Recession survey of English authorities 2009

The Local Government Association’s (Analysis and Research Team) - LGAAR - have carried out an online survey of 353 English authorities, the data from which, reveals how local authorities are dealing with the recession. The survey explores how recession is  impacting on local priorities and what plans are afoot to address its impact on health. The LGA have also put together a summary of related research that complements the work of the Healthy Communities Programme at the Improvement and Development Agency. The team is keen to understand the impact of recession on both individuals and the community as a whole. Additionally the possible added emphasis being placed on local partnership working in difficult economic circumstances is also looked at.

Where the data has come from

• Firstly 353 authorities from England were sent a link to the online survey on 1 May 2009. Eighty-three authorities replied, giving a response rate of 24 per cent and were from a range of authority types and regions.
• The majority of respondents 87 per cent felt that the economic downturn had or would have an impact on the health of their local communities.

How respondents are affected

The main ways in which respondents thought the economic downturn is impacting or will impact on the health of their local community were:

• Increase in mental health issues including stress, caused by financial and redundancy worries (41 respondents)
• Poor eating habits with people having to choose cheaper food options (22 respondents)
• Poorer health choices in general due to reduced income (14 respondents)
• Reduced access to exercise and leisure facilities due to reduced income (10 respondents)
• Deteriorating housing and living conditions, including fuel poverty (7 respondents)

Health and health inequalities

Just over a third (35 per cent) of respondents felt that the economic downturn would have a very or fairly positive impact on the priority placed on health. But more respondents (43 per cent) felt it would have a very or fairly positive impact on the priority placed on addressing health inequalities.

Respondents were asked if their authority and/or partners had discussed the impact of the economic downturn on health and health inequalities. Two thirds (67 per cent reported that that they had discussed the impact of the economic downturn on health, and the impact on health inequalities. 

A number of respondents mentioned specific schemes or actions that they have taken as a result of these discussions, particularly focussing on trigger points for stress and mental health issues (10 respondents). Action taken included getting involved in:

• Healthy eating projects
• Employment and training support
• Debt advice and counselling
• Stop smoking clinics
• Health checks
• Improving access to services
• Managing money advice
• Free leisure services
• Allocating funding towards relevant services
• Monitoring the impact of the recession on health

Over half of respondents (53 per cent) reported that they currently had specific plans in place to address the recessions’ impact on health or planned to do so in the next 12 months. Examples of activities already in place included:

• Setting up helplines
• Roadshows and events for the public, and stakeholders, partners and elected members
• Providing additional money to agencies delivering debt counselling, financial inclusion and domestic violence services
• Providing free swimming and leisure activities
• Supporting vulnerable people through benefits advice, business rate reliefs, and delivering more affordable housing.

How can Healthy Communities Programme help

Respondents were asked what would be the most useful support that the Healthy Communities Programme could provide to them on recession and health issues.  The most popular were “case studies on local approaches” (51 per cent), closely followed by “briefings/guidance from experts” (41 per cent)

Respondents were given the opportunity to provide additional comments on this topic, these included:

• A concern that there is a need to focus on long term health issues both in the light of and aside from the current economic downturn
• Concern about the particular implications of the economic downturn for those in rural areas
• Links to authority websites providing tips on healthy eating on a budget www.torridge.gov.uk/chefs and more general information about where to find help www.croydoncrunch.org

A summary of further information from other research

The LGA has conducted a number of research studies that explore both previous recessions and the current recession.  Information that is particularly relevant to the Healthy Communities Agenda has been summarised in this paper.
 
Experience from previous recessions indicates that:

• Health promotion activity becomes increasingly important in a recession. There is also likely to be increased pressure on support services, for example for those experiencing mental health issues.
• Social work teams can expect an increase in referrals as the impacts of the recession begin to affect family relationships, child development and overall health and wellbeing.
• Authorities could see the supply of supported housing schemes dry up.
• Voluntary organisations suffering from a reduction in money or volunteers may turn to the local authority for financial and other support.

The LGA has undertaken three recent pieces of research on the impact of the current recession: a survey of Chief Executives 2008, a survey of Leaders 2009 and a report on Adults’ Social Services Expenditure 2008-9. They include the following findings:

• Demand for services: Authorities have experienced increased demand on a number of services as a result of the economic downturn including: people seeking welfare/debt advice, housing benefits applications, provision for homeless persons, increased demand for social housing and an increase in demand for services for the unemployed or those at risk of unemployment.
• Voluntary sector: local voluntary organisations have experienced increased demand for services, in particular debt counselling, housing advice and employment advice.  Some authorities have been asked to give emergency grants to such organisations.

To read the research findings and read the full document see:

Recession section on LGAAR website 
Recession support for councils homepage - on the IDeA website
Recession and health survey results in the CoP Library