Improved figures for long-term unemployment and better recycling rates have helped to make Wellingborough a better place to live and work.
According to national research by Grant Thornton accountants, Wellingborough has been named as one of two places in the region to have made the greatest improvement in performance over a five-year period.
Despite remaining below the national average, the accolade of climbing 63 places has been declared a, “promising sign” for the region.
Leader of Wellingborough Council, Cllr Martin Griffiths told the Northamptonshire Telegraph: “I’m delighted with this positive news. Of course there remains a lot to do given Wellingborough’s position being just below the national average, but the vast improvement shows the journey is well under way.
“The improvements over the past year together with the ambitious plans for the future will help to deliver our local priorities and to continue with this positive journey.”
Scores are calculated on a number of factors. Wellingborough’s highlights include a reduction in the percentage of people recorded as long-term unemployed from 13.5 per cent three years ago to 4.3 percent, based on research by Health Profile 2017.
Recycling rates have improved with council figures revealing a rise from 5,200 tonnes in 2013 to more than 6,500 tonnes in the 12 months up to March this year.
The number of Fuel Poor households has also been reduced by more than half to 9.7 per cent from 20 per cent.
Fuel poverty in England is measured using the Low Income High Costs (LIHC) indicator. Under the LIHC indicator, a household is considered to be fuel poor if:
- they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level)
- were they to spend that amount, they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line
There are 3 important elements in determining whether a household is fuel poor:
- household Income
- household energy requirements
- fuel prices