Narative report - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

esults (pupils gaining five or more A* to G grades) they are higher than bothnational and Hampshire averages.However, the percentage of pupils gaining five or more GCSE grades at A* to Chas been lower than the Hampshire average in recent years, and there aresignificant differences in attainment levels between schools in different parts of theborough. The APS also shows that 10% of the working age population has noqualifications – lower than national average.There is a strong voluntary and community sector in the borough, with about 1,000active organisations. The 2008 ‘State of the Sector Report’ 8 examined a numberof local organisations in the borough, which showed they were supported by over8,000 volunteers. Information provided on volunteering hours revealed that 6,912volunteers provide a total of 817,251 volunteering hours per annum, with a value tothe local economy of between £6.4m and £12.2m.There are 24 community facilities and 65 village halls in the borough, where a widerange of activities take place, involving health services, education and learning,arts clubs, uniformed groups, social clubs and events, and sporting activities. Thevoluntary and community sector also works alongside the statutory organisations,delivering highly valued services to the public.Residents enjoy a wide range of publicly provided leisure services and facilities inand around the borough such as arts venues, museums and sports facilities,parks, local nature reserves and woodlands. This is complemented by a range ofprivate sector attractions such as cinemas, health clubs, golf and tennis clubs andequestrian facilities. 87% of borough residents feel that Basingstoke and Deane isa good place to live 9 - this is higher than county, regional or national averages.‘Experimental’ population estimates by ethnic group, released by the Office forNational Statistics (ONS), cover the period 2001-2007. Bearing in mind theexperimental status of these estimates, they indicate that whilst the overallpopulation of the borough increased by 7,200 over the 6-year period 2001-2007,the ‘White British’ population increased by only 500. The first time-series graphbelow shows how the population within each broad ethnic group in the borough isestimated to have changed between 2001 and 2007.8 State of the Voluntary and Community Sector in the Borough, Basingstoke Voluntary Services 2008.9 . Place Survey 20086