Suffolk given a mixed first report under new system
Wednesday, 9th December 2009.
The upsides and the downsides of living in Suffolk have been revealed in the first of a new system of annual gradings for counties by the Audit Commission.
While Suffolk was the only county in the country to be awarded three green flags for working innovatively and collaboratively, it was also given two red flags because school pupils are not doing well enough.
The green flags highlighted the development of wind and wave technologies, coastal protection in Bawdsey and tackling street prostitution in Ipswich.
The red flags highlighted the lack of high-value jobs in rural areas and poor learning and skills outcomes.
The new system, called Oneplace, replaces the former star rating system from the Audit Commission's comprehensive performance assessment.
Edwina Child, Oneplace spokesperson for Suffolk said: "People in Suffolk generally enjoy good health and crime overall is low, as is the perception of crime and anti-social behaviour.
"Suffolk's unspoilt coasts and heaths are managed well and public services are leading the way in saving energy.
"But children and young people are not doing well enough at school. Standards are too low and improving too slowly. As a result not enough young people have the right qualifications or skills and too many of them do not have a job or training to go to.
"Suffolk needs more 'high value' jobs and needs better transport, more housing and improved communications to attract businesses into the area. Although a lot has been done to improve things in Suffolk, those living in rural areas are missing out."
Leader of Suffolk County Council, Jeremy Pembroke said the good bits were fantastic news for the people of Suffolk.
"It shows just how the public sector and the voluntary sector working together can produce great achievements for the people of Suffolk," he said
“Suffolk is a well performing county with a great track record of efficiency savings.
“I am delighted that the Audit Commission has recognised our innovation in Suffolk and the positive difference it makes for our local communities.
“Working with borough and district councils, health bodies and police has given us all great insight into what is needed within our communities.
“It also enables us to learn from one another and think creatively about how we can make changes for the better.”
The chief executive of Suffolk County Council, Andrea Hill, said working collaboratively had built a real trust across Suffolk.
She said: “This is wonderful news and an achievement for all agencies in Suffolk.
“In Suffolk all the councils, police and health together with the voluntary and community sector have been working together collaboratively.
“Our success is as a result of being bold and creative and recognising the benefits of everyone working and learning together.
“It takes courage and creativity to challenge the way we have done things in the past and find more innovative and affordable ways of delivering services.
“These green flags show Suffolk succeeding. We will continue to work together to see even greater change including increasing educational attainment and providing better job opportunities in Suffolk.”
Jobs in rural areas and education outcomes are top priorities for the county council set out in ‘The Suffolk Story’ approved by Suffolk County Council in 2008.
One way in which the council is tackling the learning and skills red flag is through the Schools Organisational Review which shows Suffolk children in two –tier areas do five per cent better than Suffolk children in areas with middle schools.”
Chief Constable Simon Ash of Suffolk Police said: “Suffolk is one of the safest counties in the country with low levels of crime and the perception of crime and anti-social behaviour is also low in the county.
"We work closely with partners to ensure that our performance in keeping it safe remains consistently strong and that local people continue to receive an efficient service, which meets their needs.
“The work we have undertaken with our partners is already proving to be successful, as highlighted by the Oneplace report. In the year ahead, we will be focusing our efforts with our partners on tackling anti-social behaviour as local people have consistently told us that this is their priority.”
Sally Hogg, head of health improvement partnerships at NHS Suffolk, said: “Generally Suffolk has a healthy population but there are unacceptable health inequalities across the county – and there is enormous value in working with our partner organisations to meet the challenge of reducing these inequalities.
"This is why NHS Suffolk, Suffolk County Council and partner organisations last year launched Healthy Ambitions Suffolk.
Driven by the Suffolk Strategic Partnership, this exciting county-wide initiative is now helping people in Suffolk lead healthier lives, such as taking more exercise, improving their mental health, and eating more healthily.”
While Suffolk was the only county in the country to be awarded three green flags for working innovatively and collaboratively, it was also given two red flags because school pupils are not doing well enough.
The green flags highlighted the development of wind and wave technologies, coastal protection in Bawdsey and tackling street prostitution in Ipswich.
The red flags highlighted the lack of high-value jobs in rural areas and poor learning and skills outcomes.
The new system, called Oneplace, replaces the former star rating system from the Audit Commission's comprehensive performance assessment.
Edwina Child, Oneplace spokesperson for Suffolk said: "People in Suffolk generally enjoy good health and crime overall is low, as is the perception of crime and anti-social behaviour.
"Suffolk's unspoilt coasts and heaths are managed well and public services are leading the way in saving energy.
"But children and young people are not doing well enough at school. Standards are too low and improving too slowly. As a result not enough young people have the right qualifications or skills and too many of them do not have a job or training to go to.
"Suffolk needs more 'high value' jobs and needs better transport, more housing and improved communications to attract businesses into the area. Although a lot has been done to improve things in Suffolk, those living in rural areas are missing out."
Leader of Suffolk County Council, Jeremy Pembroke said the good bits were fantastic news for the people of Suffolk.
"It shows just how the public sector and the voluntary sector working together can produce great achievements for the people of Suffolk," he said
“Suffolk is a well performing county with a great track record of efficiency savings.
“I am delighted that the Audit Commission has recognised our innovation in Suffolk and the positive difference it makes for our local communities.
“Working with borough and district councils, health bodies and police has given us all great insight into what is needed within our communities.
“It also enables us to learn from one another and think creatively about how we can make changes for the better.”
The chief executive of Suffolk County Council, Andrea Hill, said working collaboratively had built a real trust across Suffolk.
She said: “This is wonderful news and an achievement for all agencies in Suffolk.
“In Suffolk all the councils, police and health together with the voluntary and community sector have been working together collaboratively.
“Our success is as a result of being bold and creative and recognising the benefits of everyone working and learning together.
“It takes courage and creativity to challenge the way we have done things in the past and find more innovative and affordable ways of delivering services.
“These green flags show Suffolk succeeding. We will continue to work together to see even greater change including increasing educational attainment and providing better job opportunities in Suffolk.”
Jobs in rural areas and education outcomes are top priorities for the county council set out in ‘The Suffolk Story’ approved by Suffolk County Council in 2008.
One way in which the council is tackling the learning and skills red flag is through the Schools Organisational Review which shows Suffolk children in two –tier areas do five per cent better than Suffolk children in areas with middle schools.”
Chief Constable Simon Ash of Suffolk Police said: “Suffolk is one of the safest counties in the country with low levels of crime and the perception of crime and anti-social behaviour is also low in the county.
"We work closely with partners to ensure that our performance in keeping it safe remains consistently strong and that local people continue to receive an efficient service, which meets their needs.
“The work we have undertaken with our partners is already proving to be successful, as highlighted by the Oneplace report. In the year ahead, we will be focusing our efforts with our partners on tackling anti-social behaviour as local people have consistently told us that this is their priority.”
Sally Hogg, head of health improvement partnerships at NHS Suffolk, said: “Generally Suffolk has a healthy population but there are unacceptable health inequalities across the county – and there is enormous value in working with our partner organisations to meet the challenge of reducing these inequalities.
"This is why NHS Suffolk, Suffolk County Council and partner organisations last year launched Healthy Ambitions Suffolk.
Driven by the Suffolk Strategic Partnership, this exciting county-wide initiative is now helping people in Suffolk lead healthier lives, such as taking more exercise, improving their mental health, and eating more healthily.”
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