Priority theme 2

Ambition for our borough

  • outcome 6 – Good growth supported by better transport
  • outcome 7 – Cleaner and greener borough
  • outcome 8 – Local jobs and businesses in a thriving local economy
  • outcome 9 – People and communities feel safe and inclusive
  • outcome 10 – Quality, affordable homes for every stage of life

What our data shows

  • fewer people moved into new jobs this year but the proportion of people in sustained employment increased by 17.8% to an impressive 72.5% this year
  • library visits rose this year to 849,116 – an increase of 4.6% and there has also been an 8.4% increase in people using our leisure centres – up to 2,115,572 visits
  • a 7.6% reduction in crime this year and a 10% reduction in hate crime offences but the rate of domestic abuse incidents remained similar
  • we are the only London borough experiencing a reduction in the number of people in Temporary and Emergency Accommodation. We saw a 40.8% reduction this year. This is partly due to the success of our homelessness preventions, which have risen by 21.9% this year. We continue to focus our efforts on preventing homelessness and moving households out of emergency accommodation as quickly as possible
  • Bexley’s residents are wasting less and sending less rubbish to incineration this year. The average residual household waste reduced by 11kg per household and this reduces pollution and helps protect the environment
  • recycling rates have been maintained at 43.9% over the course of the year but were increasing by the final quarter (46%) which moves us into 3rd position in London, above the London and national averages. Over 12 tonnes of textiles have been collected through doorstep collections by TRAID this year
  • we have a zero-tolerance policy to littering and fly tipping and we issued 2,501 fixed penalty notices for littering, 645 for fly tipping and 66 prosecutions

Priority theme 2 data table

RefPerformance indicatorFrequencyDirection of travel2023/2024 Outturn2024/2025 OutturnRAG
CS_17Rate of First Time Entrants per 100,000 for Young PeopleQuarterlydecrease165135Green
CS_18Proven Youth Reoffending RateQuarterlydecrease0.380.35Amber
CS_19Use of custody per 1,000 for Young PeopleQuarterlyincrease0.000.15Amber
FC_14Percentage of member enquiries closed on timeMonthlyincrease78.67%83.31%Green
PL_01All notifiable crime (offences) per 1000 populationMonthlydecrease5.785.34No Target
PL_02Rate of Hate crime offences per 10,000 populationMonthlydecrease1.541.38No Target
PL_03Rate of DA incidents per 10,000 population (police-reported)Monthlyincrease7.467.56No Target
PL_04Percentage of repeat incidents of domestic abuse (MARAC)Quarterlydecrease36.31%31.34%Green
PL_05Number of households in Emergency AccommodationMonthlydecrease596393No Target
PL_06Families in Shared Accommodation for 6 weeks or moreMonthlyincrease02Amber
PL_07Number of preventions of homelessnessMonthlyincrease670817No Target
PL_09Percentage of gas safety checks completed every 12 monthsMonthlyincrease98.3%99.61%Amber
PL_10Percentage of up-to-date electrical safety certificatesMonthlyincrease99.49%99.63%Amber
PL_11Number of Housing Association letsQuarterlydecrease328308No Target
PL_12Number of discharges of duty as a result of private sector offersQuarterlyincrease212237No Target
PL_13Percentage of new homes delivered by developers (Housing Delivery Test)Yearly 106.00%Data not availableGreen
PL_14Percentage of affordable housing approvals from qualifying residential development (10 homes or more)Yearly 35.00%Data not availableGreen
PL_15Percentage of non-major planning application decisions made within the statutory period of 8 weeks or as otherwise agreed by way of a planning performance agreement (PPA) or extension of time (EOT)Quarterlyincrease93.43%95.85%Green
PL_16Percentage of major planning application decisions made within the statutory period of 13 weeks or as otherwise agreed by way of a planning performance agreement (PPA) or extension of time (EOT)Quarterlyno change100%100%Green
PL_17Percentage of non-major planning decisions overturnedYearlydecrease1.10%0.90%Green
PL_18Percentage of major planning decisions overturnedYearlyno change0.00%0.00%Green
PL_19Number of times that the national air quality objectives are exceeded at Bexley’s Air Quality Monitoring sites for fine particles (PM10) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Yearlyno change0Data not availableGreen
PL_20Mean concentration of fine particles as particulate matter 10 (PM10) measured at Bexley’s Air Quality Monitoring sitesYearlyno change13Data not availableGreen
PL_21Mean concentrations of fine particles as Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) measured at Bexley’s Air Quality Monitoring sitesYearlyno change15Data not availableGreen
PL_22Mean concentrations of fine particles as particulate matter PM2.5 measured at Bexley’s Air Quality Monitoring sitesYearlyno change8Data not availableGreen
PL_23Number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by Civil Enforcement OfficersMonthlyincrease57,21960,100No Target
PL_25Percentage of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) paidYearly 69.00%Data not availableNo Target
PL_26Percentage of household waste sent for Reuse, Recycling or CompostingMonthlyno change43.91%43.93%Green
PL_27Residual household waste per household (kg)Monthlydecrease441.04429.86Amber
PL_28Tonnage of food wasteMonthlyincrease457.53472.88Amber
PL_29Rate of missed bins per 100,000 collectionsMonthlydecrease138.84104.03Red
PL_30Number of Fly Tipping incidentsMonthlydecrease41753774No Target
PL_31Percentage of people in sustained employment (13 weeks, 26 weeks, and income threshold)Quarterlyincrease54.72%72.51%Green
PL_32Number of New Job Starts through Bexley Employment ServicesYearlydecrease545478Amber
PL_34Bexley Town Centres Unit Vacancy RateYearlyincrease5.80%6.59%No Target
PL_35Number of physical library visits (council & community libraries)Quarterlyincrease811,708849,116No Target
PL_36Percentage of pothole or trip hazards completed within 90 daysQuarterlydecrease99.5%96.4%No Target
PL_37Percentage of people aged 16+ that are inactive (less than an average of 30 minutes of activity per week)Yearlyincrease29.30%32%No Target
PL_38Number of attendances for sport and physical activity at Crook Log, Sidcup, and Erith Leisure CentresQuarterlyincrease1,950,9252,115,572No Target
PL_40Number of issues reported on Fix My StreetMonthlydecrease19,22818,892No Target
PL_41Number of electric vehicle charging points installed (publicly accessible)Quarterlydecrease9987No Target
PL_42Percentage of food businesses scoring a hygiene rating of 3 or aboveMonthlydecrease96.4%95.88%No Target

RAG: Red, Amber or Green rating comparing outturn for the year (year-to-date, latest period available) compared to target over that period. Green = equal to or better than target, Amber = within 5% off target, Red = 5% or more from meeting target.

Stepping away from the data, much has been achieved this year that furthers our Corporate Plan outcomes under priority theme 2. The following list provides a small selection of recent activity and achievements:

  • Our Schools Waste Action Club team visited over 40 schools enabling 12,500 children to learn about waste and recycling
  • #CelebratingBexley launched as a year-long celebration of arts and culture in the borough celebrating numerous local anniversaries including the centenary of Danson as a public park, 500 years since Lesnes Abbey was dissolved and the Council’s own 60th birthday
  • secured approval to continue to run Howbury and Homeleigh hostels for use as emergency accommodation with existing suppliers for a further 2 years
  • Bexley Community Safety Partnership published its Joint Strategic Assessment and agreed priorities of serious violence, domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour and community reassurance with a focus on shoplifting, theft, vehicle crime and concerns of young people
  • Solace Women’s Aid were awarded the contract for domestic abuse community provision in Bexley until 2030
  • a new CCTV system has been designed for the borough, based on crime data
  • The Clearing at Lesnes Abbey has extended its community offer and over 4,000 pupils have engaged with the schools' programme and over 30,000 people have attended events or regular workshops. Local volunteers have given 2,776 hours this year to support the grounds and activities and helped retain our Green Flag Award status
  • the Splash Park within Danson Park has been renovated and reponed with accessible equipment
  • Bexley’s Local Plan continues to secure good growth in the borough, with permissions granted for residential development exceeding our annual housing delivery requirement. We have published a housing supply capacity that meets the boroughs current housing requirements
  • We continue to remove permitted development rights for commercial buildings, including shops, to be converted to residential use to protect our town centres and designated industrial areas
  • Riverside Gardens open space improvements and the new community facility ‘68’ on Pier Road, Erith will shortly be completed
  • Bexley Business & Employment service (BBE) continued to support residents who are furthest from the job market. 478 people were supported into paid employment and 83% sustained their employment. Our Bexley Works Programme is exceeding performance targets achieving more than double the target of job starts
  • BBE’s Talking Business programme has been extended for a further year but with reduced funding. This will still enable the vital support our small businesses depend on to be made available as well helping new enterprises establish themselves
  • BBE has provided advice, guidance, training and mentoring to over 296 businesses, given cash grants to 26 businesses to upskill staff and assisted 62 local people towards starting their own business. 60 new jobs have been created so far
  • town centres have hosted events to encourage visits and increase footfall and dwell time – for example, Sidcup’s Fringe Festival, the hugely popular armed forces Welling truck pull and a new festive market in Bexleyheath