2012 Strategy and Action Plan 2008 – 2012

DRAFT ‘Better, Faster, Stronger’ 2012 Strategy and Action Plan Foreword Executive Summary 1. Introduction 2. Waltham Forest in Context 3. The Olympics and Paralympic Games 4. Our Aspirations and Priorities for the 2012 Games 5. Making it happen: Partnership Working, Engagement and Governance 6. Action Plan 2009-12 Appendix A – Figure showing the relationship between the SCS and 2012 Games outcomes Appendix B - Waltham Forest in context: the evidence base References Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 1 DRAFT Foreword In three years time, in 2012, we will jointly host the biggest sporting event in the world. Millions of viewers from Jakarta in Indonesia, to Jacksonville in the United States will be watching the Olympic and Paralympics Games. London in all its glory will be on the world stage, at one of its proudest moments. Globally London’s reputation as a centre for business and commerce, fashion, culture and tourism, and its population’s rich cultural diversity, is unrivalled. In 2012, we want to extend this reputation, so that London and Waltham Forest is the place where the Games set a new standard, and the borough is substantially improved. Our place in London, Waltham Forest’s Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) sets out our vision for the next 20 years. This is to make the most of the London’s opportunities and to grow the prosperity and wealth for all its residents. Waltham Forest recognised this once in a lifetime opportunity to: increase the pace of work and accelerate the existing regeneration plans for east London and delivering a lasting legacy. We are clear about what we want from the 2012 Games. We want to use the additional value and investment of resources to maximise the opportunities to deliver our SCS ambitions better, stronger and faster. The 2012 strategy triggers a chain of events and activities leading up to the Games, and to secure a real legacy thereafter. The scale of physical development in the area is phenomenal, and will radically transform parts of borough, and leave tangible assets for residents to enjoy. All the sporting venues currently under construction have dual functions: they will be used for professional athletes, and will also be used and improved, after 2012. The events will allow us to achieve our legacy, and in doing so to address historic, social, economic and environmental differences between Waltham Forest, East London and the rest of London. Ultimately, the legacy will deliver sustainable improvements and benefits for residents to enjoy in run up to the Games, and well into the future. The Better, Faster, Stronger 2012 Strategy and Action Plan has been developed to demonstrate how the 2012 Games will support the delivery of the SCS and Local Area Agreement (LAA). The plan engages existing and new Local Strategic Partners and stakeholders by illustrating how working strategically, through realigning priorities and plans, can optimise outcomes for Waltham Forest. It also seeks to capture the imagination of partners, residents and staff to inspire and engage them so that they feel connected to and supported to make the most of the opportunities resulting from the Games. We are now at the half way mark to when the Games will take place. The magnitude of the investment, combined with the national significance and momentum rapidly building up strengthens our position to attract further resources, and our bargaining powers to command support for the real delivery Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 2 DRAFT of our legacy. We will exploit these to our best advantage, to fast track the delivery of outcomes. The planning, development and delivery on a large scale is well underway in east London. The next three years will see an ever-increasing amount of work pressure building up; with the need to ensure the place and the people are ready for the Games. All borough residents, staff and partner service providers have a role to play and can benefit from the 2012 Games. Through creatively engaging people, galvanising support and working strategically, with the existing Local Strategic Partnership, new partners and the five Host Boroughs we can guarantee that Waltham Forest is left with sustainable improvements and a real legacy for future residents. Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 3 DRAFT Executive Summary Our SCS sets out our long term vision: to make the most of London’s opportunities and to grow the prosperity and wealth of all its residents. Waltham Forest and east London has seen some considerable investment in recent years through the plans for the 2012 Games, and development of Stratford City. These developments mean that the borough has the potential to be radically transformed and will undoubtedly benefit from significant improvements in the physical infrastructure. To move forward and to effectively direct the investment we have articulated our key legacy aspirations for the borough. Ultimately we want to increase the numbers of sustainable jobs for residents, transform the public realm, expand the sporting opportunities for residents, and to extend transport systems to more isolated parts of the borough. This strategy identifies the plethora of attractions in Waltham Forest. It also recognises the many challenges including the current economic downturn, and high levels of urban deprivation in parts of the borough. The forthcoming Games combined with the regeneration for east London, places us in a position of strength. We intend to turn the tide and address employment barriers that perpetuate the cycle of deprivation. The Games combined with the new resilience of the Borough, places us in a position where we can more effectively shelter our residents from the effects of the downturn. Our SCS principles and legacy aspirations have shaped our five priorities for work during 2009-12. The strategy focuses on how we will use the Games to: 1. Promote sports, culture and healthy life styles 2. Improve the housing, public realm and infrastructure in areas surrounding the Olympic park with the highest level of need. 3. Enhance young people’s opportunities to secure employment, training and learning opportunities. 4. Enhance local people’s opportunities to benefit from skills development, employment and business opportunities. 5. Develop cohesive communities through promoting volunteering, skills and confidence development opportunities. The planning, development and delivery of the overall programme is well underway. The next three years will see an ever increasing amount of work pressures and activity. The successful delivery of the strategy and legacy hinges on strong partnership working arrangements, robust governance structures and the effective management of the large scale programme. Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 4 DRAFT 1. Introduction The strategic context Planning the stages of the 2012 Games is a tremendous task, and has been the responsibility of several departments of national and local Government. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is spearheading the overall management of the programme, from planning through to building the Olympic Park and physical infrastructure,. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games (LOCOG), is responsible for staging the actual games. In this, the ‘Olympic Family’ is supported by the five Host Boroughs including: Hackney, Greenwich, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest. The Host Boroughs initially supported the London 2012 bid and are now working with agencies such as the London Development Agency (LDA) and Government to secure a lasting legacy for local people, communities and business. Through collaborative working the five Host Boroughs have forged strong relationships with each other, and are able to pull their weight in discussions with the Government and other important agencies in relation to furthering funding priorities and policy development. At a local level, Waltham Forest is ultimately responsible for devising plans that optimise the opportunities from the Games to deliver economic, social and well being benefits specifically for borough residents. Regeneration and legacy In order to ensure that the Olympic venues lave lasting legacy for local people the LDA is currently drawing up plans to modify the buildings post –Games. In parallel, a separate Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) is being finalised for east London. The SRF will produce an integrated programme of economic, physical and social renewal, and will link all the opportunities through the London Plan, Housing Strategies, and Local Development Framework to drive a renaissance in east London. Our efforts in Waltham Forest are devoted to supporting the successful delivery of our legacy aspirations. These are crucially to:     Deliver enhanced employment opportunities for everyone Support a radical improvement of the public realm, physical environment and homes near the Olympic fringes Develop world class sporting facilities for residents and visitors to enjoy Transform and expand transport systems in the borough Our Sustainable Community Strategy Waltham Forest’s SCS identifies a number of challenges and priorities for the borough. These are managing population growth through: improving housing quality and choice; creating a more economically balanced population to increase Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 5 DRAFT local spending and jobs; cultivate civic participation so that everyone feels that they belong; and to respond to climate change. The second priority is to create wealth and opportunity through: providing children and young people with the skills and confidence to compete in a global economy; achieving full employment; ensuring residents are fit and healthy for work; and make the most of the regeneration in east London. The third priority is to retain wealth and stability in the borough through: creating vibrant town centres; transforming the design and quality of public spaces; and improves community safety and reduces anti social behaviour. The 2012 Games and investment in the region consolidate our regeneration ambitions. The direct investment will create jobs: 7,000i workers will be required to build the Olympic Park and 70,000 volunteers will be needed to help deliver the Games. Thousands of new homes will be built to house athletes during the Games. The legacy from the housing development will mean that post Games; the Olympic village will offer affordable housing and employment opportunities for the area. The improvement in transport will mean the Olympic park will have ten rail lines and three stations: with trains arrive every 15 seconds, allowing up to 240,000 passengers an hour to reach the Park quickly and efficiently. This unparalled level of investment and unmatched level of job creation provide an excellent opportunity to assist the better management of population change, support the faster creation of opportunities and secure a stronger retention of wealth in the borough. It also impacts on how swiftly we are able to achieve our Local Area Agreement Targets. Appendix 1 shows the relationship between the 2012 programme, the SCS and LAA outcomes. Our LAA targets The Local Strategic Partnership has agreed a Local Area Agreement with national Government. The 2012 Games correlate to and positively impact on the following targets:  Working age benefit claimants in the most deprived neighbourhoods  Percentage of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area  Reduction of CO2 emissions  Participation in positive activities  Proportion of children living in poverty  Adult participation in sport  Obesity in school in year six  All –age, all cause mortality rate  Engagement in the arts  Improved street and environmental cleanliness Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 6 DRAFT  Improving thermal comfort for low income households Our Multi Area Agreement The five Host Boroughs have developed a Multi Area Agreement (MAA) and are working together to use the 2012 Games as a catalyst to deliver its SCS priorities and legacy aspirations. They are using all the powers and flexibilities offered by the investment to radically improve east London, in line with the Strategic Regeneration Framework. The Host Boroughs are shaping how local commssioning and joint investment is taking place. The key work themes for the MAA are: skills and worklessness, housing and developing communities, and the public realm. The work planned through the skills and worklessness theme will: reduce worklessness amongst diverse communities; raise skills levels of residents, and improve the retention, progression and in work earnings. The work will also entail delivering personalised tailored programmes for people that are out of work. It will also expand and enhance the ‘Single Points of Access’ to deliver services for the most disadvantaged people. The MAA will stem the flow of people from work onto disability related benefits through promoting fitness to work. Greater incentives will be offered for people to move back to work through: housing benefits changes, extension on work trails and support for child care in the first year. The developmental work for this theme is now underway. The Housing and Developing Communities theme will deliver an increased supply and choice of housing. This will focus on improving and renewing private sector properties in the Olympic fringe areas and building visitor accommodation for the 2012 Games. This will be completed by early 2012. The Public Realm theme will improve the public realm through improvements in cleansing management, coordinating maintenance and tackling environmental hotspots through greater enforcement powers. This work is also firmly underway. The successful delivery of the MAA will create a sustainable economic legacy in east London. It will significantly improve the employment prospects of local people, the