Report 4: Interim Evaluation

(ii)Evidence available

Based on the progress made by 2010/11, looking at both the performance against the baseline and the comparison with London as a whole, the Host Borough Unit has made a summary assessment for each of the 21 indicators reviewed. Drawing on this assessment of progress it is possible to group the indicators into four categories. This is shown in Figure 6 .

Figure 6: Progress by 2010/11 on convergence indicators

'Gap' reduced – Convergence on track	'Gap' reduced slightly – Convergence not on track
19 year olds achieving NVQ level 2 threshold % of working age population with no qualifications Proportion of children in working age families receiving key benefits Pupils achieving at least Level 4 in English & Maths at Key Stage 2 Pupils achieving 5 GCSE grades A*-C in maintained schools 19 year olds achieving NVQ Level 3 threshold Life expectancy – male Life expectancy – female % of children achieving a good level of development at age 5 Mortality rates from all circulatory diseases at ages under 75 Recommended Adult Activity (3 times 30 minutes per week) Violent crime levels	Employment rate – aged 16-64 Unemployment rate 16+ Working age population qualified to at least NVQ Level 4 Obesity levels in school children in year 6 No sport or activity (0 times 30 minutes per week)
Gap increased – Convergence not on track	New indicator – progress tracked from 2012/13
Median earning for full time workers living in the area	Improved street and environmental cleanliness % of households defined as overcrowded Overall satisfaction

Based on this analysis it is apparent that for 12 of the indicators the gap with the rest of London is closing and that the host boroughs are on track to achieve convergence by 2020. For example:

The proportion of 19 year olds achieving NVQ Level 2 threshold has increased from 73.6% to 81% and closed the gap with the rest of London from 4.4% to 2.4%;

The proportion of children achieving a good level of development at age 5 has increased from 48.7% to 55.2% and closed the gap with the rest of London from 6.0% to 4.3%;

The rate of violent crime has fallen from 28.9 per 1,000 population to 24 per 1,000 population and closed the gap with the rest of London from 6.1 to 4.3.

For a further five indicators the gap with the rest of London has closed, but not significantly enough to date, for example the gap in the employment rate has reduced from 5.5% to 4.8% but the target for 2014/15 is to have narrowed the gap to 2-3%. There are three indicators for which the data is yet to be collected and only one that is 'not on track': the gap in terms of median earning for full time workers living in the area has increased from £38.70 in 2009 to £39.40 in 2011.

It is also worth noting that each of the themes uses one of the 21 indicators as its 'key measure', with two of the three currently on track so far. The ley measure for:

Supporting healthier lifestyles is 'life expectancy' for men and women, of which both are currently on track;

Developing successful neighbourhoods is 'violent crime levels' which is on track;

Creating wealth and reducing poverty is the 'employment rate' which is currently not on track.

Since this assessment was carried out data from the 2011 census has been released which provides more accurate population figures. It shows a substantially larger population than previous estimates with an additional 174,000 residents across the six host boroughs compared against the 2010 mid-year population estimate provided by ONS. This may have a substantial impact on the calculation of some convergence indicators and will need to be explored further in Report 5.

(iii)Conclusions: Outcomes and additionality

Based on this evidence it is possible to conclude that good progress is being made on Convergence with two thirds of the indicators currently on track. In addition, for a further five indicators the gap with London is closing albeit either not fast enough or for the right reasons. However, what is not currently clear is the extent to which this change is being driven by and attributable to the SRF and therefore the extent to which the Games has impacted on East London.²²⁹

(iv)Progress in answering the research questions

To what extent and how have the host boroughs responded to the 2012 Games and the Host Borough Convergence Agenda by delivering a more integrated approach to regeneration and the physical environment across East London, in terms of public realm, transport connectivity and new developments?

The creation of the Host Borough Unit and the willingness of the individual host boroughs to support it, coupled with the SRF and the role it plays in expressing the host boroughs determination to use the 2012 Games as a catalyst to create wealth, reduce poverty, support healthier lifestyles and develop successful neighbourhoods is a strong example of the steps being taken to ensure that the opportunity of hosting the 2012 Games is not lost. This conclusion is supported by the evidence available which suggests that there has been a more integrated approach to regeneration and the physical environment. However, the specific role played by, and the attribution of influence to, the host boroughs is something that needs further exploration.

How, and with what success, have the host boroughs built upon the catalyst of the 2012 Games to help deliver the Convergence of major socio-economic outcomes between East London and the rest of London (including education and skills outcomes, employment levels and benefit dependency, housing quality, health, crime and participation in culture, sport and volunteering)?

To date, good progress has been made on two-thirds of the socio-economic Convergence indicators where it is apparent that East London is 'closing the gap' with the rest of London. The latest available data shows that the gap is closing on indicators related to education and skills, crime and health. Slower progress is however being made with regard to employment and unemployment rates as while the gap is closing it is not closing fast enough to deliver Convergence. What is not currently clear is the extent to which the 2012 Games have catalysed this progress.

What has been the longer-term impact of the 2012 Games on catalysing private and public investment in East London (and wider Thames Gateway area), and how did the Games influence the form, scale and timing of key investment decisions?

It is currently too early to assess the longer-term impact of the 2012 Games on catalysing private and public investment in East London. The intention is to explore this issue more fully in Report 5. However, what is already apparent from the evidence available is that the Westfield development at Stratford city was "made possible by the infrastructure investment underpinning the Olympic Games"²³⁰ and as a result was brought forward by around 5-7 years.

To what extent have the 2012 Games and legacy investments enhanced the image of and satisfaction with East London as a place to live (and for whom), and how has this contributed to social and economic change in the area?

Based on the survey of host borough residents specifically commissioned for this evaluation it is apparent that over three-quarters (79%) of respondents were satisfied with their local area as a place to live, with around a quarter (26%) noting that hosting the 2012 Games had made them more satisfied. In addition, 48% of respondents felt that the preparations for the 2012 Games had already made an improvement to the image of the local area, with 54% of respondents agreeing that one of the longer-term impacts of the 2012 Games will be to improve the image of the local area. It remains to be seen, however, how this contributes to social and economic change in the area.

Directory: images -> publications
images -> New embedded S
images -> Creating Buy-In – Building Relationships
images -> Deadline: Saturday, March 12th, 2016
images -> News items from Raising Our Voices
images -> Last year four of the best Afrikaans Christian singers joined forces to tour Down Under with the production ‘Manne wat Glo’
images -> World-renowned vocal ensemble sweet honey in the rock
images -> Peoples Voice Café History
publications -> Recipients of tickets for the olympic opening ceremony
publications -> Greetings from the iehp atlantic Connection Steering Committee

Download 1.96 Mb.

Share with your friends: