Equalities
Information
Date: January 2017
Swanspool House, Doddington Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1BP
Tel: 01933 229777 DX 12865 www.wellingborough.gov.uk
Our Equalities Information
Contents
Introduction to our Borough
4
Our equalities information
6
Population
6
Age
7
Gender
9
Disability
10
Carers
11
Ethnicity and race
12
Religion or belief
14
Sexual orientation
14
Marriage and civil partnership
15
Socio-economics
15
Employment/unemployment
16
Benefit applications
17
Housing applications
19
Health
20
Rural isolation
21
Equalities monitoring
21
Our workforce
22
Page 2 of 26
Page 3 of 26
Introduction to our Borough
The Borough of Wellingborough is a diverse place to live and work. Urban and rural, traditional
and modern, wealth and poverty, local and migrant - these and many other contrasts make for a
richness of commerce, communities and culture.
The urban centre is the town of Wellingborough where over two thirds of the 77,1841 residents
live. The remainder live in 19 surrounding settlements. The town has expanded significantly from
its market square base in the last sixty years. These changes have brought new housing, industry
and people. A proportion of these people have come to settle from overseas. India, Africa and the
Caribbean have been the main sources of migration. Taken together these communities represent
11%2 of the urban population — comparable with some of the most diverse urban communities in
the country.
Parts of the borough are relatively wealthy but there are pockets of deprivation with three ‗Lower
Super Output Areas‘ in the town within the 10% most deprived areas in England. Anti-social
behaviour is perceived to be more of a problem in Wellingborough than across Northamptonshire
as a whole.
Unemployment levels are below national averages but relatively less people are employed in
managerial and professional occupations. GCSE attainment is lower than the English average.
In line with national trends, the population of Wellingborough is ageing. It is predicted that by 2020
almost one in five of the population will be over 65. Almost a quarter of residents describe
themselves as having a disability.
During the last ten years the town has witnessed the arrival of individuals and families from
Eastern Europe. These communities are noticeable through new shops, products and languages.
However reliable statistical evidence of the numbers staying or working in the town is weak.
Fertile agricultural land, picturesque country towns and villages, isolated farm buildings and
historic country houses characterise the rural areas that surround Wellingborough town. Rich in
heritage and tradition the rural communities have also undergone significant social change since
the middle years of the twentieth century.
The genesis of these changes has been the construction of the A45 dual carriageway through the
Borough. Running in a roughly East-West direction this major route has given Wellingborough a
fast, efficient and continuous connection to the outside world.
One outcome of this has been the arrival of numerous large ‗sheds‘ or mass storage warehouses
along the path of the road, built upon former agricultural land. However, a more subtle and
significant change has been the gradual transition in the basis of rural life.
Improved road and rail communications have shifted the centre of rural economic gravity from a
1950‘s dependency upon farming and light manufacturing to a 1990‘s reliance upon the commuter.
Accessibility from major economic centres like London, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and
Nottingham, makes residency in the Borough‘s scenic villages and hamlets as practical as it is
desirable.
Many ‗white collar‘ professionals and their families have come from outside the area to enjoy a
quality of life that would have been beyond their means in the cities and towns of their upbringing.
1
2
Mid 2015 population estimates - ONS
2011 Census
Page 4 of 26
Equally many ‗local‘ people – whose family histories testify to multiple generations of residency in
the same village – commute daily to and from workplaces beyond the boundaries of the Borough.
Despite these many changes over a relatively short period of time, the communities of the
Borough enjoy harmonious relations. Notwithstanding the urban or rural character of life or
whether people are original or newly arrived, different communities live and work alongside each
other with tolerance and respect.
The maturity of the relationship between different communities is powerfully symbolised in
expressions of individual cultural identity. Thus the town features a Mosque, two Hindu Temples,
an Afro-Caribbean social centre and a Polish Club, alongside numerous ancient and new Christian
based faith buildings.
The town annually hosts an international weekend walking festival that regularly attracts over
6,000 visitors from across the world (the ‗Waendel Walk‘). In high summer a Carnival and outdoor
party weekend celebrate the diversity and strength of community relationships. A multi-purpose
leisure centre was opened in 2007 in the town centre featuring a gym, dance studio and 25 metre
pool. This facility complements the 500 seat theatre and arts centre that has served the town since
1995. These public facilities provide an extensive range of cultural and sporting activities that are
designed to appeal to the different communities that make up the Borough.
The challenge for the Council is one of ensuring that the pace of change in community
demographics is adequately understood and responded to. This response is one of ensuring that
the services the Council offers and develops continue to meet the needs of local people. In part
this is practical issues like ensuring that local people can access services like refuse collection,
recycling, benefits and housing advice. However it is also about ensuring that local people can
influence the quality of life in their neighbourhoods by helping to form priorities for community
safety, the development of the built environment, the local economy, health services and other
place shaping influences. In order to respond to these challenges the Council needs to ensure the
effectiveness of its core services, its partnership working and community participation. The
Borough of Wellingborough has felt the economic effects of the global changes that have followed
the collapse of stock markets in 2008. In particular, statutory and voluntary sector services have
been reduced.
