.0% Employability helps people overcome different kinds of barriers to getting a job, sustaining the post and leading an independent life. Many of the service s clients have disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health problems or other health-related conditions. Though the trend over the last four years is slightly downward, the annual target of 72% has been surpassed this year, with a total of 137 clients having moved into training, employment, education or voluntary activity. Serving Stirling until 2017 Our priority for the future is to use council resources to support the local economy. This will include: Employing graduate trainees across the council. Sustaining craft apprenticeships and providing other meaningful training. Supporting local businesses to gain access to the council procurement process. Ensuring that work for local contractors is available in the council tender process. Managing all contracts to get jobs and apprenticeships for local people. Links to further reading Jobs and Careers pages on the Stirling Council website Skills Development Scotland 15

17 All Performance Indicators Note 1 Young people supported by youth learning moving into training, employment or further education 2 Employability clients moving into training, employment, further education, or voluntary activity 59.5% 33.9% 37.9% 38.4% 40% The economic climate has caused a reduction in the opportunities available for young people. Despite this, performance has improved this year and now sits at 38.4% - only slightly below the target of 40%. 85.6% 86.0% 82.6% 83.0% 72% 16

18 We will Provide Learning for Life, Work and Wellbeing Overall outcomes for the Stirling area Stirling Council area as a whole is relatively well qualified, with around 41% of working age people having NVQ level 4 (or equivalent) qualifications, compared to 37% for Scotland. However, at the other end of the scale a similar number to Scotland (%) have no qualifications and this is above the figure for the UK. A quarter of working-age people have a degree, ranking fifth of the 32 Scottish local authorities. Working within this context, Stirling s Learning in the Community partnership is responsible for the delivery of learning opportunities across the council area, shaped by the insights, experiences and needs of our residents. Membership of the partnership includes Forth Valley College, Stirling University, Skills Development Scotland and the Stirling Voluntary Centre, as well as key council services such as Education, Youth Services and Adult Learning. A selection of key indicators that help monitor the outcomes of these learning opportunities is shown below. Recent Performance Average tariff score of looked after children 89 (20-) 79 Literacy and numeracy learners achieving personal outcomes 88 (20-) 20 English for Speakers of Other Languages learners achieving personal outcomes 929 (20-) 352 Percentage of population with NVQ4 or above 41% (20) 40% Percentage of working age population with no qualifications % (20) % How the council has contributed in 20- Improving performance in schools and nurseries, particularly among the lowest achieving 20% In conjunction with Learning and Teaching Scotland, training has been provided this year for teaching staff in all specialist provisions and outreach services on the assessment and moderation of learning of children and young people with complex needs. As a result of this training, all specialist staff now work collaboratively to develop planning in line with the principles of Curriculum for Excellence the national agenda aiming to transform education in Scotland by providing a flexible and enriched curriculum for children aged between 3 and 18. The impact of this has been to generate improved evidence of progression and achievement in learning. The next steps will be to produce and disseminate assessment guidelines with examples of good practice for teaching young people with additional support needs. 17

