Overall Picture

The analysis of regional change presented in the State of the Region report, along with the intelligence gathered for other assessments of the region’s performance such as the evidence base for the Regional Economic Strategy and the information gathered to monitor the Regional Spatial Strategy, provide the evidence base for the assessment and development of policies that affect the lives of everyone living and working in the East Midlands.  It is important that the different elements reflected in the State of the Region report – social, economic, environmental and spatial - are not addressed in isolation but in an integrated and sustainable manner.

Although the set of social objectives cover a wide spectrum of life in the East Midlands, what emerges is a region where the quality of life on average over the past years has generally improved. However, there still remain inequalities across the region and is performing badly compared to England as a whole in many areas.

Overall those aspects of the environment, covered by this report, in the East Midlands have been improving over the past few years. However, this rate of improvement tends to be slower than the national rate. Whilst there have been improvements in the amount of energy produced from renewable sources in the region there is still a long way to go to reach the 2010 target.

Compared with national figures the East Midlands is below average on several indicators, although there have been improvements in the economic indicators in the East Midlands over the past few years. Most success has been with the percentage of businesses with broadband, which at 53% in 2006, has exceeded the target of 20% by 2010.

The spatial objectives cover a wide range of issues, some of which, such as the recycling of household waste, have shown improvement over the past few years, and compare well against national figures. The proportion of new dwellings built on previously developed land has also shown improvement. Other areas, such as, those associated with transport, are performing less well, the exception being rail patronage which has been increasing and is above the national average. The introduction of free bus travel for the elderly and disabled in April 2006 has contributed to growth in bus and light rail patronage which is hoped to continue with the introduction of the national free travel scheme in April 2008.

IRS Framework Objectives 1-5 (Social)>>