The people of the Borough take pride in the strength and diversity of the communities that live
within its boundaries. Despite the many changes witnessed by the town and villages during the
last century, new people have been welcomed and accepted as an enriching influence.
As the challenge and complexity of life is set to increase so too will the demands for essential
services and improved quality of life. Despite reduced resources the Council and its partners are
working to anticipate and respond to these new demands. In this way the Council aims to ensure
the continuance of the excellent relationships between the different communities that reside in the
Borough.
Page 5 of 26
Our Equalities Information
To better understand and serve our community, we use a number of sources of information about
the population of the borough such as:




Office for National Statistics
www.statistics.gov.uk and www.nomisweb.co.uk
Northamptonshire Analysis (including the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment).
Public Health England – Health Profile 2016
Please note that figures quoted in this information will not always tally due to rounding.
Population
The latest estimate of the population of the Borough Council of Wellingborough is 77,1843. This
represents a 2.37% increase since the 2011 census and is a smaller percentage increase than the
rest of the county.
2015
2011
mid-year
Male
Female
% increase
census
estimate
England & Wales 57,885,413 28,554,847 29,330,566 56,100,000
3.18
East Midlands
4,677,038 2,309,197 2,367,841 4,500,000
3.93
Northamptonshire
723,026
356,720
366,306
691,900
4.50
Wellingborough
77,184
37,742
39,442
75,400
2.37
Approximately two-thirds of the population live in the town of Wellingborough and the remainder in
the 19 rural settlements of the borough.
Number of Households - There are 34,350 households in the borough4.
2016
2011
% increase
England & Wales
25,182,140
23,400,000
7.62
Northamptonshire
312,370
287,700
8.57
Wellingborough
34,350
32,100
7.00
Average Household size in the borough is 2.355.
2011
2.4
2.4
2.35
England & Wales
Northamptonshire
Wellingborough
Population density in Wellingborough is 463 per square km5 – substantially higher than 349 for
England excluding London, and 407 including London.
England and Wales
Northamptonshire
Wellingborough
2011
km
371
293
463
per
sq. Increase on 2001
+24
+26
+18
3
Mid 2015 population estimate - ONS
Valuation Office Agency June 2016
5
2011 Census
4
Page 6 of 26
Age
Wellingborough has an older population than the county average and a major increase in the over
65s is predicted - from 14.8% of the population in 2001 to 23.99% in 2030.
In Northamptonshire as a whole the projection is that by 2030



22.58% will be over 65
3.49% over 85
23.18% under 19
Life expectancy in the district is 83.3 years for women and 80.1 years for men6 which is better than
the England average of 83.2 years for women and 79.5 years for men. However, life expectancy
is 5.6 years lower for men in the most deprived areas of Wellingborough than in the least deprived
areas.
Population over 85
It is estimated that there are 1,7877 people aged 85 and over in the borough, 2.32% of the
population.
Countywide, there is predicted to be a rise of 12,3378 in this group by 2030 to 3.89% of the
population.
2016 %
2016 No.
England
2.42
1,333,891
East Midlands
2.45
115,080
Northamptonshire
2.19
15,938
Wellingborough
2.31
1,786
6
Public Health England - Health Profile 2016
Mid 2015 population estimate - ONS
8
2014 Sub-national population projections
7
Page 7 of 26
Population aged over 65
It is estimated that there are now 14,7009 people aged 65 and over in Wellingborough, almost
19% of the population. It is predicted that this will rise to 24% by 203010.
England
East Midlands
Northamptonshire
Wellingborough
2016 estimate
%
No.
17.73
9,711,572
18.76
877,557
17.32
125,194
18.71
14,439
It is also predicted that the number of older people with dementia and other impairments will
increase significantly.
POPPI11 Projections Older People 65+
Wellingborough
People aged 65 and over predicted to
have dementia
People aged 65 and over predicted to
have a moderate, severe or profound
hearing impairment
People aged 65 and over with a limiting
long-term illness
People aged 65 and over predicted to
have a moderate or severe visual
impairment
2015
2020
2030
950
1,086
1,515
5,891
6,822
9,146
7,103
7,967
10,376
1,226
1,384
1,826
Population aged 16-64 (roughly working age)
England
East Midlands
Northamptonshire
Wellingborough
Mid 2015 population
estimates
%
No.
63.28
34,669,641
62.81
2,937,792
62.58
452,483
60.87
46,985
Population aged 19 and under
Mid 2015 population estimates
%
No.
England
23.74
13,005,727
East Midlands
23.35
1,092,252
Northamptonshire
24.74
178,902
Wellingborough
25.09
19,362
9
Mid 2015 population estimates - ONS
2014 sub-national population projections - ONS
11
Projecting Older People Population Information System (www.POPPI.org.uk)
10
Page 8 of 26
Children aged 15 and under
Mid 2015 population estimates
%
No.
