Each year the council produces a State of the District report which provides detailed statistical analysis across a range of topics, including demography, health and wellbeing, employment and skills, the local economy, housing and climate change. This report provides valuable insight into the issues and challenges faced by the district, enabling the council to target its priorities accordingly.
West Lindsey is one of the largest districts in England and one of the most rural in the county of Lincolnshire. One of seven districts in the county, West Lindsey covers 1,125km2 (or 447 square miles), with the administrative centre of Gainsborough on the River Trent to the west and the smaller towns of Caistor and Market Rasen to the east. West Lindsey is currently made up of 20 wards with a total of 97 parishes spread across the district.
The aftermath of a global pandemic, the war in Ukraine, global instability, high inflation, the rising cost of living and climate change are the biggest issues facing people and decision-makers across the world today.
At a local level, the council must balance unprecedented demand for its services against rising costs and overstretched finances; seeking to meet demand and deliver high quality services whilst balancing the budget and offering value for money.
The main challenges for the district can be summarised as follows:
- Population
- Health and Wellbeing
- Climate Change and the Sustainable Environment
- Deprivation
- Employment and Skills
- The Local Economy
1. Population
The 2021 Census revealed that the population of West Lindsey is at its highest ever recorded having grown from 89,300 in 2011 to 95,200 in 2021. This is an increase of 6.7% which is a slightly bigger population increase than the national average (6.3%).
The district’s population is ageing and continues to age at a faster rate than the population nationally and this is reflected in the high levels of economic inactivity across West Lindsey (15%). Such high levels of population growth impacts on infrastructure, amenities and housing and creates high demand for services. Economic inactivity has an impact on the local economy, making growth more difficult to achieve.
Key Opportunity:
Sustain and meet the needs of our local communities and diversify the population in order to increase the economic base and encourage economic growth.
2. Health and Wellbeing
The health and wellbeing of our people is central to a thriving district. West Lindsey residents generally benefit from good levels of physical and mental health, with levels of adult obesity lower than the national average, and good mental health outcomes overall. However, sharp disparities exist across the district.
People living in the least deprived neighbourhoods can expect a good life expectancy on a par with, or in some cases higher than the national average (79 years for men and 82 years for women). For those living in the district’s most deprived neighbourhoods, life expectancy drops 6 years lower for women and 7.7 years lower for men, highlighting the cumulative effects of deprivation on people’s health.
Childhood obesity is a particular problem, with levels higher than the national average and continuing to rise. A total of 12.5% of the district’s five-year-olds were classed as obese in 2022, up 10% from the previous year. Obesity levels amongst the district’s children rise to 18.8% by the time a child reaches 11. Evidence shows that overweight and obese children are more likely to become obese adults meaning that the district’s adult obesity levels are likely to rise over the next decade.
Whilst physical activity amongst adults is on a par with the national average with 60.4% of adults participating in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, the picture worsens for children with just 47.9% participating in the recommended levels of activity each week. Across the district, 10% of homes are in excess cold, double the national average, which poses additional risks to health and wellbeing.
Key Opportunity:
The council has a key prevention, early intervention and influencing role to play in improving the health and wellbeing of our people. We will work in partnership with key stakeholders to deliver a programme of co-ordinated activity that results in improved health and wellbeing outcomes across the district.
3. Climate Change and the Sustainable Environment
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges currently facing society, with world leaders broadly agreed on the need for urgent action to reverse the worst effects of rising global temperatures.
West Lindsey is defined by its unique natural environment with wide open spaces and rich farmland which is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The Lincolnshire Wolds, containing an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, runs through the district which we strive to preserve for current and future generations. Environmental concerns such as global warming, pollution, flooding, the depletion of natural resources and the risk to bio-diversity are among the most urgent issues facing the district today.
No single organisation can hope to solve these challenges alone, but as a local authority, we are using our role as place leaders to promote and influence actions that will have a positive impact on our climate through our Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.
Key Opportunity:
Improving the quality of our built environment whilst preserving our precious natural environment and protecting bio-diversity. The council will lead by example in promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring we are taking all appropriate action to reduce our carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
4. Deprivation
There are great differences in the characteristics and level of need across the district. Some neighbourhoods experience the highest levels of deprivation in the country while other neighbourhoods are amongst the least deprived.
Levels of both fuel poverty and child poverty are rising with 27.4% of households experiencing child poverty now compared to 25.5% in 2019, which is higher than the average for Lincolnshire as a whole.
Social mobility and sustainable growth are declining, with West Lindsey ranking in the bottom quartile nationally for both of these measures. Such a range in deprivation impacts the needs and aspirations of local people and the delivery of services and reflects the impact of the rising cost of living.
Key Opportunity:
The council should take a whole systems approach to reducing inequality and deprivation that places health and wellbeing at the core of any intervention programmes in order to deliver inclusive and sustainable growth. Government programmes such as the Levelling Up Fund, from which West Lindsey was awarded over £10m in 2021, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund means that we can take advantage of external funding to reduce inequality and drive growth.
5. Employment and Skills
Following the coronavirus pandemic, employment levels across the district had recovered by 5.8% to 73.6% in 2022, although this is remains below the national average of 78.4%.
Unemployment has also fallen, particularly youth unemployment which has fallen by 61% since the lifting of lockdown restrictions. During the same period, economic inactivity has risen to 14,700 people, reflecting the national picture of people remaining out of work as a result of the long-term health impacts of coronavirus.
Of those who are classed as economically inactive in West Lindsey, 27% are retired which is significantly higher than the national average of 13.8%. Educational attainment remains a particular issue for West Lindsey which falls below the national average at all levels. In 2021, just over 64% of people in the district held at least a level 2 qualification (equivalent to 5 GCSEs), down from 76.2% in 2020.
Key Opportunity:
To use our grant allocations from the Levelling Up Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to enhance existing programmes of work targeted towards job creation, economic growth and improving the skills base. As a key member of forums such as the Employment and Skills Partnership, the council has an opportunity to use its influence to ensure joint working across all agencies is being used effectively to improve employment, education and skills.
6. The Local Economy
The Coronavirus pandemic, which forced large parts of the economy to shut down overnight and for long periods of time has had a significant impact on the local economy.
The economic downturn has been further impacted by the war in Ukraine which has resulted in unprecedented energy prices and steep increases in the cost of food. High inflation and increasing interest rates are likely to continue throughout 2023 with a UK recession predicted to last until 2024.
Social isolation, a low skills base, an ageing workforce and low economic productivity levels are particular issues for West Lindsey which have been thrown into sharp relief as a result of national and global economic factors since 2020.
The impact on West Lindsey residents, businesses and the Council will be significant. The challenge for the Council is the continued delivery of high quality, value for money services in a time of increased demand and financial uncertainty while our role as place shapers is to encourage growth and productivity in the local economy.
Key Opportunity:
For the council to use its strategic influence to enable residents to reach their potential in the labour market; to create a supportive environment in which businesses can thrive and to develop the infrastructure needed to support growth.