condition and general appearance of the borough in readiness for the 2012 Games and thereafter. The ‘Better, Faster, Stronger’ strategy and action plan The Better, Faster, Stronger Strategy and Action plan has been informed by: several sub regional master plans and the 2012 Games and legacy plans; the findings from a review of the programme; discussions with internal and external partners, the 2012 Programme Board; findings from the SCS consultation process which engaged 2,500 residents through 25 events; analysis of borough need; and our SCS and LAA priorities. We have reviewed the findings from the Olympic Games in Athens, Sydney and Beijing and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and identified things that Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 7 DRAFT worked well and other things that worked less well. The findings have helped shape the projects that will ultimately contribute to our abilities to manage population change, create and retain wealth, and secure our desired legacy. A separate communications plan will be produced to communicate and engage our residents and stakeholders about the benefits and opportunities offered by the Games. 2. Waltham Forest in context Waltham Forest has a tremendous amount to offer visitors and residents. It is one of the greenest boroughs in London, with easy access to parks, open spaces and Epping Forest. It is a place that has a great diversity of people with rich cultural heritages. Its bustling and growing Walthamstow village and town centre offers a diverse selection of world cuisines and restaurants and the longest market in Europe. The transport links make it easy for people to frequent London and access all that the capital has to offer. The borough also has strong a vibrant community sector with over 1000 groups to support the many communities in the borough. While the borough has many attractions on one hand: there are high levels of need and deprivation amongst communities, on the other. The evidence base shows there is a high incidence of poverty risk factors in the borough: we have a large BAME community; lower levels of qualifications amongst working age adults and lower attainment levels in schools; higher levels of unemployment amongst BAME communities, and a high proportion of lone parents. Appendix B sets out a detailed evidence baseline from the latest data available for the borough. Our residents’ views from the SCS development process, combined with the evidence baseline reinforce the boroughs responsibility to harness this unique opportunity and investment through the 2012 Games. We need to safeguard against the risks that local people from disadvantaged communities loose out to others who are better equipped to take advantage of the opportunities. Our efforts need to be focused on identifying local people and registering them for support, training and education well in advance of jobs and opportunities being advertised. The need for effective coordination of services and project management has never been greater in the borough. 3. The Olympic and Paralympic games The 5 Olympic boroughs will be home to the London Olympic Games. The Games will run form 27th July until 12th August, followed by the Paralympic Games from 29th August until 9th September. Over 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations will compete in the 26 Olympic sports in front of approximately 8 million spectators. Over 4,000 athletes with a disability form over 150 nations will compete in the 19 Paralympic sports, in front of 1.5 million spectators. Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 8 DRAFT The Olympic Park will see 9 new facilities being developed including: the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre for diving and swimming, Velopark, Basketball Arena, Paralympic Tennis and Archery facility, Handball Arena, Hockey Stadium, Olympic Village, Media and broadcast centre Waltham Forest will host the main Olympic athletes training centre, the Paralympic tennis and archery events, and will house new football, hockey and tennis facilities. MAP TO BE INSERTED SHOWING THE SOUTHERN PART OF WF, WITH OLYMPIC PARK AND LEGACY VENUES Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 9 DRAFT 4. Our aspirations and priorities for work Our aspiration for the 2012 Games is: To capitalise on the opportunities presented by the 2012 Games to deliver our SCS ambitions: Better, Faster, Stronger. There is a lot that we want to affect and achieve, in the run up to the Games, Games time, and to secure a meaningful legacy. Our SCS principles and legacy underpin our work. We have identified five priority outcomes to help maximise the benefits from the 2012 Games. These priorities have been developed through discussions with partners and stakeholders and examining the evidence base for the borough. These priorities are most likely to deliver the outcomes for the borough by 2012 and beyond. We want to: i. Promote sports, culture and healthy life styles through using the focus on sporting activity and the Games to act as a catalyst for residents to access the sports and culture offer in the borough. We want to promote healthy life styles from cradle to grave by inspiring residents to think differently about their lifestyles, increase the take-up of exercise, and the cultural offer in the borough. ii. Improve the housing, public realm and infrastructure in areas surrounding the Olympic park with the highest level of need. We want to tackle some long-standing public realm, physical renewal and infrastructure problems with long overdue improvements. iii. Enhance young peoples’ opportunities to secure employment, training and learning opportunities. We want young people to feel that they can all ‘get on’ in life irrespective of their background :and that they can achieve their aspirations through working hard at school and securing work, training and learning opportunities. The Games offer an ideal opportunity to engage young people in creative and fun ways. iv. Enhance local peoples’ opportunities to benefit from skills development, employment and business opportunities. We want to grow benefits for all borough residents, and reduce the economic polarisation between the wealthy and the poor. Those people, who have previously been unsuccessful in securing opportunities, should feel that they are able to reach out and more easily secure the employment, skills development and business opportunities and benefits flowing from the 2012 Games, and afterwards. v. Develop cohesive communities through promoting volunteering, skills and confidence development opportunities. We want everyone to feel Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 10 DRAFT that they can take part with the hosting of the Games, and by doing this develop their skills and confidence, secure work and have fun. We also want to build social capital amongst our diverse community, by encouraging people from different communities to volunteer side by side. i. Promoting sports, culture