19 Making the most of culture and sport for personal and community wellbeing The Youth Music Initiative programme has offered young people aged 9 to 18 a wide range of music opportunities this year, both within and outside school. Examples include jazz, samba, traditional, Scots song, classical, rock/ pop and indie. Applications to attend the Youth Music Initiative out of school workshops have shown an average increase of 30%. A mentoring programme was also piloted and developed, allowing young musicians who were playing at a high level to work with younger or less experienced musicians under the guidance of workshop tutors. The programme offered an opportunity to learn skills such as teaching musicians and to help those less experienced to see what they can achieve in the future. It is hoped that this programme will be extended in 20. Creating opportunities for life long learning Around 767 adult learners in Stirling have participated in classes in the last year. Participants have been taking part in a range of subjects including literacy, numeracy, English for speakers of other languages, Gaelic, computing, personal development, confidence building, arts and crafts, family learning programmes, creative writing and a host of other subjects. New work-based learning opportunities have been delivered through the Adult Learning Team's ASPIRE project, supporting people who are at risk of losing their employment perhaps because of low skills level, a lack of literacy skills, English being a second language, low confidence or ill health. The ASPIRE project has provided training and learning in dementia care, computing, literacy, first aid at work, fork lift truck driving, first line management, customer care and a range of other work-related programmes. Adult learners have achieved a great deal in the last year. Many participants have reported increased skills and confidence as a result of their participation in learning. Some people find that they have developed the confidence that helps them get more involved in their own communities. Some learners now feel less isolated either as a result of attending a class or using their new computing skills to relatives who stay a distance away. Parents in family learning programmes have described how they feel more confident in supporting their children and communicating with schools and other services that may support them. People report an improvement in their health and well being as a result of coming to classes, meeting new people and learning new skills. This year, the number of adult learners gaining qualifications has increased. This has been through their participation in SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) opportunities or ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) programmes. Though the ASPIRE project, work place learners have gained qualification to SVQ level as well as being able to retain their employment or progress at work. Adult Learners have also progressed from classes in to new job opportunities where they are able to use the skills they have learned. How the council is performing School inspections evaluated as good or better % 90% 0% 0% 80% 0% of the five Stirling Council schools inspected by Education Scotland (previously HM Inspectorate of Education) this year achieved grades of good or better for the three core quality indicators: Improvements in Performance, Children s Experiences, and Meeting Learning Needs. Full details of the grades for each inspection are provided later in this section. 18

20 Pupils achieving 3 or more Highers by the end of 5 th year % 32% 34% 34% 30% Last year s performance has been maintained this year, with 34% of pupils having achieved three or more Highers by the end of 5 th year. This is above the agreed target of 30%. Stirling performed better than the 20- Scottish average for this indicator, which was 26.3%. Only East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire showed higher levels of attainment. Pupils achieving 5 or more Standard Grade Credit/Intermediate 2s by the end of 4 th year % 40% 42% 44% 40% This year has seen an improvement in the percentage of pupils with five or more Standard Grade Credit/Intermediate 2s by the end of 4 th year. 44% achieved this level against a target of 40%. Stirling performance is better than the 20- national average of 36.4%. For this indicator we ranked 4 th out of the 32 councils in Scotland. Average tariff scores of lowest 20% of S4 pupils The number of pupils performing well has increased this year. However the average tariff score of the lowest 20% of S4 pupils has decreased slightly to 57 and has not met the target of 62. More needs to be done to further address the needs of these pupils and further analysis of their performance will be undertaken to target improvements in this area. The Scottish average tariff score of the lowest attaining 20% of S4 pupils nationally was 64 in 20-. Number of visits to libraries expressed per 00 population Stirling continues to achieve increased numbers of visits and book loans, despite national trends being generally unchanging. This year there were 8459 visits per 00 of the area s population, which is substantially higher than last year and well above the target of In 20- Stirling was 4 h out of the 32 councils in Scotland for this indicator and well above the national average of

21 Inspections Education Scotland (previously HM Inspectorate of Education) inspects and reports on the quality of education in pre-school centres, primary schools and secondary schools. The table below provides details of the inspections carried out this year. Improvements in performance Children's experiences Meeting learning needs The curriculum Improvement through selfevaluation Dunblane Community Preschool 27/04/20 Very Good Very Good Very Good Good Good Dunblane High School 31/05/20 Very Good Very Good Very Good Satisfactory Good Gargunnock Primary School 07/06/20 Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good St Mary s Episcopal Primary School & Nursery 23/08/20 Killearn Primary School & Nursery 06/03/20 Very Good Very Good Very Good Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Good Good Education Scotland also carries out inspections to evaluate the outcomes and impacts of community learning and development activities in local areas. These inspections focus on the work in communities of relevant council services as well as their partners. Improvements in performance Impact on young people Impact on adults Impact of capacity building on communities Improving services Learning Community surrounding Dunblane High School 24/05/20 Satisfactory Very Good Good Good Good What our customers think Music Tuition Survey The council s Performance and Research Team undertook a Music Tuition Survey in January / February 20 to gain parents views about the music tuition service provided by Stirling Council. Almost three-quarters (73%) of the 152 respondents agreed that the music tuition service represents value for money. The vast majority of comments from parents and children were of a positive nature with particular praise for tutors from pupils. Bannockburn High School Pupil Survey During March 20 the Performance and Research Team undertook an electronic survey of pupils attending Bannockburn High School. The survey yielded 448 responses from a pupil population of 740 giving an overall response rate of 61%. The results were generally positive with 7 out of pupils stating that they enjoy coming to school and that the school has a good atmosphere. When given the opportunity to highlight the best things about learning at Bannockburn High School the top three responses were teachers, specific subjects and learning new things. The top three things highlighted by pupils for improvement were classroom behaviour, more fun / enjoyable lessons and more activities / interactive lessons. 20