England
18.99
10,405,114
East Midlands
18.42
861,689
Northamptonshire
20.10
145,349
Wellingborough
20.42
15,760
Children aged under 5
Mid 2015 population estimates
%
No.
England
6.27
3,434,680
East Midlands
5.96
278,657
Northamptonshire
6.52
47,168
Wellingborough
6.72
5,187
Population Age & Gender breakdown
Age
0-15
16-64
65+
Total
*Number of males per 100 females
Mid 2015 population estimates - Wellingborough
All Persons
Males
Females
Gender ratio *
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
15,760 20.42
8,006 10.37
7,754 10.05
103
46,985 60.87
23,096 29.92
23,889 30.95
97
14,439 18.71
6,640
8.60
7,799 10.10
85
77,184
37,742
39,442
Gender
There are approximately 37,742 males and 39,442 females in Wellingborough12, a ratio of 96
males per 100 females. The male to female ratio decreases in respect of people aged 60 and
over, reducing to 92 males per 100 females in the 75-79 age bracket, to 81 per 100 at 80-84 and
to just 53 per 100 at 85+.
Provisional figures from the Department for Education for 2015/16 show that in Northamptonshire,
63.9% of girls achieved GCSE‘s at grade A* – C in English and Maths whereas only 55% of boys
achieved the same.
Although victims of domestic abuse are predominantly women and children, 38% of domestic
violence victims are men. According to Northamptonshire against domestic and sexual abuse
(NADASA), in Northamptonshire 10% of crime is domestic violence with an average of 14,000
incidents each year.
In 2015 there was a rise reported13 in the number of first time victims of domestic abuse from 327
to 388. Perceived partly as a positive result of awareness campaigns as well as increased
national media coverage. The number of repeat occurrences against the top 10 victims was static
at 42.
12
13
Mid 2014 population estimates
Wellingborough Community Safety Partnership Plan 2016/17
Page 9 of 26
The Triennial (three yearly) Review report issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission
(EHRC) in 2010, ‗How Fair is Britain‘ indicated the following inequalities that specifically relate to
gender:
 Women are disproportionately affected by domestic abuse
 Three times as many men commit suicide than women, more specifically men aged
between 25-49
 Almost all people killed at work are men
 Men‘s life expectancy is generally below that of women
 Women aged 40 and over, earn on average 27% less than men of the same age.
In addition the updated EHRC review ―Is Britain Fairer – The state of equality and human rights
2015‖ concluded:
 Women were more likely to have no qualifications than men
 Boys continued to fall behind girls at the end of school
 Women were less likely than men to be employed and less likely to be in senior positions.
They were more likely to work part-time.
 62% of workers paid below the living wage were women
 While the gender pay gap narrowed, this was owing to men‘s average pay declining more
than women‘s, and average male pay continued to be greater than average female pay.
 The male suicide rate increased in England and Wales resulting in a widening of the gap
between men and women. In the UK, the suicide rate of males aged 45–49 increased
significantly between 2007 and 2013.
Disability
In the East Midlands, 21% of the population has a disability14. This equates to more than 16,000
people in Wellingborough.
Data from the 2011 census shows that 17.87% of people in Wellingborough stated that their day to
day activities were limited in some way due to a long term health problem or disability. This is
slightly higher than the figure for Northamptonshire but similar to that for England and Wales as a
whole.
18.50%
18.00%
17.50%
17.92%
17.87%
17.00%
16.50%
16.00%
16.18%
15.50%
15.00%
Wellingborough
14
Northamptonshire
England and Wales
Family Resources Survey 2014/15 - DWP
Page 10 of 26
The average disability-free life expectancy across the county is 65.8 for men (which is significantly
higher than the England average) and 65.4 for women15.
Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions showed that in May 2016, approximately
5.8% of people in Wellingborough aged between 16–64 were claiming incapacity benefit or ESA
(Employment support allowance) which is less than the Great Britain figure of 6.2%16.
1 in 5 people (approximately 15,400 in Wellingborough) will be affected by mental health issues.
More women than men experience neurotic disorders or depression whilst it is estimated more
men experience personality and psychotic disorders. It is estimated that approximately 10% of
young people have a mental health disorder nationally (JSNA 2012).
4,348 people (7.20%) are recorded with a diagnosis of diabetes on GP registers17 compared to the
national average of 6.4%, which could be linked to the fact that 70.6% of adults are classified as
obese or over-weight in Wellingborough compared to 64.6% nationally. In Wellingborough, only
21.5% of adults18 take part in sport or active recreation three or more times a week compared to
the England average of 23.7%.