and healthy life styles Why is this important? Our SCS consultation has shown that local residents want an improved cultural offer. Improving the quality of peoples’ lives, so that they set down roots in the borough hinges upon developing attractive sports and cultural facilities for residents and future tourists, and consequently stemming the outflow of residents. This contributes to the borough retaining wealth. Successful promotion of learning and development in and out of school amongst children and young people is dependent upon increasing usage of our libraries and leisure centres. This hinges upon having attractive and inclusive arts and leisure facilities for everyone to enjoy. Our evidence base shows that Waltham Forest ranks highly for early deaths from cancer and heart related diseases. Health reports demonstrate a gradual increase in child obesity levels. Antidotal evidence show ill health and unemployment is linked. Our SCS principle of creating wealth means ensuring that residents are fit and healthy for work. Targeting sports provision at those at risk of poor health, and promoting healthy lifestyle is central to NHS Waltham Forests work. In future the council will forge greater links between sports and Adult Services and Health Services, to promote a clear message about increasing the take-up of sports. Diverse communities participating in sports and cultural activities, helps to celebrates diversity through developing understanding about different cultures, equality, cohesion and integration in our community. What are we doing to achieve this? World class sporting and leisure facilities are being built in Waltham Forest. This includes: the LOCOG managed development of Eton manor, the sports venue in the borough; a training center housing temporary swimming pools; a temporary gymnastic training area; indoor and outdoor tennis courts and other bespoke training facilities. Once the 2012 Games have ended, Eton Manor will leave a tangible legacy. The venue will be for the use of borough residents, and will be converted into facilities providing for hockey, tennis and 5 -a- side football pitch. A mountain bike course is planned. The five Host Borough’s cultural group has begun engaging and widening creative participation amongst key target groups in the run up to the 2012 Games through the Cultural Olympiad. We are beginning to promote the participation and enjoyment of the arts and sports by developing opportunities within our schools and in the community to get people involved, and into the spirit of the Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 11 DRAFT Games. Arts and cultural events will be detailed in the forthcoming Culture Strategy. ii. Improving the public realm and infrastructure in areas surrounding the Olympic park with the highest level of need Why is this important? Developing a visitor economy is a key step in creating wealth in the borough. Much of the southern parts of the borough have Victorian housing which is now in need of improvement. Our private sector housing stock conditions survey shows that two wards in the south of the borough have a higher than average percentage of homes that are considered non decent. In parallel with this, Leyton ward also has the highest number of vulnerable households that are living in poor conditions. This concentration of property owners are ‘equity rich but cash poor’, possessing limited means to renovate their homes. Antidotal evidence demonstrates that many private owned houses in the south of the borough are rented out and often in multiple occupation. If the premises are unkept, they then often contribute to the overall ‘run down’ appearance of the area and a poor quality of life. As a result the landlords rent the houses out at low rental values, and are subsequently inhabited by low-income people who again do not have the means to invest in the property. This leads to the area remaining shabby, and this phenomena perpetuates itself. While existing legislation provides a duty for local authorities to ensure that health and safety rating system and standards are maintained in three storey houses in multiple occupation, these powers do not currently extend to two storey houses in multiple occupation. Some parts of the borough and public spaces look uninviting to visitors. All these factors have implications for whether residents make a commitment to stay in the borough for a short while or for some years. Significant improvements of the streets are necessary if spectators and visitors are to take up the hospitably offer during the Games, and critically whether residents stay in the borough and help to develop strong communities. Rail services between Chingford and Stratford were discontinued some years ago, and the infrastructure which made this service possible, the Hall Farm Curve was removed. Subsequently, travel from the north of the borough, to take up employment in Stratford, the Olympic Park and Lower Lea Valley becomes costly and time consuming for residents. This will prove a major disincentive for future business relocation decisions, and inward investment in the borough. The subsequent creation of wealth in the borough will be heavily dependent upon the supply of local labour and workforce, and transport accessibility. The map below shows the five boroughs and local transport nodes. The red shaded area is Waltham Forest, and shows the disconnected nature of the railway infrastructure. Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 12 DRAFT What are we doing to achieve this? We are harnessing the investment wisely and creating a master plan for the north eastern fringe of the Olympic Park to address physical accessibility in a sustainable way. The most deprived parts of the borough on the Olympic Park fringes are being targeted to deliver economic, social, environmental and physical benefits. This strategic plan will deliver a number place shaping outcomes which will include improving the connectivity and mobility of people between the Olympic Park and Leyton; Leyton and the sub-region; and Maryland and the Olympic Park, and between the Lower and Upper Lea Valley. It will improve access to facilities at Eton Manor, and the Olympic Park for everyone. It will also work towards integrating how neighborhoods in Leyton and Maryland and the new neighbourhoods in Stratford City and the Olympic Park. The Games undoubtedly strengthen our policy position to influence regional investment in transport. We will improve the public realm through aligning resources to: transform the street scene and landscape to better serve the community; improve the look of our public spaces and parks; and improve wheelchair accessibility in the Leyton area. This will partially be achieved through using Section 106 agreements to design out crime and improve public spaces and to effectively address Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 13 DRAFT enforcement issues. There is a ‘making over’ programme in development to improve the appearance of shop