Issues and SWOT: South Staffordshire

strength

Small businesses can use shared workspace in Codsall

The council’s workspace is open with flexible booking.

Proposed response: Make prices and access arrangements easy to compare.

Evidence

strength

Make room for homes people can afford

Average private rent is £958 a month (August 2026) in South Staffordshire council area. This is £501 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 6.9% in Essington to 18.3% in Perton Lakeside — a gap of 11.4 percentage points.

Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.

weakness

Older rural residents can find activity harder to reach

The grant programme addresses isolation, frailty and early support for older residents.

Proposed response: Identify which villages lack accessible activity and transport.

Evidence

weakness

Bring support closer to people in poor health

5.3% of people reported bad or very bad health in South Staffordshire council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.3% in Perton East to 7.5% in Himley & Swindon — a gap of 4.3 percentage points.

This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.

opportunity

Codsall can improve facilities while keeping swimming available

Refurbishment is planned around continued pool use.

Proposed response: Explain changing arrangements and access during the work.

Evidence

opportunity

Plan homes and care around an older population

25.1% of people in South Staffordshire council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 14.1% in Featherstone, Sharehill & Saredon to 32.7% in Himley & Swindon — a gap of 18.6 percentage points.

Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.

opportunity

Connect local skills to local opportunities

29.4% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in South Staffordshire council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 11.2% in Perton East to 25.6% in Himley & Swindon — a gap of 14.4 percentage points.

Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.

opportunity

Target safety work where problems repeat

Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in South Staffordshire council area.

Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.

opportunity

Turn published plans into visible progress

3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.

A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.

opportunity

Target support where disadvantages overlap

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 7.6% in Perton East to 23.5% in Great Wyrley Landywood — a gap of 15.8 percentage points.

These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.

threat

A short grant round may not sustain valued activities

The older-resident programme offers small project grants, not a permanent service budget.

Proposed response: Ask funded groups how activities continue when the award ends.

Evidence