Memorandum by Skegness Town Council (CT
18)
1.1 Skegness Town Council welcomes the opportunity
that the Committee is taking to examine the special needs of coastal
towns.
1.2 Skegness Town Council has embraced the
ethos set out in the Government White Paper—"Our Countryside
the Future" which whilst not aimed at Coastal Towns/Parishes
gave a way for Town/Parish councils to become more active in their
communities.
1.3 Skegness Town Council was the first
Town Council in Lincolnshire to achieve Quality Status.
1.4 Skegness has a population of 18,910
(2001 Census) and is divided into four wards. Three of which are
high on the indices of deprivation.
1.5 Added to this is the poor level of public
service given by the principal authorities.
1.6 The reports published by the Audit commission
on the performance of public services have been:
| (a) | Lincolnshire County Council
| Poor |
| (b) | East Lindsey District Council
| Poor |
| (c) | Lincolnshire Police |
Poor |
| (d) | Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue
| Poor |
| (e) | Lincolnshire Ambulance Service
| Poor |
| |
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1.7 In addition East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust
is forecasting a budget deficit in excess of £20 million
pounds.
1.8 The Town Council is greatly concerned about the continuing
level of poor services in an area that is recognised as deprived.
1.9 The temporary closure by the Primary Care Trust of
hospital wards to achieve small savings impacts most on those
not able to travel or afford the cost of travel (The elderly and
infirm).
2. SOCIAL
2.1 The coastal area has significant social problems.
2.2 The economic activity rate in the area is 54% compared
to 66% in Lincolnshire reflecting the aging population.
2.3 Seasonality of employment is illustrated by the 100%
increase in unemployment between August 2004 and January 2005
compared to almost no change in Great Britain.
2.4 Over 40% of employment within the coastal area is
in part time jobs compared to 32% nationally.
2.5 50% of residents in the area have no qualifications
compared with 29% in the region.
2.6 Only 13% of residents in the area are qualified to
NVQ level 3 or above compared to 48% nationally and just 8% to
NVQ 4/5 compared to 28% nationally.
2.7 Almost 30% of residents class themselves as having
a limiting long term illness compared to 19% in the country.
2.8 Many of the people moving into the area also have
a limiting long term illness.
2.9 The number of persons in receipt of benefits works
against economic sustainability
in the area.
2.10 Migration of retired and elderly people due to the
flat terrain places severe demands on housing social services
and health services with no commensurate increase in funding for
the services under pressure.
2.11 Failure of central Government to recognise that
coastal issues are different from urban or rural areas and to
acknowledge the high costs of service delivery, and seasonal economic
and population variances.
3. HOUSING
3.1 The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Policy on
social housing is effective in large urban areas but cannot and
does not work in small coastal towns.
3.2 Due to the Environment Agency, despite the spend
of several million pounds on flood defences, classifying area
as a flood risk, future large scale investment and development
has been blighted.
3.3 Small and piecemeal development of under 10 houses
does not address the need for social housing.
3.4 This leads to insufficient social housing, national
average 25% of stock, East Lindsey District Council area 10% of
stock.
3.5 Most residents due to the low wage, seasonal type
of employment cannot afford to get on the housing ladder.
3.6 High dependency on the provision of private sector
rented accommodation with insecurity of tenure.
3.7 Variable quality of private rented housing stock
available leading to areas of localised depravation.
3.8 No economic growth due to insufficient affordable
housing.
4. EMPLOYMENT
4.1 On average for every two people aged 18 to 24 who
move out of the area three people aged over 60 move in.
4.2 Which gives a higher population of retirement age
and over and a lower population of working age.
4.3 Skegness is heavily reliant on tourism as the main
employment.
4.4 Tourism is a low wage and in the main low skill employment.
4.5 Recruitment of strong candidates for any role near
the coast is very difficult and particularly so in public service
roles ie Teachers, Doctors, Dentists etc. The perceived remoteness
of the area, social isolation for families and seasonality combine
to mean that coastal positions receive only a fraction of the
number of applicants for jobs compared with urban area.
4.6 Lack of employment opportunities lead to a lack of
expectations in schools. High academic achievers go to higher
education and leave to live where they can fulfil their potential.
4.7 There are limited sectors for people to work in and,
with the exception of tourism, little succession or progression
opportunities for ambitious individuals.
4.8 The seaside holiday trade in its wider concept is
not recognised as a bone fide industry. This should be addressed.
5. REGIONAL INITIATIVES/DISPARITIES
ETC
5.1 Disparity of financial distribution for regeneration
is evident in the East Midlands area, with most regeneration finance
being directed to city, former industrial areas and ex coal towns
with very little directed at coastal towns whose indices of deprivation
are, in certain areas, on par with or greater than those city
and ex coal towns.
5.2 There is a need to combat the peripherality of the
coastal area due to poor road and rail infrastructure leading
to accessibility problems.
5.3 It is considered that there is a definitive case
for specific regional initiatives for coastal areas which in the
past has been disadvantaged by regeneration finance being directed
elsewhere.
6. RDA'S AND OTHER
BODIES
6.1 The efforts and success for RDA and other bodies
has been less than satisfactory as most appear to concentrate
on areas where they are based.
6.2 It is difficult to identify where or how the East
Midlands Development Agency has in a major way supported or developed
the economy of Skegness. It has however been involved in small
albeit welcome developments.
6.3 Under SRB 5 Skegness and other coastal towns bid
for £1.8 million we were awarded £1.5 million against
the multi millions awarded for city, former industrial areas and
ex coal towns.
6.4 All targets set in the bid were met and in many instances
exceeded.
7. GENERAL
7.1 It is considered that mechanisms to kick start the
regeneration should be introduced
7.2 Within limits relaxation of certain elements of building
regulations may foster new build or expansion.
7.3 The risks/reward ratio is greater when operating
on a short seasonal basis.
7.4 This could be addressed with extra capital relief
and consideration of
re-introducing the business expansion scheme (Tax relief for investors
in New risk ventures)
7.5 The introduction of development zones with reduced
business rates and other financial advantages could encourage
an influx of alternative types of employment.
7.6 Consideration should be given to the variance of
VAT rates across tourism based seasonally dependant businesses.
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