fronts in Leyton and areas surrounding the Olympic fringes. Proposals to improve private sector housing in the areas surrounding the Olympic park, the Olympic Neighbourhood Initiative are being developed. This will tackle the problem of sub-standard privately owned properties. The scheme also offers training for prospective accommodation managers and landlords. Subsequently, it enhances local resident’s prospects of earning income through renting out rooms in their homes to visitors during the Games. We intend to use the work planned in renovating properties in the south of the borough to separately negotiate additional powers from national Government to enable us to extend and actively enforce registrations of 2 storey houses in multiple occupation. We are using the 2012 Games to promote the significance of sustainability and personal lifestyles and choices, and individual responsibly to residents. This is being done through increasing awareness around the changing climate and the environment. We want to propel a mental change in residents attitudes away from using private cars towards using public transport during the 2012 Games, and afterwards. The economic case for improving and expanding the transport modes and specifically the Hall Farm Curve in the borough act as a key driver for the Council and its partners to secure support from national Government and railway networks to improve major transport links and infrastructure in the borough. Waltham Forest will present a deliverable business case to the appropriate authorities by summer 2010 to secure its inclusion in the national rail programme by 2014. In conjunction with improving connectivity and access around the borough, Waltham Forest will use the Paralympics games, and seize the moment to effectively support a cultural shift amongst service and businesses practice around customer care and the needs and access barriers of disabled Olympians, spectators and residents. iii. Enhancing young peoples opportunities to secure employment, training and learning opportunities Why is this important? The percentage of Waltham Forest pupils successfully achieving 5 A*-C GCSE including English and Mathematics trails behind the London average, and boys do not fare as well as girls. This is an issue as the London average itself is not good enough when compared to the skills profile of those employed in London; and that London children will need to compete in future in a global job market. There is a critical need to raise children and young peoples’ ambitions and desires to aspire and do well at school and at home: both now and in the future. Young peoples’ abilities to secure training, and well paid jobs in the future, is Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 14 DRAFT related to having the best start in life, and having sports and culturally enriching opportunities to take part in. Having training, learning and employment opportunities both in the period leading up to the Games and afterwards may act to motivate young people to strive and do well in school. What are we doing to achieve this? A sophisticated programme has been designed to engage and support young people to take up the hobbies and develop skills and confidence, through getting involved in the plethora of 2012 related projects. A Youth Ambassadors Scheme is running that connects young people to the 2012 Games. The scheme entails identifying 25 ambassadors from secondary schools and colleges each year. They spend a year working with the Team and our partners at the ODA, LDA and LOCOG to help with the planning of the 2012 Games and their legacy. Ambassadors receive training, VIP access to events and have the opportunity to meet and engage with leaders in the main organisations. Their responsibility includes feeding back information about the games to their schools, and informing plans. We also are working with the Newham Sports Academy to identify talented young athletes in order to support them to maximise their sporting potential and dreams. Promoting involvement and reinforcing young peoples connection to Waltham Forest and the 2012 Games has been a central planks of the 2012 team. On primary schools visits to the Town Hall, the 2012 Team presents information about the games and the opportunities to get involved. Playing a role in the Games will help build young people’s confidence, and spur them to achieve in life. In addition, the 2012 Team work with the ODA, LOCOG and the LDA on 5 Borough or pan London events and projects. In 2008 seventeen primary and secondary schools participated in Olympic related projects that were managed by our partners. iv. Enhancing local peoples opportunities to benefit from skills development, employment and business opportunities Why is this important? Our evidence shows that we have higher levels of unemployment amongst specific communities: the qualification levels and educational attainment level at GCSE levels are behind the London averages. A lack of basic skills, lack of job specific skills lack of recent work experience, personal and behavioural problems, record of offending and childcare responsibilities are all factors that act together to ensure that employment and opportunities remain elusive for residents. It is well documented that the lower levels of skills and qualifications and above average rates on unemployment reflect residential concentrations of groups in a weak competitive position in the labour market. Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 15 DRAFT The current economic climate and the forecasts for the next few years combined with the baseline crystallises our responsibility to ensure that the investment taking place in the borough is reflected in our efforts to enable the poorest and least qualified residents to benefit in some way from the overall regeneration. A major challenge for us is to position Waltham Forest to enable residents to get a fair share of the jobs, training, and business opportunities. We will identify creative and streamlined ways of working with partners to scope out and identify the jobs that will be created during the games, and jobs that emerge as we approach the games, and during the legacy. Addressing deep-rooted inequalities is a central plank to our SCS ambitions for the medium and long term. The sustainable creation of wealth for some residents correlates to breaking the poverty cycle, securing training and preparing for work, securing well paid work, and being able to progress in their careers. What are we doing to achieve this? Effective management of our part in the 5 Borough MAA and a honing of the service delivery arrangements across the region are crucial to enable people to connect to meaningful employment opportunities. We will market and target information towards socially excluded communities: and also streamline the ways they access support, training and work. The National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) on Cathall Road, Leytonstone, will help to tackle barriers to