The ERHC‘s Triennial Review indicates that the following national inequalities relate to disability:
 Women are more likely to report mental health issues than men, but this may be as a result
of men under reporting
 The risk of mental health problems is nearly twice as likely for ‗Bangladeshi‘ men than for
‗White‘ men
 Mental health is an issue of concern for both the transgender and the Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual (LGB) populations
 When Special Educational Needs are combined with factors associated with being eligible
for free school meals, the outcomes of children with Special Educational Needs are
reduced, specifically to 10% of girls and only 8% of boys likely to obtain 5 good GCSEs
including English and Maths
 Disabled adults are 3 times as likely to have no qualifications
 Only 23% of people with depression are in employment
 45% of disabled people in their early 20s are Not in Employment, Education or Training
(NEET)
 People with disabilities in the workplace are twice as likely to report bullying and
harassment
 Young disabled people are twice as likely as their non-disabled peers to be regularly caring
for other children or adults.
Carers
More than 10% of the population of Wellingborough provide some unpaid care19 ranging from 1 to
50+ hours per week; this is slightly higher than the England and Northamptonshire average. In
May 2016, 930 working age residents in Wellingborough were providing full-time care and
receiving carers support benefit. (DWP – May 2016)
15
Older People Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2015
DWP Benefit claimants – working age client group
17
Public Health England – Wellingborough Health Profile 2016
18
Active People Survey 2015/16
19
2011 Census
16
Page 11 of 26
Unpaid Care Provision
10.8%
10.5%
10.2%
10.0%
England
East Midlands
Northamptonshire
Wellingborough
The EHRC‘s Triennial review report indicates the following national inequalities that relate to care
and support:
 Some research suggests that women have a 50:50 chance of providing care by the time
they are 59.
 Bangladeshi, Black African, Black Caribbean and Pakistani children are more likely to have
caring responsibilities than their White British counterparts.
Ethnicity and race
The majority (81.3%) of Wellingborough‘s population is White British, based on the 2011 census.
The next largest ethnic group is White Other (5.1%). Over 12% of the population are of Black or
Minority Ethnic (BME) origin, comparable with some of the most diverse urban communities in the
country.
Ethnic Group
White: British
White: Irish
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller
White: Other
Mixed: White/Black Caribbean
Mixed: White/Black African
Mixed: White/Asian
Mixed: Other
Asian/Asian British: Indian
Asian/Asian British: Pakistani
Asian/Asian British: Bangladeshi
Asian/Asian British: Chinese
Asian/Asian British: Other
Black or Black British: Black African
Black or Black British: Black Caribbean
Black or Black British: Other
Other ethnic group: Arab
Other ethnic group: Other
% of population
Wellingborough
81.3
0.8
0.1
5.1
1.6
0.3
0.5
0.5
4.1
0.4
0.7
0.2
0.5
1.2
1.9
0.5
0.1
0.3
England
79.8
1.0
0.1
4.6
0.8
0.3
0.6
0.5
2.6
2.1
0.8
0.7
1.5
1.8
1.1
0.5
0.4
0.6
Page 12 of 26
In January 2017, there were 37 permanent, authorised caravan pitches in Wellingborough, 3
pitches owned by the council and 34 pitches privately owned. Assuming 3 people per caravan, the
Gypsy and Traveller (G&T) population housed in caravans can be estimated at 111 people. In
addition, according to the 2011 census there were 54 G&T residents living in houses in the
borough.
There are also 20 plots for Travelling Show people based in 4 yards. These plots are larger than
caravan pitches due to equipment requirements and yards are often occupied by members of the
same family. Using the 3 per caravan multiplier it is estimated there are 60 Travelling Show people
residing in the borough.
According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Gypsies and Travellers have the
poorest life chances of any ethnic group:
 G&T mothers are 20 times more likely to have experienced the death of a child than
mothers in the general population
 G&T women live 12 years less than women in the general population and G&T men live 10
years less than men in the general population
 G&Ts are more prone to ill health; prenatal and infant mortality, still births are significantly
higher than average
 By KS3 only 15-20% of travelling pupils are registered at or regularly attend school.
From National Insurance data we know that in the year to September 2016 there were 1,620 new
registrations from non-UK nationals20, the vast majority (86.3%) from newer EU member states.
We can assume that the actual number is higher because not all family members will need to
register for National Insurance.
The proportion of children in state-funded schools in the county for which English is a second
language rose from 9.65% in the 2011 school year to 15% in 201621.
The Triennial Review report issued by the EHRC ‗How Fair is Britain‘ indicates the following
inequalities that specifically relate to ethnicity and race:
 Children from ethnic minorities are up to twice as likely to be involved in road traffic
accidents
 The worst performing group in terms of educational outcomes is Gypsy and Traveller
children
 Nationally, more Black Caribbean and Gypsy Traveller children are excluded from school
than other groups.
20
21
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
2016 School Census
Page 13 of 26
Religion or belief
In the 2011 Census, 57.69% of the population describe themselves as Christian. Almost 30% said
they have no religion and almost 7% did not state their religion.
