A few days ago the office of National Statistics provided information that confirms what you probably already knew; namely that UK population is ageing at quite a rapid rate and that the rural areas, South Lakeland included, are ageing faster than average.

27.5 per cent of South Lakeland’s population is currently aged over 65 ( by this definition we are the 12th oldest out of 391 areas in Britain.) By 2039, the percentage is expected to rise to 37.4 per cent, placing us in 10th position (West Somerset is projected to have the highest percentage at 41.8 per cent, and Hackney the lowest at 10.8 per cent).

While Britain is ageing, it appears we are not alone. Much of Europe is ageing at a faster rate than ourselves. Italy for example, by 2035, will have 31 per cent of its population over 65, well ahead of the UK’s projected overall figure of 23.5 per cent.

We are told the reasons for this trend in the UK are principally two-fold.

Firstly we are living longer. There has been a significant increase in life expectancy. Indeed a baby girl born today has a life expectancy in the UK of almost 83 ( males fare slightly less well - at 79). Indeed she will have a better than 25 per cent chance of receiving a telegram from the monarch for reaching age 100.

Secondly we are having less children. The average number of children per female is around 1.9 in this country, less than is required to maintain a stable population.

There is much more in the report that is important. For example it documents that young people aged 25-34 have seen a dramatic fall in their home ownership, with the majority renting property, and that in parts of the District travel time to basic services for the elderly is too long.

This report confirms many of the council priorities. It confirms that we need to build houses that are affordable, and to rent; that we need to prepare for an increasing demand for accessible special needs housing for the elderly; that (working with the private sector) we need to find ways to attract and retain a vital and young workforce; and that and we need to protect our rural areas from depopulation.

Working with partners and other tiers of Local Government, we have an ambition to address these issues. I look forward to sharing our plans with you when I return from holiday at the end of the month.