employment and business opportunities. It will offer vocational training, education and career pathways so that everyone, including women can access construction related jobs and regeneration opportunities. The academy will work in parallel with the LDA funded job brokerage service which operates from the WFD offices, which connects local people to real jobs. Its core function is to guarantee local labour & business scheme are sourced from Waltham Forest. The Olympic Neighborhood Initiative and Stratford City Development will improve the physical environment, housing and the public realm in the most deprived wards of Waltham Forest. It will help improve the variety and standard of the accommodation available for tourists during Games time, and thereafter. It will stimulate enterprise; employment and training in the most economically deprived wards in Waltham Forest. vi. Develop cohesive communities through promoting volunteering, skills and confidence development opportunities Why is this important? The 2012 Games will need thousands of volunteers to manage the games. Volunteering can help people to develop skills confidence and experience and knowledge and often the first step to employment. Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 16 DRAFT The borough is proud of its cultural diversity, comprising of more than 41% residents from BAME communities. It is continuously changing, and our population forecast show that an expected increases in the size of the population. In future to effectively manage our population change we will need to ensure that our work supports equality, cohesion and integration in our community. Research and good practice suggests that promoting community cohesion by supporting people to 'bond, bridge and link' with others are core elements to promoting community cohesions. This supports people to be around their own; and around others from different ethnic groups; and around backgrounds and professions acts. Nearly 17% of our population has a long term limiting illness. Our residents are living longer, and as they age may have different housing, social and health requirements. In order to effectively support and manage the changing population there is a need to build dialogue between communities, so that there is harmony between young and old people, and between disabled and nondisabled people to promote understanding and awareness around disability. Volunteering offers people an opportunity to play an active role in their communities and conversely, local communities benefit hugely from volunteers in terms of social gain. We know that if residents feel connected to, and part of their local community they will exercise a choice to stay in the borough: and in doing so help to retain wealth. What are we doing to achieve this? We want our local residents to step up to the line and take part as Games time volunteers. This will contribute towards fostering social capital here amongst local people. A Volunteering Programme, the Personal Best Programme is being coordinated with Haringey and Enfield Councils geared towards recruiting games time volunteer at the 2012 Games. While the programme supports our equality, cohesion and community principles, it is also designed to develop skills and knowledge and increase the learners’ opportunities for work and training. It offers guidance and support together with an accredited qualification to Level 1 to raise their aspirations and build confidence and move nearer to the job market. We see the promotion and marketing of volunteering as key to broadening the appeal of volunteering to potential recruits from a cross section of the community. The 2012 Games will coincide with the month of Ramadan. This will be an opportunity to show that Waltham Forest’s diverse community is a cohesive one, where people respect other people’s beliefs, and that for many people it is a peaceful and reflective time. Our volunteers will be involved in supporting this. Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 17 DRAFT 5. Making it happen: Partnership working, engagement and governance Much work is underway across the borough with both internal and external partners. Several work streams have been developed to ensure coordinated planning, and effective aligning of plans and activity for the 2012 Games. 5.1 The 2012 Team The Team’s role is instrumental in spearheading our efforts to secure maximum outcomes during the 2012 games and a tangible legacy for the borough. It is responsible for the management of the overall 2012 Strategy and Action plan. Its work covers coordinating activity, forging internal and external partnerships, managing stakeholder engagement and the communication aspects of the work. It is also responsible for supporting the Programme Board and representing the borough at the 5 borough meetings, sub regional and regional meetings. 5.2 The Programme Board The Programme Board comprises the Chief Executive, the Leader of the Council, and the Leadership Team. Its purpose is to develop new projects and project initiation mechanisms to ensure good fits with strategies/ cross departmental, and to consider resourcing issues. 5.3 Partnership and Cross departmental working Cross departmental working is harnessed through the work of the Local Strategic Partnership, the Council’s internal structures and through matrix working across partner organisations to generate enthusiasm about the Games and the legacy. 5.4 Stakeholder engagement Engagement is fundamental in achieving our outcomes. Therefore, a separate communication and stakeholder engagement action plan is under development. The initial stages if this process has involved working with partners to identify and recognise the linkages between their strategic objectives and those of the 2012 Games and the legacy. The next stages have entailed joint planning and embed the plans into existing structures and ways of working. Stakeholder engagement is necessary to generate enthusiasm and support to secure the maximum benefits from the 2012 Games. It also enables us to collectively manage the challenges and difficulties that local people will face during the construction of the infrastructure and the 2012 Games Our key stakeholders include: Metropolitan Police, Local Colleges, NHS Waltham Forest, the Learning and Skills Council, JobCentre Plus, the third sector, the local business community groups. We already employ a plethora of methods of engagement including: through the Community Councils, presence at summer events, the ongoing consultation Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 18 DRAFT through the Youth Ambassadors programme, working with ODA and LOCOG, and schools based projects. We are doing some further work in the south of the borough to engage all residents and stakeholders to enable them to raise questions and concerns and to be part of the debate. Working with community groups, and also older people through expanding the work we have done to date on the 1948:2012 Project and Senior Citizens Week. The majority of SMEs requests in Waltham Forest are seeking advice on accessing contracts relating to the 2012 Games and individuals hoping to set up businesses around the Olympic Park because of the Games. 