Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies from members unable to attend the meeting

Apologies were received from Councillor Sharp.

Members to declare any personal/personal prejudicial interests in any items on this agenda

The following Councillors declared a personal interest in item 6a, Operation CAN-do, as they sat on the Board for Gladstone Connect, Councillor Khan, Councillor Jamil and Councillor Nadeem.

Approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2011

The minutes from the previous meeting held on 16 June 2011 were agreed as a true and accurate record subject to the following comments being included:

• Councillor Nadeem spoke in opposition to the proposed closure of Alma Road surgery.

• A member of the public commented that the Primary Care’s Trust’s proposals were warmly welcomed by the community.

The Neighbourhood Manager advised attendees that a handout was available on the desks which detailed the actions completed following the last meeting of Neighbourhood Committee. 

In response to an action point raised at the Neighbourhood Committee meeting held on 20 September 2011, Councillor Khan provided an update on the situation with regards to the Gladstone Park Community Centre, currently managed by Gladstone Connect.

Key points highlighted were as follows:

·        The status of the roofing repairs;

·        Arrangements made with Peterborough Regional College to enable them to hire out and use the three rooms at the centre;

·        Other sources of room hire opportunities;

·        Signing the agreement for transfer of the lease with Peterborough City Council; and

·        Working closely with the City Council and Cabinet Member to make the Asset Transfer viable.

During discussion, the following comments, questions and observations were raised:

• A member of the public sought clarification regarding the users group for Gladstone Connect and what contributions were being established? Cllr Khan advised that the user group had just been established and that anyone wishing to join was welcome.

• The Neighbourhood Manager advised attendees that if anyone was interested in joining the Gladstone Connect user group, they would need to provide their contact details.  The Neighbourhood Manager also advised that names received would be put forward to the Gladstone Connect Board.

a) Annual Budget (Elected Members)

Councillor Swift introduced the report on Capital Budget Allocation for 2011/12. The report requested that the Committee considered and approved the proposals for the allocation of the Capital Budget of £25,000 for 2011/12.

RESOLVED

Following consideration of the report, the Committee voted and approved unanimously that the 2011/12 budget be allocated to the North ward area as the previous year’s budget had been fully allocated to projects within Central Ward.  Elected Members proposed that the full budget be allocated as a vital match funding contribution to the proposed developments at Welland Recreation Ground (locally known as Rocket Rec) to enable the following:

·      Re-direction of the Dodds Cycle path through the park;

·      Introduction of solar lighting to aid community safety; and

·      Proposed closure of the Welland Close alleyway leading to Crocus Grove to reduce levels of Anti Social Behaviour and support local vulnerable residents.

a)      Operation CAN-do (Paul Phillipson & CI Kevin Vanterpool)

b)     Work with local Young people  (Alison Sunley & Jabeen Shafee)

c)      Education Services / School Places (Jonathan Lewis)

a) Operation CAN-do

The Director of Operations gave a presentation detailing the work of Operation CAN-do.  The Committee was advised that the plan had started its short-term phase and that the project was to run for a ten year period, with the aim being to tackle at least one intervention or activity per week.

The Committee was advised that the short to long term improvement ideas for the area would make a difference for people that worked, visited or wanted to live in the area.

The following key points were highlighted as follows:

• Creating jobs through growth and improved skills and education;
• Supporting the most vulnerable families and tackle causes of poverty;
• Safeguarding adults and children;
• Helping people to live more healthy and sustainable lives;
• Empowering people and creating cohesive communities;
• Reducing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour; and
• Using resources more efficiently and effectively

Intended outcomes for the initiative were as follows:

• The master plan for the area, included within the Integrated Delivery Plan (IDP), sought to maximise opportunities for growth and regeneration of the area;
• Community Partnerships working collaboratively and in line with the principles and priorities of the Single Delivery Plan;
• Positive engagement activities for young people;
• A framework to maximise economic growth to develop an area where people would choose to live and work;
• Improved local parks and open spaces;
• Connected and empowered communities who would feel involved and able to influence decisions about their Neighbourhood;
• Improved access to training and employment opportunities;
• A reduction in alcohol and drug related crime and anti-social behavior; and
• A Performance Management Framework by which to measure and evidence success.