Religion or Belief
Christian
No religion
Religion not stated
Hindu
Muslim
Other religion
Buddhist
Sikh
Jewish
% of population
Wellingborough
57.69%
29.22%
6.73%
3.64%
1.63%
0.53%
0.29%
0.21%
0.06%
England
59.38%
24.74%
7.18%
1.52%
5.02%
0.43%
0.45%
0.79%
0.49%
The EHRC Triennial Review report indicates the following national inequalities that relate to
religion and belief:
 The majority of hate incidents recorded by the police involve harassment. Incidents
targeting different groups take a variety of forms e.g. religiously motivated hate crimes
affect community institutions as well as individuals.
 Non-Christians are 10 times more likely to report being attacked or harassed because of
their faith
 42% of young Muslim people are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).
Sexual orientation
There is no reliable local data on sexual orientation. The official government estimate for Lesbian
Gay and Bisexual (LGB) people is 6%. Research suggests that LGB people constitute between 5
and 7% of the adult population. However a number of surveys estimate a much lower level at
between 2 and 2.5%. The LGB population of Wellingborough is therefore somewhere between
1,500 and 5,000.
There were 100 people22 living in a registered same-sex civil partnership in Wellingborough
(0.17% of the population aged 16 and over).
In the Integrated Household Survey January 2014 to December 2014 1.3% of the population in the
East Midlands aged over 16 identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual (1.6% in England).
If we applied this percentage to Wellingborough it would equate to approximately 1003 people.
The EHRC Triennial Review report indicates the following national inequalities that relate to sexual
orientation:
 There is some evidence to suggest that LGB people may be more likely than average to
attempt suicide or commit acts of self-harm
 For LGB pupils, school attainment trends are hard to measure but there are signs that they
are being penalized by unfair treatment and bullying
 LGB people are twice as likely to report experiencing unfair treatment, discrimination,
bullying or harassment at work than other employees.
22
2011 Census
Page 14 of 26
Research provided in the Different Strokes: Reducing Health inequalities for LGB people‘ also
highlights the following:



A higher percentage of LGB people will smoke compared to heterosexual people
Lesbian women and bisexual women are more likely to misuse alcohol
A higher proportion of LGB young people use recreational drugs.
Marriage and Civil Partnership
Three quarters of children in poverty in the county live with a lone parent. There are approximately
2,600 lone parents in Wellingborough, 2,300 of which are female. Only 60% of lone parents work and
over half of those work part time (33%) and a greater proportion of income is spent on childcare.
Socio Economics
The 2011 Census measured deprivation in 4 dimensions and calculated the number of households
in the borough living in 1 to 4 of these dimensions.
The 4 DIMENSIONS from the Census used in this indicator were:
Employment: any member of a household not a full-time student is either unemployed or longterm sick.
Education: no person in the household has at least level 2 education, and no person aged 16-18
is a full-time student.
Health and Disability: any person in the household has general health ‗bad or very bad‘ or has a
long term health problem.
Housing: household's accommodation is either overcrowded, with an occupancy rating of -1 or
less, or is in a shared dwelling, or has no central heating).
The chart below shows the % of households by number of dimensions of deprivation
Page 15 of 26
In the Government‘s 2015 Indices of Multiple Deprivation (a way of measuring disadvantage),
Wellingborough ranks 133 out of 326 local authority areas (138 in 2010) (with 1 being the most
deprived). Areas called ―Lower Super Output‖ Areas‖ (LSOAs) are used to help us look at parts of
the Borough in more detail and contain on average 1,600 people.
Parts of Rixon, Queensway and Croyland Wards rank in the 10% most deprived areas in the
country. Almost 23% of the population of the borough live in areas that are in the 20% most
deprived areas in England, this includes 28% of children aged under 15 and almost 17% of adults
aged over 60.
19.8% (3,070) of the children in the Borough live in poverty, with families receiving means tested
benefits on a low income. Three quarters of the children in poverty in the county live with a lone
parent and half the families in poverty in the county have a child under 4.
In the 2011 census 25.7% (15,534) of the adult population in the Borough identified themselves
with no qualifications. In parts of Queensway, Swanspool and Croyland wards more than 30% of
the adult population have no qualifications of any kind.
Employment/Unemployment
The latest unemployment figures (July 2015 - June 201623) show that approximately 1,500 people
of working age were unemployed in Wellingborough. In percentage terms, this was lower than the
national average but higher that the county average.
In November 2016 there were 800 people in Wellingborough claiming Jobseekers allowance
which is a considerable fall from May 2015 (1,010). The highest proportion of people claiming Job
Seeker‘s Allowance were in the Queensway, Croyland and Rixon wards.
23
NOMIS – National Labour Market Statistics
Page 16 of 26
The charts below show the breakdown of claimants by ward, age and gender.