5.5 Communication and marketing The role of the local authority in the run up to and during the 2012 Games will be to encourage participation and community ‘buy in’. Communication will be necessary for a range of different stakeholders, particularly with Council Members, in helping them to understand the potential impact of the Olympics and the challenges. Information and newsworthy stories are cascaded across the Council through information newsflashes, feature articles in Branching Out, intranet, and roadshows. Staff will be encouraged to get involved through volunteering, and also the annual conference and Olympic Park tours. Waltham Forest has developed the brand, ‘Its Happening Here’. This secures support internally and fosters partnership working. It bears a strong link to the existing council logo; capturing the new and bringing in the new opportunity reflecting the opportunities the Games will bring to the borough. This will help to promote inward investment, sponsorship and tourism A range of merchandise has been procured and new items should be added on an annual basis. These should be used at external events to create sense of pride among the community in being a Host Borough. A significant amount of the funding for the 2012 Games has been channeled through national Government. To grow this investment we intend to market the games to secure sponsorship from businesses, international retailers, sportswear producers and sports clubs. 5.6. Governance and performance management The governance and performance management functions are divided up as outlined below:   The 2012 Programme Board is responsible for the governance and expenditure of the overall 2012 Programme, The 2012 Project team is responsible for programme management Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 19 DRAFT   Individual service departments and teams are responsible for the timely delivery of. In turn, they feed back performance reports to the 2012 Projects team. The performance management team is responsible for monitoring performance against all LAA targets. In future the LAA targets monitoring data will be disaggregated to allow a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the programme on the council’s six equalities strands. Currently the Council is reviewing governance arrangements to ensure partnership involvement in the 2012 programme and its delivery.  Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 20 DRAFT 8. Action Plan 2009 -12 (to be included) PROJECTS BELOW TO BE REVIEWED. ACTION PLANNING PROCESS TO ENGAGE PARTNERS INCLUDING NHS WALTHAM FOREST, POLICE, COLLEGES, THIRD SECTOR ETC. COMPLETED IN MAY How we will deliver the strategy and action plan The activity and work are referenced in council wide strategies and service plans, including the Leyton Master Plan, Stratford City Pilot plan, Community Engagement Strategy, Community Cohesion Strategy, Disability Equality Strategy, Children and Young Peoples Plan and the Community Safety Action Plan Child Poverty Strategy, and Climate Change Strategy Project/ Work stream Directorate/ Timescale service area s Key deliverables LAA target Promoting sports, culture and healthy life styles Sports legacy coach education programme Fit Club Adult & Community Services: Culture & Leisure Adult & Community Services: Culture & Leisure Adult & Community Services: Culture & Leisure Adult & Community Services: Culture & Leisure Adult & Community Services: Culture & 2008onwards Sports legacy coach education programme NI 56 2008onwards Subsidized sports and physical activity provision in deprived wards NI 56 NI 120 Beat Dis 2008onwards Disability sports and physical activity programme NI 56 NI 120 Youth sports programme 2008onwards Participation in London Youth Games and Mini-Marathon NI 56 Cultural Olympiad 20082012 Cultural programme including: NI 110   ‘Light Up’ launch event; Fellowship 2012 art NI11 Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 21 DRAFT Leisure   Adidas Zone Environment & 2008Regeneration: 2012 Development 2012 Team 2012 challenge; Walthamstow Live Site; Ongoing summer events programme NI 110 Delivery and development of an Adidas-sponsored multiuse games area in Langthorne Park This will help with generating some publicity and interest before the official games begin in the summer Hosting the mini Olympics. NI 56 Health projects Colleges projects Improving the public realm and infrastructure in areas surrounding the Olympic park demonstrating the highest level of need 3G Environment & 2008enhancement Regeneration: onwards for bus route 97 Development Transport infrastructure enhancements Environment & 2008Regeneration: onwards Development End-to-end improvements to Bus route 97 - Widening of Ruckholt Road bridge to provide additional space for pedestrians and cyclists - Installation of ramps on Marsh Lane footbridge NI 186 NI 186 Northern Olympic Fringe Masterplan Olympic Approach Environment & 2008Regeneration: 2009 Development Development of a spatial masterplan for the NOF area NI 186 NI 195 NI 196 Environment & JulyDevelopment of a sound Regeneration: Decembe business case for investment Development r 2008 to the public realm and street scene at key points around Waltham Forest. NI 186 NI 195 NI 196 Joint Local Authorities Environment & 2008 Regeneration: onwards Joint delivery of a wide range of regulatory services within Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 22 DRAFT Regulatory Services (JLARS) Consumer Protection the geographical area of the Olympic Park Enhancing young peoples opportunities to secure employment, training and learning opportunities 2012 Youth Ambassadors programme Environment & 2006Regeneration: onwards Development Olympic-themed structured NI 110 engagement programme for local young people, run in partnership with local schools. Expanding Need further apprenticeships detail JCP projects Enhancing local peoples opportunities to benefit from employment, skills development and business opportunities Construction skills centre WorkNet 2012 Environment & 2007Regeneration: onwards Development Environment & 2008Regeneration: onwards Development Environment & 2009Regeneration: 2012 Development Establishment of a construction skills training centre in Leytonstone Delivery of 2012 job brokerage service Olympic-themed: visitor accommodation Training in hospitality, catering and customer care NI 145 NI 153 NI 145 NI 153 NI 186 NI 196 NI 187 NI 45 NI153 Olympic Neighbourhood Initiative housing improvement scheme NI 95 Local Employment & Training Framework (LETF) Environment & 2006Regeneration: 2009 Development  Local labour & business scheme;  Vocational training;  Education & career pathways;  Support for LAA delivery Promoting volunteering, skills and confidence development opportunities Volunteering People, Policy & 20072009 A series of volunteering impact measurements Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 23 DRAFT Performance: Policy & Partnerships 2012 Hosting Environment & 2007Regeneration: 2012 Development A variety of coordinated measures aiming to maximize the benefits of hosting Olympic and Paralympic teams in Waltham Forest in 2012 Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 24 DRAFT SCS principles, LAA targets and 2012 projects Cultural Olympiad (NI 110) (NI 11) Adidas Zone (NI 110) Northern Fringe Masterplan Olympic Approach Retain more wealth in the borough Manage Population Growth & Change LETF (NI 152) JLARS Volunteering (NI 1) Create Wealth & Opportunity for Residents National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) (NI 152) (NI116) WorkNet 2012 (NI 153) (NI116) 3G enhancement Transport infrastructure enhancements (NI 186) Sports legacy coach education programme (NI 56) Fit Club (NI 56) (NI120) Beat Dis (NI 56) (NI120) Youth sports programme (NI 56) 2012 Youth Ambassadors programme (NI 110) ONI (NI 195) 2012 Hosting Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 25 DRAFT Appendix B 4.1 Population Waltham Forest in context: the evidence base The most recent population data shows that approximately 1.1 million people live within the five Olympic boroughs, which is 15% of London’s total population in 10% of London land. In 2009 the population in Waltham Forest was almost 228,000 with 58.9% being white and 41.1% from BAME communitiesii There is more ethnic diversity amongst children than amongst the population overall. In Waltham Forest approximately half of children and from BAME groups. The 2001 census data shows that 16.5% of the population has a long term limiting illness. 4.2 Concentration of poverty Waltham Forest ranks 27 out of a total 354 districts in England on the Indices of Deprivation. We have significant numbers of children living in families on key benefits. The borough is ranked 15 for the rate per 100,000 for early deaths from cancer, and 11 from heart disease/stroke related early deaths. Our housing stock survey demonstrates that we have 30% of homes that are non decent. Two wards in the south of the borough, Leyton and Grove Green have more than 50% of homes that are not decent. In addition, Leyton ward has the highest percentage of vulnerable people who live in non-decent homes. 4.3 Employment Employment in Waltham Forest is in Finance/professional business service (3%), other business services/ other services (23%), retail, hotels and restaurants ( 17%), manufacturing/ construction/ wholesale/transport (22%), public sector (34%). The employment rates of Bangladeshi and Pakistan males between January and December 2007 in Waltham Forest was (56%). This compares poorly with 74.4% for the male employment rate. The female employment rate for Bangladeshi and Pakistani Females in this same period was 28.9, which again compares poorly with 60.3% for all other groups. The borough levels of full time employment male (39%) and female (27%) rates are lower than the rates for London (44%) and (30%). 4.4 Skills and Qualifications In 2007, the working age population in Waltham Forest with a qualification was (11.7%) and NVQ level 4 and above which is a degree or equivalent (29.9%). This compares poorly to London’s figures of (14.5%) and NVQ4+t (37.45%). Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 26 DRAFT Furthermore, (20.1%) of the local population has no qualification, which is higher than the London average of (12.8%) 4.5 Young people and educational attainment levels The percentage of pupils achieving 5 A*-C GCSE including English and Mathematics in 2007/8 was (59.5%) which trailed behind London average of (65.3%). (66.4%) girls and (52.5%) boys achieved GCSE in 2007/08. The GCSE result are a concern because the London average itself is not good enough when compared to the skills profile of those employed in London and the skills required for London business. Furthermore, London children will need to compete in future in a global job market, and in London where the in-migration comprises of highly skilled people from abroad. 4.6 Employment status of working age population In 2007 our data showed 68% of Waltham Forest residents are in employment, which trails behind the figure for London ( 70%). The borough has higher levels of workless (25%),which is higher than 23% for London. Over the past decade the gap in employment rates between Waltham Forest and the 5 Olympic boroughs and London has shown improvement, mainly because of the male employment rates. This trend has not been reflected in female employment rates. 4.7 Groups at high risk of worklessness Evidence suggests that people that are more likely to be workless are: people with no qualifications, BAME communities, and the long-term disabled and lone parents. In total, 50% of London’s workless population is from BAME communities. There are a number of factors that impact on the high levels of worklessness in BAME communities, including language skills. Inactivity rates are particularly high for the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. Lone parents, have much lower employment rates in London than in the rest of the UK. Thus, employment rates for lone parents are just 39% in Inner London, and 47% in Outer London, which compares poorly with in the rest of the UK (58%). 4.7 Residents views and the 2012 Games Consultation with residents during the development of the Sustainable Communities Strategy revealed local residents aspirations for the borough. These support the priorities for the 2012 Strategy and Action Plan. The issues are:    Tackling negative perceptions and using the Olympic to promote the borough as a business and investment destination. Waltham Forest to be a place residents are proud to live in Supporting the development of small business workspace in town centers, and supporting the daytime economy Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 27 DRAFT    Improving the cultural and leisure offer Regenerating the town centre to create a vibrant and prosperous borough Mixed views about community cohesion. Some residents embracing diversity and wanting more interaction, and others concerned about the impact of migrant workers on public services. Some residents believe Waltham Forest is a borough where different communities interact, contrasted with others that believe people from different backgrounds do not mix Improvement in public realm and the cleanliness of town centers important Health is implicit within most themes, and concerns over health and the impact of the proliferation of fast food outlets. Access to green spaces and rural areas seen as a positive for health,    Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 28 DRAFT References Olympic Legacy Multi-Area Agreement - Appendix A: Analytical Base i ODA estimations ii GLA 2007, Round Ethnic Group Projections - Ethnic Group Projections and total population Draft 2012 Strategy and Action Plan April 2009 29