Contents

The context

The borough is changing

As a borough, Bexley has changed significantly over the last ten years, with the latest census showing:

borough data map

Bexley has

246,500 residents

This was a 6.3% growth in the population since 2011, that's almost 15,000 more people

 

Bexley population diversity

1 in 3 residents are from an ethnic minority background and we are becoming more ethnically diverse.

The 2021 census confirmed an increase of residents from a Black, Asian, Multiple or Other ethnic minority background from 18% to 28% of the total population; over the same period the proportion of residents from an Other Black background has increased by 178%.

10% of our residents do not have English as their primary language.

Bexley population
  • 16.6% of our residents are aged over 65.  This is the 5th highest rate of people aged 65 and over in London at 16.6%. This will increase to 21.8% in 2050, placing greater demand on our adult social care services.
  • 20.5% of population aged under 16
  • 36,000 of Bexley’s residents have a disability
  • Education levels are rising - the percentage of Bexley residents holding a qualification above A-level rising from 22% in 2011 to 32% in 2021
  • A larger proportion of Bexley residents aren’t religious - the percentage saying they have ‘no religion’ increased from 24% to 34%.

Technology is moving rapidly, and expectations are changing

The Pandemic has led to a shift in the way our customers live, connect and work; and the expectations they have for easily accessing information and services. Customers increasingly engage with organisations wherever they are, whenever is most convenient for them and using whatever channels they choose; and we must adapt to this in order to best serve them.

housing

Whilst recognising this shift in customer expectations, we are also very aware that many of our customers still require and value the more traditional methods of communication with the council. In developing new channels of communication for the majority, we must not exclude those who cannot use, or are uncomfortable using, these; new technologies can help us to free up resources to better support those who are in this situation.

According to the Office of National Statistics, 21% of adults in 2011 had never used the internet. In 2014, this figure had decreased to 12% and by 2020, only 2% of adults had never used the internet in Bexley. This means Bexley has the 4th lowest level of adults who have never used the internet in London, indicating positive digital inclusion in comparison to other London boroughs. An example of this was seen in 2021 with 94% of Bexley residents completing the census online.

The increasing availability of digital, AI and robotics is enabling organisations to rapidly improve and streamline their services, and it is vital that the Council embraces this in a responsible, transparent and ethical way.

Financial Pressures

As of December 2023, the Local Government Association (LGA) estimated that councils in England face a £4 billion funding gap over the next two years due to increases in demand, demographic changes and the impact of inflation.

This presents a challenge to councils in delivering the highest quality services to residents and businesses, and means councils need to use money wisely and manage expectations clearly with our customers.  Bexley is no exception, and this means we need to manage expectations, and work smarter to improve services, and use our money wisely. 
 

business and employment