22 Learners Survey A survey has also been undertaken of learners doing learning courses provided by the Stirling Council Adult Learning Team, Stirling Council Youth Services, Forth Valley College and HM Cornton Vale Learning Centre. It was completed by 206 of the 528 learners doing learning courses during % of learners reported that they had learned either a fair amount (40%) or a great deal (51%) from their course. Serving Stirling until 2017 Our priorities for the future include the continued improvement of Education through: Increased focus on educational accountability. Improving performance in schools and nurseries, particularly among the lowest achieving 20%. Wrap-around childcare that supports families. Making sure that all our young people get more out of school. School buildings that meet higher expectations. We will also ensure a modern agenda for Libraries, Culture and Sport by focusing on: Preparing a libraries strategy to plan future development. Culture and arts that people enjoy. Sport for all in Stirling s communities. Sport and young people. Links to further reading Education & Learning pages on the Stirling Council website Education Standards and Quality Report Our inspection information 21

23 All Performance Indicators Note 1 School inspections evaluated as good or better 2 Percentage of pupils achieving 3+ Level 6 by the end of S5 3 Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ Level 5 by the end of S4 4 Average tariff scores of lowest 20% of S4 pupils 5 Average tariff scores of highest 80% of S4 pupils 96% 90% 0% 0% 80% 32% 34% 34% - 30% 40% 42% 44% - 40% The number of pupils performing well has increased and the number within the lowest 20% is declining. However, more needs to be done to further address the needs of these pupils and further analysis of their performance will be undertaken to target improvements in this area Average number of half days absence per secondary pupil 7 Number of exclusions per 00 secondary pupils 8 Literacy and numeracy learners achieving personal outcomes 9 ESOL learners achieving personal outcomes Number of visits to libraries expressed per 00 population The average number of half days absence per pupil has risen slightly from 37 to 39, against a maximum target of 33. The most common reason for absence is sickness, followed by truancy and unexplained absence. 22 Usages of the computer terminals at libraries per 00 population

24 We will Make All Communities Safe Communities Overall outcomes for the Stirling area Overall perceptions of community safety in the Stirling Council area are generally very good, with 97% of people feeling safe in their own home at night. When walking alone in their neighbourhood, a smaller proportion feel unsafe compared to Scotland as a whole. In 20-, the total number of crimes recorded by the police per,000 population was 577 in Stirling, compared to 598 for Scotland as a whole. The area is ranked th of 32 authorities for overall crime rate. Crime and anti-social behaviour varies significantly in its prevalence and nature across the area, from the city centre (where the night-time economy is a major factor), through the higher population density urban communities that can lead to anti-social behaviour, to the rural areas where theft and vandalism are concerns. The Community Safety Partnership works in partnership with communities to make Stirling a safe place to live, work and enjoy. Membership includes Central Scotland Police, Central Scotland Fire & Rescue, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Prison Service, as well as key council services such as Safer Communities, Criminal Justice and Housing. There is also a Stirling Alcohol & Drugs Partnership sub group that works to decrease alcohol and drug related problems in the area, to improve the lives of those harmed by substance misuse and promote individuals into healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. A selection of key indicators that help monitor the outcomes of this work is shown below. Recent Performance Adult residents stating they feel 'very safe' or 'fairly safe' when at home alone at night Enforcement of offences which affect quality of life per 00 population 97% (20-) 95%.1 (20-) 19 Domestic abuse incidents 834 (20-) 800 Alcohol related attendance at A&E 839 (20) 800 Number of problem drug users 7 (20-) 700 How the council has contributed in 20- Reducing crime and anti social behaviour In March 20 Stirling Council's Community Payback Team won a Scottish Government Community Payback Award for their involvement in the Valley Project. These awards are designed to acknowledge the best and most innovative community payback unpaid work and community service projects taking place across Scotland. All the projects involve offenders who have been ordered by the Courts to undertake unpaid work in the community. The Salvation Army runs the Valley Project. It is a furniture-recycling initiative that provides quality furniture at affordable prices. Offenders are involved in all aspects of the operation, including collecting unwanted and abandoned items, and revamping and renovating all kinds of household goods that previously would have gone to the local tip. Not only have offenders acquired a range of practical skills, there have been significant benefits to the environment with thousands of tonnes of goods diverted from landfill sites. 23

