Luton
Introduction
Luton has been a Unitary Authority since 1997. It is a compact and densely populated town and forms part of a larger conurbation with the neighbouring towns of Dunstable and Houghton Regis, which are outside the Unitary authority area. The conurbation is surrounded by largely rural areas and borders South Bedfordshire (Central Bedfordshire from 1 April, 2009) and North Hertfordshire.
In spite of its high unemployment rate, Luton is a major employment centre providing some 86,000 jobs. In productivity terms Luton is performing satisfactorily and despite a fall in GVA per head in 2002 has stabilised at, or around, the UK average level. This productivity performance is reflected in above average gross weekly pay rates on a workplace basis but substantially lower gross weekly earnings on a residence basis suggesting that the employment opportunities being created by high value-added businesses locating in Luton are being filled by inward commuters. In terms of enterprise, Luton also has the lowest business start-up rate in the region at 27 registrations per 10,000 adults compared to 39 regionally and 37 nationally. It also has the lowest concentration of VAT registered businesses by population than any other upper tier authority in the East.
There is a strong business base in Luton, with the Vauxhall/GM /IBC and the airport both of which have a significant impact on the local economy and other large companies, including:
London Luton Airport and Easy Jet, Thompsons, Monarch, Britannia
Vauxhall, GM, IBC
B/E Aerospace, Airbourne Systems (previously BAE Systems)
Interbrew, Whitbread, Bernard Matthews, Heinz, Honeytop Speciality Foods
Astra Zeneca
Honeywell, NTL, Siemens, Insys
Also, WH Smith Plus Butterfield Technology Park opened this year to provide a base for high technology start-ups (with EEDA funding).
Visitor attractions on offer include Whipsnade Zoo, Stockwood Disovery Centre and the Mossman aircraft collection, Dunstable Downs and the Chilterns, Luton Carnival. A Centre for Creative industries in Carnival Arts is being developed and will open in Spring 2009 (with EEDA funding).
Luton is identified as a growth area in the Milton Keynes South Midlands (MKSM) Strategy. With its already highly compact built up environment means that there is little scope for housing development within the borough boundaries. The draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) requires Luton, together with South Beds to contribute 26,300 new homes to the MKSM Growth Area in the period 2001 – 2021, of which 35% should be affordable. Delivery of overall housing numbers and affordable housing is a key challenge.
Recent Visits
None of note.
Map
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* See Audit Commission web site for more. Council Tax bands were averaged from Parish Precepts.
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Luton Borough Council |
MPs |
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Address: Town Hall, George Street, Bedfordshire. LU1 2BQ
Telephone: 01582 546000
Website: www.luton.gov.uk
Chief Executive: Kevin Crompton
Leader of the Council: Hazel Simmons (Labour)
Regional Minister for the East of England: Barbara Follett MP
Council - Political Control: Labour |
Margaret Moran – Luton South (Labour)
Kelvin Hopkins – Luton North (Labour)
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Demographics for Luton
Mid-2007 Population Estimates
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Population
All ages
2007
(Thousands) |
Percentage of
Children 0-15
2007 |
Percentage of
Working Age
16-64 Males / 60 Females
2007 |
Percentage of
Older People
65 Males / 60 Females and over 2007 |
Live births
(Thousands)
2007 |
Deaths
(Thousands)
2006 |
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Luton |
188.8 |
22.1 |
63.4 |
14.5 |
3.5 |
1.4 |
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East of England |
5,661.0 |
19.1 |
61.0 |
19.9 |
69.3 |
52.1 |
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England |
51,092.0 |
18.9 |
62.2 |
18.9 |
655.4 |
474.5 |
Figures updated annually. Last update February 2009. Source: Office for National Statistics
Children and Learners
-Almost £2m was awarded from the Objective 2 European Social Fund (ESF) allocated to sixteen projects in Luton. Projects included Sundon Park Enterprise which enhanced opportunities for a more sustainable community by working with the community and Sundon Trust, the Chamber Business, local businesses and other agencies to develop a range of opportunities (including a research project), to enhance the local knowledge / skills based in the community / local businesses .
• £17.7m was allocated to Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Bedfordshire & Luton, the main co-financing organisation within the area
• The new ESF programme covering 2007-2013 has now started with activity commencing in June 2008. The majority of activity is Co-financed, with DWP, LSC, EEDA and Luton Borough Council operating in Luton as Co-financing Organisations within the new programme. A total of £95m has been released across the region for the period 2007-2010 to fund activity linked to extending employment opportunities for those not in work, particularly those on inactive benefits and supporting the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce. This includes over £1.8 ESF managed through Luton Borough Council to fund activity, particularly focussed on supporting the unemployed return to work within Luton.
European Regional Development Fund
• Approximately £21.3m has been used to support 24 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) projects in Luton, key projects include:
• £4.4m for the Butterfield Innovation and Business Base project – To build a flagship business innovation and support facility in the new business park at Butterfield, to help establish the location as a hub for technology based businesses in Luton and the surrounding areas.
• Almost £3m for the Prospering in Luton project - The project is a holistic, partnership-driven package of activities focused on creating new and developing SMEs and providing SMEs with access to business development capital.
• £2.1m for Luton’s National Centre for Carnival Arts project – to build the UK’s first National Centre for Carnival Arts in the centre of Luton. This will be a landmark building providing a unique, dedicated facility for the promotion and development of carnival arts, artists and enterprises.
