Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies from members unable to attend the meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors Goodwin, Winslade, North and Elsey.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

Approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2011.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2011 were approved as a true and accurate record.

No issues were raised.

Presentation from the Youth Forum on a project to install a new Skate Park on Hampton

Members received a presentation from the Youth Forum on the project to create a new Skate Park in Hampton.

The following key points were highlighted:

• Potential sites for the skate park - James Pond, Eagle Way, Flats Facing the college and Clayburn Road Park;
• Estimated cost for the project was £100,000;
• Members’ involvement to raise further funding for the Skate Park project; and
• Petition with 200 signatures was presented to the Council meeting on 7 December.

Action Agreed

It was agreed that location maps would be provided of the proposed sites, which had been identified.

Opportunity to hear about the scheme launched in Peterborough for volunteers who want to improve their local communities by reducing crime, ASB and hate crime.

Neighbourhood Champion Scheme

The Neighbourhood Committee received a presentation on the Peterborough Neighbourhood Champions (PNC) scheme.  The Committee was advised that the scheme would introduce voluntary community support through PNC members to tackle a wide range of issues within the area.

The following key points were highlighted:

• Encouragement of a group of residents to become part of the scheme; 
• Reduce crime, support victims of anti social behaviour and hate crimes;
• Reducing the fear of crime;
• Empower people and communities to make a difference; and
• Campaigning for change.

The Committee was also informed that the Neighbourhood Champions would operate via a constituted management committee, which would adhere to a full range of governance policies.

The Committee was advised on how to become a member of the PNC voluntary scheme.   The Committee was also informed that all interested candidates would be required to complete an application form, provide two references, complete a confidential declaration form and receive a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Full training on the Peterborough Neighbourhood Champion policies and skills in order to support the community would be provided to all successful candidates.

Comments and responses to questions included:

• Advertisements for volunteers for the PNC scheme would appear on various websites such as Opportunity Peterborough, Peterborough City Council, Facebook and Twitter;
• Briefings would be held with the Police and other partner agencies.  Any issues that had been raised through the PNC scheme would be shared with partners; and
• PNC members would receive training sessions over a four week period.  Once the training had been received, PNC members would start working on community cases.  PNC members would also receive a further sessions over a three week period as part of the second phase of becoming a PNC volunteer.

Presentation on the hydrotherapy pool in Dogsthorpe which serves the city.

Hydrotherapy Pool

The Neighbourhood Committee received a presentation regarding the benefits of the use of the Hydrotherapy pool, by users suffering from various medical conditions.

The following key points within the presentation were highlighted:

• The pool was opened in March 2011;
• Funding was received from the Community Leadership Fund;
• A range of service users at the pool;
• 96% of users showed improvements with health;
• To date there had been over 700 users to the pool by patients with long term conditions such as cancer, junior arthritis, cerebral palsy and strokes;
• 35,000 people live in Peterborough with a disability
• Need to GP referrals to use the Hydrotherapy Pool as part of a patients treatment programme to ensure sustainability; and
• A business case had been submitted to NHS Peterborough to support, maintain and sustain the up keep of the hydrotherapy pool.

Comments and responses to questions included:

• Concern over the loss of the Hydrotherapy Pool following the closure of the old Peterborough District Hospital.  Currently there were only seven hospitals in the country that had the facility;
• Additional funding and community assistance in promoting the use of the hydrotherapy pool, to get General Practitioners (GP’s) to approve the commissioning process and the use of the pool was welcome; and
• GPs were being approached by users to promote the use of the pool.  In a recent GPs’ Cluster meeting, doctors had shown an interest in commissioning the use of the hydrotherapy pool.  A business case was to be completed in order to receive further support from GPs’ referrals for the use of the facility.

Update on measures being introduced to address parking issues at Hampton Hargate and Hampton vale shops, along with progress on the Clayburn Road junction.

Parking in Hampton

The Committee received a presentation on the parking measures being introduced to address parking issues at Hampton Hargate and Hampton Vale shops, along with progress on the Clayburn Road junction.

The following key points within the presentation were highlighted:

• A parking regulation order had been introduced on Hargate Way;
• Consultation was underway for Hargate Way and submissions had been received from the public;
• Parking improvements to be made in Hargate Way, which was to be introduced in February 2012, following consultation;
• Hampton Vale, installed double yellow lines and give way markings; 
• Claybourne Road junction scheduled for opening in January 2012;
• Work on the signals and signage for Claybourne Road junction was ongoing.

Comments and responses to questions included:

• Parking on the pavements was causing damage;
• Until the roads in Hampton were formally adopted by the Council as part of the highway infrastructure, Parish Councils were being asked to encourage the community to take ownership of the parking issues and to abide by the rules.  The Council and O&H Hampton were currently reviewing the design issues and would provide an improvement plan.  A meeting was scheduled for the beginning of 2012 to discuss the layout issues and discuss possible solutions.
• The introduction of yellow lines for Hampton was agreed at the recent Parish Council Liaison meeting.  The Parish Council was working together with Peterborough City Council to encourage the adoption of the parking measures introduced.
• A consultation was to take place in 2012, to review the parking issues for Orton Longueville.

Action Agreed

Transport and Engineering to investigate if no over night parking signs could be installed in the Hampton Vale car park.

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.

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.

Hampton Vale Shop Fronts

The issue of shops clearing rubbish from the front of their premises was raised

Action Agreed

Investigate what enforcement powers the Council would regarding shops that do not keep the front of their shops clear of rubbish.  Feedback to be provided to Hampton Parish Council.

The next meeting will be held on 8 March at St. Botolph’s C of E Primary School and will also pilot the introduction of ‘Neighbourhoods night’ which incorporates the Ward Forum, Neighbourhood Panel and Neighbourhood Committee on the same evening.

The Chairman advised that the next meeting of the Ortons with Hampton Neighbourhood Committee would take place on 8 March 2011 at the Main Hall, St Botolphs Primary School.