Agenda item

Kevin Gordon, Assistant Director, Transformational Change, outlined a report to update the Committee on the planned preparations for the Census in 2011 and progress to date.

The Committee was advised that preparations for the Census had started at both local and national level and it was calculated that public services in Slough would receive approximately £22m over 10 years for every 1,000 people that completed Census documentation.  In view of the substantial under count of the previous population numbers, Slough could gain in excess of £150m over the next 10 years.  It was thought that Slough’s current population was approximately 7,000 more than official estimates and this meant that there was the potential to gain in excess of £150m over the 10 years period. 

The Officer discussed the planned project that had been agreed to prepare for the Census which included the engagement of a Census Project Manager, marketing and lobbying, community engagement and the support of local people to be recruited as ONS local field staff.  The Officer also discussed the possible recruitment of staff into key roles and the provision of local intelligence through the use of external experts.  Delivery of the project would be managed through three supporting teams who would have clear responsibilities for tasks within each phase of the project.  Membership of the Project Board would be drawn from across the key public sector organisations and would include Ruth Bagley, Chief Executive, SBC as project sponsor and Kate Ford, Deputy Commander for Slough Local Police Area. Slough Council for Voluntary Services would be represented by Ramesh Kukar and the PCT and RBFRS would have representation.  An “ensuring delivery” would focus on developing the community mobilisation plan, by for example organising and holding workshops with key communities, organising door knocking initiatives to improve completion rates and working with the ONS to help develop and deliver the partnership plan.  It was important that the team created links with organisations such as the CAB, Voluntary Organisations, Religious Centres, Schools, GP Surgeries and local shops.  The Officer discussed the role of the data collection team and key activities which included the identification of local hard to reach populations and groups. 

The Officer advised that it was widely recognised that Members would have an important role to play in the Census project and the local strategic partnership was particularly keen to engage Members in the work of the Census. He welcomed suggestions on the best ways to achieve this.  In the ensuing debate Members raised a number of questions / comments as follows:-

• A Member in attendance under Rule 30 commented that the ONS had admitted that its figures for the 2001 Census were incorrect and it was therefore important that this time the figures were more accurate.
• A Member was concerned that the list of organisations that links would be made with did not include the Hindu temples in Slough.  He was concerned that this would be taken as bias towards other groups.  The Officer advised that the list of groups shown was not exhaustive and to date a list of 150 organisations had been compiled. 
• The Officer was asked how illegal immigrants would be included on the Census. He acknowledged that this was a big concern and ways in which this could be done would be examined.
• A Member had concerns regarding the number of HMOs in his Ward and he felt that it would be helpful if Census teams met up with local Councillors to share local knowledge. 

Resolved – 

(a)  That the report be noted and that an update report be presented to the Committee in November 2010.

  (b) That the Committee recommends that the Census teams meet with Elected Members on a Ward by Ward basis to share intelligence to help improve returns.