• £1.9m for High Town Bid project - The aim of this project was to contribute to the delivery of the High Town Renewal plan as part of the strategy to revitalise the High Town ward in Luton.
• Almost £1.2m for the Stockwood Discovery Centre project - The development project will transform the current Stockwood Park Museum into Stockwood Discovery Centre. There are also five small business units created as part of the development.
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Luton |
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Labour market |
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Employment |
Jan 2008/Mar 08 |
Jan 2009/Mar 09 |
% Change |
Claimant Unemployment |
May 2008 |
May 2009 |
% Change |
|
Luton |
66,487 |
82,190 |
+23.6 |
Luton |
3,256 |
6,029 |
+85.2 |
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East of England |
2,666,283 |
2,678,579 |
+0.5 |
East of England |
58,602 |
121,180 |
+106.8 |
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England |
23,652,971 |
23,398,015 |
-1.1 |
England |
693,870 |
1,311,683 |
+89.0 |
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Youth Unemployment |
May 2008 |
May 2009 |
% Change |
Long-term Unemployment |
May 2008 |
May 2009 |
% Change |
|
Luton |
125 |
250 |
+100.0 |
Luton |
365 |
490 |
+34.2 |
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East of England |
2,800 |
5,475 |
+95.5 |
East of England |
6,895 |
8,425 |
+22.2 |
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England |
33,470 |
65,290 |
+95.1 |
England |
87,690 |
107,155 |
+22.2 |
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Education |
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Average Funding Per Pupil |
2004/ 05(£) |
2005/ 06(£) |
% Change |
Number of Teachers |
Jan 2007 |
Jan 2008 |
% Change |
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Luton |
4,540 |
4,780 |
+5.3 |
Luton |
1,790 |
1,660 |
-7.3 |
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East of England |
4,120 |
4,290 |
+4.1 |
East of England |
48,100 |
47,900 |
-0.4 |
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England |
4,270 |
4,480 |
+4.9 |
England |
435,200 |
434,900 |
-0.1 |
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% of 11yr olds achieving required standard in English |
Sep 2006/Aug 07(%) |
Sep 2007/Aug 08(%) |
Change |
% of 11yr olds achieving required standard in Maths |
Sep 2006/Aug 07 |
Sep 2007/Aug 08 |
% Change |
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Luton |
76 |
79 |
+3.9 |
Luton |
69 |
74 |
+7.2 |
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East of England |
80 |
81 |
+1.3 |
East of England |
77 |
78 |
+1.3 |
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England |
80 |
81 |
+1.3 |
England |
77 |
79 |
+2.6 |
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% of 15yr olds achieving 5 or more GCSEs A-C (or equivalent) |
Sep 2006/Aug 07(%) |
Sep 2007/Aug 08(%) |
Change |
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Luton |
55 |
62 |
+12.7 |
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East of England |
61 |
64 |
+5.7 |
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England |
61 |
65 |
+6.6 |
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Crime |
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Recorded Crime for Six Key Offences |
Apr 2006/Mar 07 |
Apr 2007/Mar 08 |
% Change |
Robbery |
Apr 2006/Mar 07 |
Apr 2007/Mar 08 |
% Change |
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Luton UA |
11,302 |
10,910 |
-3.5 |
Luton UA |
761 |
717 |
-5.8 |
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Bedfordshire |
23,304 |
21,991 |
-5.6 |
Bedfordshire |
1,248 |
1,210 |
-3.0 |
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East of England |
170,142 |
157,002 |
-7.7 |
East of England |
5,127 |
4,450 |
-13.2 |
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Domestic Burglary |
Apr 2006/Mar 07 |
Apr 2007/Mar 08 |
% Change |
Theft of and from a Motor Vehicle |
Apr 2006/Mar 07 |
Apr 2007/Mar 08 |
% Change |
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Luton UA |
1,758 |
2,431 |
+38.3 |
Luton UA |
4,146 |
3,937 |
-5.0 |
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Bedfordshire |
3,560 |
4,506 |
+26.6 |
Bedfordshire |
8,831 |
8,248 |
-6.6 |
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East of England |
21,098 |
22,071 |
+4.6 |
East of England |
58,065 |
52,212 |
-10.1 |
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Police Officers |
Sep 2007 |
Sep 2008 |
% Change |
Community Support Officers |
Sep 2007 |
Sep 2008 |
% Change |
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Bedfordshire |
1,196 |
1,229 |
+2.7 |
Bedfordshire |
112 |
116 |
+3.5 |
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East of England |
11,067 |
11,181 |
+1.0 |
East of England |
1,350 |
1,399 |
+3.6 |
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England |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
England |
14,703 |
15,062 |
+2.4 |
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Health |
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No. Waiting for Inpatients Treatment |
Apr 2008 |
Apr 2009 |
% Change |
GPs |
Sep 2006 |
Sep 2008 |
% Change |
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Luton |
2,119 |
1,573 |
-25.8 |
Luton |
109 |
121 |
+11.0 |
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Nurses |
Sep 2006 |
Sep 2008 |
% Change |
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East of England SHA |
27,668 |
28,194 |
+1.9 |
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Source: Office for National Statistics. Last updated 26 June 2009
Internet links
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