Hartlepool Partnership

LOCAL public services have done much to improve the quality of life in Hartlepool in recent years.

That's the view of the new independent assessment regime which today (9 December) published inspection results for 152 areas in England for the first time.

Area Assessments are a new way of assessing local public services. It examines how well councils, police, the NHS and other local services are working together.

It's a joint assessment made by a group of six independent watchdogs: Audit Commission, Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorates of Constabulary, Prisons and Probation, and Ofsted.

However, inspectors feel that more needs to be done in Hartlepool to tackle the harm caused by alcohol which has resulted in a 'red flag' for the area.

Philippa Corner, Oneplace spokesperson for Hartlepool, said: "Local public services have done much to improve the quality of life in Hartlepool in recent years. Improvements have been seen in the local economy, school results, the quality of new and older housing, and cutting crime. The area is cleaner and the council is leading the way locally on conserving and improving the natural environment.

"Local people can enjoy varied activities including the arts, leisure and culture, and have plenty of options to take up volunteering. However, despite improvements, people's health is a problem. Like much of the North East, more needs to be done to tackle high levels of alcohol abuse, obesity and teenage pregnancies. Public services need more support from residents if things are going to change for good - and adopting healthier lifestyles tops the list."


The CAA report - which can be viewed in full at www.direct.gov.uk/oneplace; says: "Regeneration over the last 20 years has transformed the town. Hartlepool's economy is stronger than it was 10 years ago and there are examples of things getting better. More businesses are starting up and there is support from partners to help them to develop.

"Children's achievements at schools are improving and the level of qualifications that they achieve at age 16 and by age 19 compares well with similar authorities and overall matches the national average.

"Crime is a problem in Hartlepool but the Community Safety Partnership is making a real difference and it is reducing. The partnership is good at learning from what has worked well. When it identifies things which work well in one area, they copy and adapt it to meet the needs of other areas.

"In Hartlepool, the quality of the local environment is improving. The area is cleaner and the way the Council dealing with waste is improving. The Council is taking a leading role in improving the environment. They are working with partners to improve and conserve the natural environment.

"Partners are improving the quality and availability of housing in Hartlepool. There are very few homeless people as a result of good work by local partners. There is a new housing advice and support centre to help people with all housing matters including helping people who face losing their homes for whatever reason.

"People in Hartlepool can enjoy many arts, leisure and cultural opportunities. The organisations that provide these try hard to make sure that they provide something to benefit everyone.

"Dangerous drinking and the harm caused by alcohol are increasing in Hartlepool. Partnerships across the North East of England have agreed a new approach to address the problem, but detailed service plans and increases in long term funding have not yet been agreed in Hartlepool.

"Partners in Hartlepool are working well with local people in their own neighbourhoods and communities. People are getting involved in making plans for the future of their areas and are taking part in activities and opportunities that can bring people together and improve their quality of life.

"Hartlepool faces several big challenges, but it has a good understanding of what these are. Local people have a clear picture of what they want the town to be like in the future. They have good plans to make the big changes the town needs. The plans aim to change many things about the town. Partners and the community want to make the town more ambitious and a more attractive and safer place where people get along well."

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond, who chairs the Hartlepool Partnership, said: "Overall I think this is an excellent report and it shows that that together, public sector organisations in Hartlepool are serving local people extremely well. The 'red flag' for 'harm caused by alcohol' is a concern but as the inspectors have acknowledged, this is a problem throughout most of the North East. We all have our part to play in adopting healthier lifestyles and we need to do more to overcome this problem.


"There are many programmes in place to tackle alcohol abuse and we will continue to work closely in partnership to make this a priority."




Press Release PR17776. 7 December 2009.
Issued by Alastair Rae, Public Relations Manager, on 01429 523510.

For further information, please contact
Joanne Smithson
Hartlepool Partnership

Tel: 01429 284147
joanne.smithson@hartlepool.gov.uk