The Safe and Healthy Community port folio

Once a year I like to revisit actions and initiatives taken as a result of managing this very wide ranging port folio to see if what we are doing is working and therefore making a real contribution to this wonderful community. To start with (2007) Christchurch has always been a very safe place to live but suffered a disproportionate level of the 'fear of crime'. Figures just published show that this has fallen sharply over the last two years (over 20%!).So people feel safer in their homes and neighbourhoods..... result. Overall crime figures as issued by Dorset Police also show a considerable reduction (over 5%). So residents are far less likely to be effected by acts of crime than two years ago........result. From the place survey satisfaction has leaped to an all time high. So residents feel much happier about where they live.......result. Concerns about vandalism and criminal damage have reduced so people regard this as a far lesser problem than two years ago......result. So on to health and the news here is not so positive. Diabetes is still at a much higher level than national indicators and remains a stubborn problem. However one of our initiatives has produced early benefits in that more people than ever are being referred by GP's to exercise programs run at 2RM, if the core problem is to do with obesity then this should make a long term difference. Initiatives like 'fit Christchurch' will also start to kick in so not all bad news. Skin cancer is creeping up the scale to national average and is beginning to give some concern. The situation is being monitored by the powers that be and I will be interested to see how the figures look in a years time. So in general terms for this port folio a good positive year where we can see that we have made a real difference. Well done to all involved, Officers and volunteers and most importantly to all our agency partners who have worked so hard to make living in Christchurch that little bit better.