Benefit applications
A snapshot analysis was undertaken on 19 December 2016 of Wellingborough‘s 6,109 (6,402 in
January 2015) Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Support (CTS) recipients, with the 2015
figure shown in brackets. The results are below:
Gender:
Those in receipt of both HB and CTS:
Female claimants (not necessarily single, but who happen to be the claimant):
Male claimants (not necessarily single, but who happen to be the claimant):
2,658 (2,856)
1,371 (1,481)
Those in receipt of just HB:
Female claimants (not necessarily single, but who happen to be the claimant):
Male claimants (not necessarily single, but who happen to be the claimant):
515 (502)
252 (241)
Those in receipt of just CTS: (mostly owner-occupiers)
Female claimants (not necessarily single, but who happen to be the claimant):
Male claimants (not necessarily single, but who happen to be the claimant):
766 (754)
553 (568)
Page 17 of 26
Gender
HB and CTS
Male
Female
1,371
2,658
(1,481)
(2,856)
HB only
Male
Female
252
515
(241)
(502)
CTS only
Male
Female
553
760
(568)
(754)
Age: (separated into over or under 60 for ease due to the differences in pensionable age
depending on date of birth)
Those in receipt of both HB and CTS:
Claimants over 60:
1,657 (1,727)
Claimants under 60:
2,372 (2,610)
Those in receipt of just HB:
Claimants over 60:
120 (116)
Claimants under 60:
647 (627)
Those in receipt of just CTS: (mostly owner-occupiers)
Claimants over 60:
1,025 (1,061)
Claimants under 60:
288 (261)
HB and CTS
Over 60 Under 60
Age
1,657
(1,727)
2,372
(2,610)
HB only
Over
Under 60
60
120
647
(116)
(627)
CTS only
Over 60 Under 60
1,025
(1,061)
288
(261)
Disability: (claims with a disability premium i.e. claimant or partner with a disability premium - but
not disabled children).
HB and CTS
1,157 (1,141)
HB only
167 (108)
CTS only (mostly owner-occupiers) 313 (310)
The information gathered has demonstrated that:




The majority of benefit recipients (64%) were female. Whilst no information is available on
lone parents, it is safe to assume that the majority of lone parents were female and the
relatively large numbers of female benefit recipients may indicate that many of them are
lone parents. The exception to this is the CTS only recipients, but it can be assumed that
most people in receipt of CTS only are owner-occupiers, many of whom would be
households over pensionable age.
54% of applicants were under pensionable age and 46% over.
27% of claimants were in receipt of a disability premium.
There is no reliable data on ethnicity available.
This information was analysed by the council‘s Corporate Communications Group to ascertain
whether there were any inequalities which needed to be addressed. It was felt that there were no
issues at the present time but that the analysis would be repeated and if possible improved in the
future.
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Housing
Approximately 18% of households (5,778 households) live in social housing owned by housing
associations.
During 2016, 111 households were accepted as homeless in Wellingborough, an increase from
the 100 households in 2015.
Wellingborough has 9.7% of households living in fuel poverty24, slightly lower than the regional
average of 10.1%.
A snapshot analysis of the council‘s housing needs register was taken on 8 December 2016 to
ascertain who was in need of housing and whether any equality issues were raised which needed
to be addressed.
There were a total of 580 live applications (594 in December 2015). The following results relate to
the first applicant on the forms (December 2015 figures in brackets):
Age
Under 18
Disability
Gender
Sexual
orientation
1
(9)
18-25
Yes
Male
Heterosexual
432
(456)
246
(238)
238
(228)
Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual
Race/Ethnicity
Asian/Asian British – Bangladeshi
Asian/Asian British – Indian
Asian/Asian British – Pakistani
Asian/Asian British – Other
2 (7)
4 (7)
4 (5)
3 (2)
Black/Black British – African
Black/Black British – Caribbean
Black/Black British – Other
21 (19)
19 (18)
3 (6)
Mixed – White/Asian
Mixed – White/Black African
Mixed – White/Black Caribbean
Mixed – Other
2 (1)
2 (3)
19 (6)
4 (3)
White British
White Irish
White Other
433 (454)
5 (6)
50 (45)
Other Ethnic Group
3 (3)
Not stated
6 (9)
24
124
(98)
26-64
507
(498)
65+
No
Female
13
(18)
Prefer not to
say/other
73
(96)
334
(356)
342
(366)
135
(120)
Employment Status
Employed full time
Employed part time
Self employed
Unemployed
Student
116 (90)
71 (56)
15 (13)
146 (121)
6 (4)
Sickness benefit
Incapacity benefit
Maternity benefit
28 (34)
31 (39)
4 (6)
Private pension
State retirement pension
0 (0)
48 (69)
Prefer not to say
114 (98)
Dept. of Energy and Climate Change, Sub Regional Fuel Poverty, England 2014
Page 19 of 26
From this analysis we can see that:






202 or 35% of our applicants were in any kind of employment, consistent with affordable
housing being the only option for many households on benefits. 114 respondents did not
answer this question
75.5% were White British or White Irish, with 8.6% White Other
16.2% were over 65, slightly less than the population profile of 18.71%
42.4% declared some form of disability – although this could range from wheelchair users
to people with hearing problems so is not necessarily an indication of a high level of need
for adapted properties.