25 Supporting victims of crime and anti social behaviour In May 20 the council held Noise Awareness Week, as part of a national initiative. Residents were asked to be thoughtful neighbours with the focus on the effect of loud music in the house and garden. The council dealt with over 300 complaints of domestic noise during 20-. Noise Awareness Week was promoted by the council s Environmental Health Service, who aim to help prevent noise nuisance by informing the public and seeking their cooperation to resolve matters. The council only uses enforcement action such as fixed penalties when warnings have been ignored. Noise can cause disruption and distress to everyone - at home, at leisure, at work and at study. National research shows that around half a million people have moved home because of noisy neighbours. The council has powers under the Anti Social Behaviour Act to deal with noise complaints, including barking dogs, loud music, noisy parties and DIY work. Reducing alcohol and drug misuse The council s City Centre Management team has continued to implement the Night-time Economy Action Plan. Particularly focused on the busy festive period, the action plan involves a range of projects including the Streetworx team engaging with approximately 2000 young people on the city streets, taxi marshals at key ranks, ensuring the safe passage out of the city centre of in excess of 8500 people late at night, and maintaining operational links with the Street Pastor operations. The Pubwatch scheme, through which members share information to help combat violence and other criminal conduct, now involves of the key bars and clubs in Stirling, supported by Central Scotland Police. Best Bar None is also ongoing, now in its sixth year of operation raising awareness of the national proof of age scheme. The Stirling City Centre North Action Plan was identified as a strategic priority for 20-, involving a range of actions by council services, Central Scotland Police and the local community. This is managed through a partnership approach coordinated by the City Centre Community Safety Projects Officer and the Alcohol & Drugs Partnership Manager. We have also worked with partners across Forth Valley as part of the CCTV Partnership, which has seen a renewed focus on the role and function of public space CCTV, working to ensure the procedures and operation of the system are achieving public safety and crime reduction objectives for the people of Stirling. Applying zero tolerance to domestic abuse Stirling became the first Scottish city to receive White Ribbon status this year, with an official ceremony held in May 20 where a plaque was presented to the council in recognition of this achievement. The White Ribbon Campaign is an international movement campaigning for the involvement of men in the prevention and eradication of violence against women and children. The White Ribbon award is for councils and local communities who wish to demonstrate their commitment to the aims of the White Ribbon Campaign. This includes raising awareness of the issue of domestic violence, understanding and providing services in order to reduce the incidence of domestic violence, and providing the local community with increased support and understanding of the issue. In September a new project aiming to provide a more effective response to domestic abuse was launched in Stirling. The Caledonian System builds on the work done by previous domestic abuse programmes in Forth Valley. It provides a more integrated approach to approach to addressing the perpetrators offending behaviour and the needs of the woman and children affected by the abuse. Males are referred to the Caledonian System on conviction of offences involving domestic abuse and are placed on a Probation or Community Payback order. A programme of 14 individual sessions and 26 groupwork sessions are held and progress reviewed. At the same time, the service for women and children offers a range of support through safety planning, risk assessment and advocacy. 24