Community Plan 2004-08 Indicator Trends Report

Introduction
The purpose of this report is to provide a clear picture of how the  Community Plan 2004-08 has performed in terms of the short term (4 year) targets set under the current themes. As with the annual indicators report, the intention is to compare trends in North Lanarkshire with the Scottish position as a whole.

Background

Comparisons between North Lanarkshire and Scotland were undertaken over the most recent 5 year period for which consistent data are available. In the case of pension credit claimants and accidental fires, comparable data from official sources are only available for a 4 year period while consistent back data on self-employment and walking to school are only available for a 3 year period.

Of the 31 indicators, 5 are available for 2007, 17 for 2006, 7 for 2005 and the remaining 2 for 2004. Whilst it is acknowledged that the more dated indicators will be less effective in measuring the Community Plan's performance, they do help highlight any significant underlying trends that should be taken into consideration in the preparation of the new plan.     

Key findings from the Community Plan 2004-08 indicator trends

Around a third of the 31 indicators analysed showed North Lanarkshire to be in a more favourable position than Scotland as a whole, as documented in the annual indicators report to the August Board.

Of the 21 indicators that lagged behind the national average, the vast majority fell under the themes of social inclusion; jobs, business and the economy; and health, wellbeing and care.

It is encouraging to note, however, the progress that has been made in recent years in reducing the differentials between North Lanarkshire and the national position where some of these indicators are concerned.

As the spine graph in Figure 1 illustrates, North Lanarkshire has improved relative to Scotland on 17 of the 31 indicators presented over the longer term (green/medium shaded bars). The most notable improvements have been in levels of self-employment, breastfeeding, all road casualties, vehicle related crime and housebreaking. 

North Lanarkshire has worsened in terms of 10 of the 31 indicators (red/dark shaded bars), For 3 of these, i.e. child road casualties, crimes of violence and accidental fires, North Lanarkshire continues to perform well ahead of the Scottish average. Those areas of most concern, i.e. where the indicators show North Lanarkshire lagging behind Scotland and continuing to get worse over the longer term include earnings levels, smoking in pregnancy, young smokers, drug related crime and vandalism.  

A further 4 indicators relating to income support, pension credit and average age at death from coronary heart disease and cancer have remained static over the analysis period, but still lag behind the national position and are therefore worthy of note. It is acknowledged, however, that the impact of any policy interventions on health outcomes will not necessarily be in evidence over such a short monitoring period.

Figure 1