The Committee was advised that the Single Delivery Plan, set out the intended outcomes of operation CAN-do, which would work to improve the area.

It was proposed to provide a dedicated building within the area that would offer a range of services from police to local authority issues for the community,

The Committee was also advised that regular updates on the progress of Operation CAN-do would be given at future Neighbourhood Committee meetings.

Chief Inspector Kevin Vanterpool updated the Neighbourhood Committee on the work that had been conducted by Cambridgeshire Constabulary to deal with crime and disorder in the Lincoln Road area.  The Committee was also advised that following the last Neighbourhood Committee meeting, where a presentation had been given regarding a wide range of crime issues; people had come forward to provide vital information on criminal activities.   The Committee was also updated on the actions that the police had recently dealt with as part of Operation CAN-do, these included:

• On street parking 400 parking tickets issued;
• On street prostitution;
• Working with Enforcement Officers on licensing issues; and
• The drinking of alcohol in the street, which had resulted in offenders being warned against their actions and the confiscation of their alcohol.

The Committee was also advised that crime incidents within the area had already reduced as a result of investing significant resources, such as a dedicated police officer who was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

An opportunity for any member of the public, elected and co-opted members of the Neighbourhood Committee to raise anything that affects your area and to suggest items for future meetings.

Attendees of the meeting were given the opportunity to ask questions and raise issues affecting the areas in which they lived. These included:

Houses of Multiple Occupation

·          Members raised a question about what action was being taken to tackle the issue of houses of multiple occupation?

• A member of public also commented on the following issues which had arisen in the St Paul’s Road area:

·        Anti social behaviour;

·        Noise disruption; and

·        Houses of multiple occupation.

The Executive Director of Operations advised that there was a considerable amount of community engagement being conducted to obtain an understanding of what was happening in the area to identify what issues there were. 

The following key points were also highlighted:

• Community groups were getting involved in Operation CAN-do initiatives;
• Enforcement exercises;
• Ensuring that houses of multiple occupation were licensed properly and deemed to be safe;
• High level fines for landlords that did not abide by the rules;
• Checks with the Planning Department in order to review planning applications to ensure that properties were being developed in accordance with the relevant Government regulations, and
• Projects through the Youth Work Team and Youth Work Group, in line with Operation CAN do to tackle language barriers.

Engagement with the Community

• A Member of public sought clarification over what advertising had been conducted to encourage residents to attend Neighbourhood Committees and what other ways the Council was engaging with the community?  Councillor Peach advised that Neighbourhood Committee meetings were continually being promoted using various methods such as press releases, local radio, Councillors surgeries and ward newsletters. The Executive Director of Operations also advised that the Council was engaging with community groups and residents associations and investigating further engagement opportunities throughout schools.

Supermarket in Maskew Avenue

Councillor Khan and Swift provided an update to the Neighbourhood Committee regarding a planning application for a supermarket to be built in the Maskew Avenue area (where the parcel force used to be).  Members also sought the comments of residents regarding the plans and thoughts on suitability of the site identified?

Comments received were as follows:

• A member of public commented that building a supermarket may affect the custom of the smaller shops and traders in the Milfield area.

• Members raised a comment about whether consideration had been given to invest section 106 agreements in the undeveloped land near Toys R us.

Neighbourhood Committee Funding and S106

A member of the public requested an update on the Neighbourhood Committee funding and Section 106 money, which had been identified for the following:

• Building the Iqbal Centre; 
• Youth Shelter in Gladstone park;
• Lighting in Hobson’s area; and
• Development for the Hobson’s play area.

The Neighbourhood Manger provided the following update to the Neighbourhood Committee:

• Section 106 money of £50,000 was ring fenced for a range of project plans around the Hobson’s area.  As soon as occupation of the new flats in the Hobson area had taken place; a community consultation would be conducted to ascertain how the money would be better spent;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The next meeting will be held on 19 December 2011.  Venue to be confirmed

The next meeting of the Central & North Neighbourhood Committee was to be held on Monday 19 December 2011.