observatory local services
What makes our rural communities sustainable and vibrant? At the heart of our communities are elements such as access to services, healthcare, education, shops and community facilities. This section includes analysis in these areas.
28 Jul 2020
Local planning authority performance
Local planning authority performance is an important area to manage and monitor, with significant consequences where an authority is deemed to be underperfoming against set criteria (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-planning-performance-criteria-for-designation). To help understand...
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27 May 2020
Over 65 population projections (2012 to 2043)
The following analysis demonstrates the future challenges facing local authorities in supporting communities, with predicted ageing populations for all authority types. The predicted proportion of population who are 65 and...
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02 Jan 2019
Sub-national electricity and gas consumption analysis
The attached spreadsheet presents information on electricity and gas consumption at the local authority level for the period spanning 2005 to 2017. The data comes from the Department of Energy...
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04 Aug 2016
Broadband Speed Analysis
Broadband speed – or indeed the lack of it – remains a big challenge for rural business and communities. Many areas are languishing on connections far slower than those available...
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15 Oct 2015
UK Regular Forces Personnel in Rural Areas
A brief look at the location of UK regular forces personnel and their importance to rural communities – for the analysis click here
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28 Aug 2014
Local Authority Winter Maintenance Fleet
Rural local authority areas have lower population densities, but many services need to be provided despite an area potentially having fewer people living there. This is reflected when looking at...
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01 May 2014
The Cost of Providing Swimming Facilities in Rural Communities
Local authority managed leisure facilities such as swimming pools are increasingly under pressure to make efficiency savings or even survival. With this view, the following is a brief look at...
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12 Dec 2012
Relative Cost of Rural Living
Household budgets are increasingly stretched in meeting basic living costs. Using key measures, the financial pressures experienced by the average household can provide a picture of the relative cost of...
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