59% of first applicants were female – we were unable to gather data on numbers of lone
parents
95% of those declaring their sexual orientation were heterosexual. 125 (21.5%)
respondents declined to answer this question, higher than in other categories.
The average waiting time for a general needs property is 213 days and the average waiting time
for sheltered accommodation is 157 days.
Further analysis will be carried out by the council‘s Corporate Communications Group in the
coming year to ascertain whether there are any equality issues arising which need to be
addressed and which could be included in the equality action plan.
Health
The Public Health England 2016 Health Profile for Wellingborough indicates that:










almost 1 in 5 (18.3%) of adults in Wellingborough are smokers – higher than the England
average of 16.9% but a slight reduction from the previous years‘ figure of 20.2%
130 pregnant women were smokers at the time of delivery, equivalent to 14.4%
more than 70% of adults in Wellingborough were classified as either obese or over-weight
in the 2012-14 Active People Survey.
Wellingborough has the worst rate of under 18 conceptions in the county with 45 girls aged
15-17 becoming pregnant in 2014.
18% of children in Wellingborough aged 10–11 were classified as obese in 2014/15
the commonness of recorded diabetes in Wellingborough is 7.2% - higher than the England
average of 6.4%. This is predicted to rise if the rates of obesity continue to increase at the
current rate. People living in the most deprived 20% of neighbourhoods are 56% more likely
to have diabetes than those in the most affluent 20%.
almost 3,000 children in Wellingborough were living in poverty in 2013 - there are proven
links between levels of deprivation amongst children and poor health and well-being
outcomes for them as they grow up
51.4% of adults in Wellingborough are considered physically active and achieve at least
150 minutes of physical activity per week.
the rate of sexually transmitted infections is better than the national average at 725 per
100,000 compared with 815 per 100,000 nationally. Poor sexual health is experienced
unequally according to age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and socio-economic
status.
Male life expectancy at birth is 80.1 which is higher than the national average of 79.5
Page 20 of 26
Information from the 2013 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) indicates that:
Women living in the most disadvantaged areas of Wellingborough have rates of cervical cancer
more than three times as high as those in the least deprived areas. (JSNA 2013) Amongst
disadvantaged communities and in ethnic minority groups, take up of screening programmes is
low.
Compared to white or other groups, people of black ethnic origin are 3 times more likely to receive
an STI diagnosis in Northamptonshire, and people of mixed ethnic origin twice as likely.
Areas of higher deprivation have 2-3 times higher loss of life due to alcohol and 2-5 times more
admissions to hospitals than in more affluent areas. Most clients of the alcohol service are young
and middle aged men.
Rural isolation
Wellingborough is a ‗significantly rural‘ area with a third of its population living in rural areas, some
of which suffer from a lack of facilities and access to public transport which is a particular problem
for pensioners without cars.
There are pockets of deprivation in rural areas. Inability to access services and isolation can have
a significant impact on a person‘s health and well-being.
Equalities monitoring
Following guidance received from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
in its Best Value Guidance released in 2011, we no longer routinely gather diversity or life-style
information from our suppliers or service users.
We do however monitor the age, disability, ethnicity, religion and belief, gender, marital status and
sexual orientation of our customers through our customer feedback forms, consultation responses
and during the recruitment process to evidence that all of our services are provided in a fair and
accessible way.
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Our workforce
The Equality Duty requires public bodies to consider how their activities as employers affect
people who share different protected characteristics. The specific duties require public bodies with
150 or more employees to publish information to show how they did this.
Although as at 1 January 2017 there were only 142 people employed by the council, we believe
that it is useful to publish our workforce statistics and this information is included below.
Workforce Profiling 2016
Actual number of employees as at 1 January 2017
Average number of employees
Number of leavers
% Turnover
142
101.27
9
8.89%
Page 22 of 26
There were 3 disciplinary investigations in 2016, none of which were related to discrimination.
Page 23 of 26
Our Services
Although not an exhaustive list the provision of the following services have helped to eliminate
discrimination, advance opportunity and foster good relations in 2016.
Homelessness prevention
The Housing Options Team aims to prevent people becoming homeless by providing advice and
assistance to help people find a solution to their housing problem.
The following table gives a breakdown of the main characteristics of those people who presented
as homeless who had a priority need :
Homelessness statistics 2015/2016
Number of people who
183
Main reason for priority need (top 5)
presented as homeless
% with an eligible priority
% of applicant whose household
50.82
63.44
need
incudes dependent children
% of priority applicants who
% of applicants with a physical
86.02
15.05
were white
disability
% of priority applicants
% of pregnant mothers with no
54.84
6.45
aged 25 - 44
other dependent children
% of priority applicants who
% of applicants with a mental
44.09
4.30
were lone parents
illness or disability
% of applicants with old age as
3.23
priority need
Comprehensive homelessness statistics are published on the Housing Statistics pages of our
website.
