A fit for purpose council
a council which leads our city by enabling and empowering others to achieve.
www.newcastle.gov.uk
What does the council look like today?
The council is on track to deliver within it’s
budget.
The council is committed to supporting
local businesses.
% spend with
Newcastle
based
suppliers
2015/16
projected
budget
2015/16
agreed
budget
£241.2 million £241.0 million
Source: Financial Services, NCC
Sept.
2015:
Resident satisfaction with the council is
similar to 2012.
% spend with
North East
based
suppliers
39.7%
60.9%
April 2015:
June 2015:
Sept 2015:
8.71
8.68
8.55
2010
2012
2015
July – Sept
2013:
60.0%
57.0%
58.0%
complaints
Newcastle
Newcastle
Newcastle
60.10%
The number
of people
employed by
the council
is falling
(exc. schools,
YHN and TWAM)
2010:
Source: Residents’ Surveys 2012, 2015
2013:
10,031 7,559
Newcastle
2010**
59.3%
41.1%
2012*
33.1%
% of staff with no absence has reduced.
2014*
34.2%
Dec 2014:
2015**
62.0%
days
days
Dec 2014:
April 2015:
Sept 2015:
April 2015: June 2015: Sept 2015:
6,680 6,529 6,502
53.04% 51.18% 51.16% 50.41%
Source: Financial Services, NCC
upheld*
201
July – Sept
2015:
197
complaints
complaints
57.71%
52.79%
upheld*
upheld*
Source: Payroll system, NCC
Source: Corporate Customer Services, NCC
The turnout at elections is lower in
Newcastle than the national average.
2011*
days
193
July – Sept
2014:
* at reporting date
Source: Commissioning and Procurement, NCC
The average number of days lost through our staff
taking sick leave has reduced.
We received fewer corporate complaints
compared to last year, and fewer were upheld.
National average
The proportion of Council Tax and Business
Rates collected in Newcastle is higher than
the average for North East councils and the
average for England’s Core Cities.
65.1%
2014/15
Newcastle North East Core Cities
average
average
Council
Tax
96.9%
95.9%
94.8%
Business
Rates
99.1%
97.9%
97.7%
66.1%
*Local elections only
**Local and parliamentary elections
No elections held in 2013
Source: Electoral Commission
Source: Department for Communities and Local Government, local Benchmarking group
What do we want a fit for purpose council to be?
The council is known
to be a cooperative
organisation which
enables and
empowers others to
achieve.
The council provides
clear and effective
leadership of the
city.
The council is
recognised as an
ambitious and
generous partner in
the North East.
The council
demonstrates value
for money.
Staff feel
motivated, valued
and trusted to
deliver high quality
services to residents.
Residents feel the
council does a
good job.
July 2015 – September 2015
Rugby World Cup 2015
Newcastle played host to three sell
out Rugby World Cup matches at
St James’ Park:
Fanzone
The Fanzone proved immensely popular, and
we welcomed a record breaking 34,000 fans
through the doors for the city’s first game,
the best fanzone attendance on a single day
in the tournament. Overall, more than
100,000 people attended the Fanzone over
the three games.
• South Africa v Scotland –
Saturday 3 October
• New Zealand v Tonga –
Friday 9 October
• Scotland v Samoa –
Saturday 10 October
It was a tremendous honour being Host City
for the Rugby World Cup and being part of
the England 2015 team and the tournament,
and we are delighted with the success of the
games here in Newcastle. Hosting matches
was an excellent opportunity to showcase the
city to audiences across the world, inspire and
engage the local community, optimise
tourism and reinforce Newcastle’s position as
a host for large scale, global events.
The atmosphere in the Fanzone and city
centre was unique, with street entertainment,
markets and live music all delivered through
the Conversion Festival. The entertainment
was enjoyed by those who had tickets and
those that did not.
The Fanzone at Science Central next to St
James’ Park included:
The festival in the heart of the city, touched
all communities and brought more than
250,000 visitors over the three games.
Hotel occupancy reached 99% on match days
and the tourism sector across the wider
region felt the benefit of the visiting fans. In
terms of economic benefit, it is predicted
hosting matches in the city will bring £43
million into the local economy. We believe we
are on track to exceed all expectations. Shops
and hotels were full, the atmosphere in St
James’ Park electric and our Fanzone one of
best in the tournament.
The council collaborated with a number of
partners in delivering such a successful event,
including Newcastle United Football Club,
NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Newcastle
Falcons, Northumberland Rugby Football
Union, Newcastle United and Northumbria
Police amongst others.
As part of the Host City Agreement, the
council provided:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Marketing support
A Fanzone and other events
City dressing
Commercial rights protection
Transport and management support
Volunteer support
• A community pitch where over 2,000
children took part in a series of events and
festivals across the 16 days of the Rugby
World Cup tournament.
• A hugely popular girls festival took place
over three days, with over 300 Year 7, 8
and 9 girls from schools across the North
East taking part.
• A 5,000 capacity marquee that hosted;
The Oyster Festival, a wedding,
Oktoberfest, a Fresher’s music event, a
Northumberland Rugby Union dinner and
a Bidvest Food Services exhibition
attracting over 4,000 visitors.
• A fairground.
• A community event to celebrate the end of
the Conversion Festival.
Around the city
A Newcastle Falcons Legends Game against a
Southern Hemisphere team raised more than
£50,000 to be redirected into grassroots sport
via the Falcons Community Foundation.
Through tickets allocations from England
Rugby 2015 and the Newcastle Falcons, over
800 children from the city’s schools and Your
Homes Newcastle had the opportunity to
watch first class rugby at either St James’ Park
or Kingston Park.
More than 300 volunteers supported the
games in Newcastle, providing the public
with a first class experience, and the
volunteers with a once in a lifetime
experience. The volunteers were a credit to
themselves and the city.
The business community worked in partnership
to facilitate the tournament by providing car
parking and, in particular, for the 40 strong
motor home contingent who followed New
Zealand. The New Zealand supporters
described Newcastle and its residents as the
“friendliest and most passionate in the UK.”
The economic impact and enhanced
reputation of the city was illustrated by the
coverage the city received. The sign on the
Tyne Bridge brought global awareness whilst
hotels, pubs, Nexus Metro, Central Station
and Tyne Tunnel posted record breaking
attendances and spend during the games.
Hundreds of thousands of fans who have
visited the city have had a wonderful Geordie
welcome, and a fun packed and friendly
Rugby World Cup experience. They will carry
the memories of our city across the world and
many of them will be back.