Affordable homes
In the two years from March 2014 to March 2016 we delivered 188 homes available for shared
ownership or renting below market value. A further 63 homes in Compton Way Earls Barton,
Ladywell Court and Mitchell Court Wellingborough, all completed during the last quarter of 2016.
Housing needs assessments
Rural Housing needs are assessed on a five year rolling programme with surveys sent to every
property in the parish where an assessment is being carried out. The Housing needs assessment
helps the council to identify where there is the greatest need for affordable homes.
The results are available on the Completed and future housing need surveys pages of the website.
Disabled Facility Grants (DFG’s)
A Disabled facility grant (DFG) may be awarded to anyone who is registered, or is eligible to be
registered as a disabled person, regardless of whether they rent or are owner-occupiers. Grants
are awarded to provide adaptations to homes to allow people with disabilities to live
independently, for example adding a stair-lift or converting a bathroom to a wet room.
During 2015/16 the council completed 68 DFG‘s with a total expenditure of £432,943
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Translation services and requests for alternative formats
We make documentation available in alternative formats when requested to do so by service
users with a disability. We routinely send out letters in large print to anyone who has notified us
that they have a visual impairment.
During 2016 our Housing Options team, Revenues team and our Environmental Health teams
used interpreters on a total of 14 occasions. Languages that we were asked to translate or
interpret included Polish, Romanian, Mandarin and Italian.
Waste and Recycling
Wellingborough NORSE provide 816 residents who are infirm or have a disability with an assisted
waste collection service (correct as at 11 January 2017). The crews collect the bins from an
agreed location on the property and return them after they have been emptied.
Community Support
During the 2015/16 financial year the following grants were made to voluntary, community and
social enterprise organisations :Organisation
Central & E Northants CAB
Shire Community Services
Victoria Centre
Wellingborough AfroCaribbean Association
Nene Valley Community
Action
Northamptonshire Rights and
Equalities Council
Winifred Wharton Trust
The Hope Project
Northamptonshire Sport
Friends of Earls Barton
Library
Wellingborough Interfaith
group
Wellingborough Homestart
The Castle juggling project
Wellingborough LGBT
Alliance
Summary of purpose of the grant
Debt and employment advice – including victims of
discrimination at work
Community transport dial-a-ride service and Shopmobility
service supporting physical access to services.
Support to actively encourage new arrivals and people
from the surrounding area to participate in activities and
take up an active role in the local community
Voluntary sector infrastructure support
Equalities advice and guidance – including supporting
individuals, promoting training and raising awareness of
equalities issues across the borough
Heritage - Wellingborough Museum, tackling prejudice
and promoting understanding through past events –
WWII and the Holocaust etc
Support for Hemmingwell community and skills centre
Support for Summer activities for children
Start up costs
Cohesion project in primary schools
Summer activities for families with limited access to local
activities
Contribution towards ―access to arts‖ family day
Start up costs
Page 25 of 26
Events
The annual Waendel Walk encourages international participation, fosters good relations and
tackles prejudice through a common interest. Party in the Park showcases music from different
genres and helps to bring the diverse communities in Wellingborough together.
The council organises a special public commemorative service each year to mark Holocaust
Memorial Day alongside community partners who mark the occasion through a series of events
such as exhibitions, poetry readings and drama.
The Commonwealth Flag is raised each year on Commonwealth Day and a short citation read as
a collective public expression of commitment to the Commonwealth. It enables participants to
show appreciation for the values the Commonwealth upholds, and the opportunities for friendship
and cooperation with fellow Commonwealth citizens, young and old, around the world.
Website and Social Media
During 2016 we have increased our presence on social media by 43%, in an effort to connect with
our seldom heard residents, and as at 31st January had 889 followers on twitter.
Our website conforms to level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 and text size,
text colour and contrast settings can all be configured to the individual users needs.
We increased the average number of unique visitors to our website each month by almost 20% to
25,608 and we aim to continue to increase this figure annually as we make more of our services
available digitally and accessible 24/7.
Elections
We regularly assess our polling stations for accessibility issues. We encourage people who are
elderly or have a disability who are unable to visit a polling station on election day to apply for a
postal vote, in order to participate in public life.
The number of residents who have elected to vote by post has risen from 9459 in December 2015
to 9805 in December 2016.
Residents Panel
In November 2015 we joined the Northamptonshire Residents‘ Panel. The panel consists of
residents and groups from across the county who have said they are willing to be consulted on
public services matters that interest them. As at 1 January 2017, there were 74 residents from
Wellingborough and 1 organisation who had joined the panel. We will be working to increase
these numbers significantly over the next 12 months.
Partnership working
We continue to work very closely with our partners, particularly the County Council, to meet the
needs of the most vulnerable members of our community.
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