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Petersfield Area
Community Trust

AGM 12th November 2003 minutes

Apologies: Harry Goode, Huguette Chatterton, Christine Bradley, Jane Shoesmith (APEC meeting), Cllr Mike Dixon, Glenys Malyon, Berenice Howared- Smith, Nicky Glegg, Dale Tomlinson, Cyril Offley, Cllr Ben Bradnack

Present: see attendance list

The meeting began at 7:28

1. Welcome, introduction & AOB

Dorothy warmly welcomed attendees and speakers, & encouraged all to look at the excellent displays.

Attention was drawn to the papers on the seats (Agenda, PACT's highlights this year etc)

2. Minutes of 2002 AGM

Minutes were approved unanimously.

3. Chair's Report

Especial thanks to the impressive work done by Glenys Malyon this year.

PACT is now well established as a group that campaigns vigorously on issues local residents have raised. Here is a summary of the major developments over the past year.

PACT's 5th Year

Big news: A New Petersfield Community Centre

  • A new Community Centre will be created, thanks to PACT's initiative in early-stage talks.
  • As part of the Newmarket Road/Harvest Way building project, the property developers will provide a new community centre on Abbey St.
  • Substantial effort has gone into PACT's work on a draft Business Plan and Planning Summary for the new Centre.
  • Outline planning permission was granted on 3 September 2003.
  • PACT will set up a Community Centre Steering Group.

Local Youth Services - Great news!

  • 2003 has been the best year for local youth activities since the Howard Mallett Centre was closed down in 1998.
  • The City Council's Children's Team produced an excellent newsletter on activities for young people earlier in the year, and hosted some well-supported events at St Matthew's School.
  • Liz Mayne from Parkside hosted a week of activities at the Howard Mallett Centre during February 2003 half term.
  • Neill Wishart, while part of the City Council Children's Team, ran a successful group for 7-11 year olds.
  • In April, Parkside finally began to spend the money on Petersfield youth services that had for 5 years been formally allocated to that purpose.
  • PACT warmly welcomes Neill Wishart (neill.wishart@ntlworld.com) to the important new role of Parkside
    • Youth Worker.
  • Neill Wishart, with the City Council Childrenıs Team, has restarted a drop-in group for 8-12 year olds using the Community Room and Hall at the former Howard Mallett Centre and on St Matthew's Piece (Wednesdays 3.30-5.30pm).
  • Neill is running a youth drama group (Tuesdays 4.306 pm) also in that Hall and Community Room.
  • On 7 October 2003 Neill started a new weekly group for 13-16 year olds (on Tuesdays 7.15-9pm, at St Matthews Church Hall).
  • Some of these activities are not exclusively for Petersfield young people, but PACT welcomes and supports them all and hopes that they flourish.

Services for Older People

  • PACT's thriving Over 50s club celebrated its first birthday in October 2003.
  • It is run for older people by older people - all are welcome to try it out, any Friday 10.30am-12.00 noon, at Cherry Trees Centre, on St Matthews Street.
  • The Club is supported by the City Council Community Development Dept.
  • At PACT's November 2003 AGM, the public meeting on 'Services for Older People Who Cares' features Eric Robinson, Director of Cambridgeshire Social Services, as Guest Speaker.
  • PACT actively supports BGOP (Better Government for Older People) and Speaking Up for Our Age in their efforts to improve services for older people.
  • PACT also promotes an exercise class for older people, including those with disabilities, held at the Alex Wood Hall on Norfolk Street, every Tuesday 11am-12 noon (cost £1).

Crime & Safety

  • The July 2002 public meeting 'Making Petersfield a Safer Place?', arranged jointly by PACT and the Community Safety Partnership has produced encouraging results.
  • Two more lively public meetings to discuss local policing issues have been hosted by Petersfield ward Councillors with support from PACT, in March 2003 (on Mill Road), and in September 2003 (at St Matthewıs school).
  • In recognition of Petersfield being ?the busiest beat in cityı, the City Council and Police set up a project in June 2003 called APEC, coordinated by ex-PC John Fuller to address our local problems.
  • John Fuller is holding meetings every month with local residents (for details see PACT's noticeboard on Norfolk St) to bring us up to date with APEC's progress.
  • Local residents have warmly welcomed the visible increase in police presence (including the two new Petersfield Community Beat Support Officers) in local streets and significant efforts to improve the quality of life on Mill Road.
  • Although graffiti continues to be an issue, improvements to the garage block on St Matthew's Street near East Road have reduced drug use and antisocial behaviour in the vicinity. Similar improvements will be welcomed at other nearby garages.

Planning

  • The Chair of PACTıs planning committee was invited to provide a resident's perspective at a seminar on 'Community Involvement in the Planning Process'.
  • A 2nd invitation was to take part in a presentation before a judging panel of the Royal Town Planning Institute in Oct 2003, where Cambridge planners had been short-listed for an award.
  • This reflects PACT's effective working relationship with the planners, including our participation in Cambridgeıs Development Control User Panel.
  • Most of potential brown-field sites in Petersfield are now either already re-developed or in the pipeline, though doubtless other sites will emerge.
  • Philip's site - A new application has recently been submitted by Wilcon to change plans at the Silverwood Close boundary from 12 houses to 32 flats.
  • Beehive site - Restrictions to the types of goods that can be offered for sale have been relaxed.
  • APU Canopy and Trees - PACT opposed APU's plans because of the threat to 8 healthy and well-established plane trees on the East Road frontage. Although unanimously refused by the Planning Committee, APU subsequently won on appeal. Sadly, the plane trees are now likely to be felled and replaced by fewer, smaller trees.
  • ex-CRC Building in Young Street - Application for 18 four-storey houses was refused and further proposals are awaited. The part of the old 'Ragged School' fronting onto Young St is likely to be converted into 1 dwelling.
  • 'Jubilee Project' under Elizabeth Way Bridge - PACT has urged that local residents should be properly consulted over this proposal for housing vulnerable people and is shocked by the way this project has been rushed through by the City Council.
  • Vicarage Terrace - Housing is being renovated for people with learning difficulties. Communal facilities and 24-hour support will be provided. Ward Councillors are seeking a planning application for 'change-of-use', and consultation for nearby residents.
  • Former Howard Mallett Centre - Some progress on community access. Look out for the new 'What? Where? When?' noticeboard on the South side of building, with information for local residents.
  • St Columba's Hall, York St has been replaced by a new doctors' surgery and pharmacy (the Newmarket Rd surgery, is being converted into a surgery for homeless people).

Open Spaces

  • PACTıs Millennium Garden on Norfolk Street is now an official example of urban renewal: visiting Councillors assessing Cambridge saw this garden as the best example of cooperation between the Council and the Community.
  • A second mosaic for the Millennium Garden, being created by young adults from the Papworth Trust and some users of the Cherry Trees Day Centre, is almost finished.
  • Financial contributions from housing developments towards improvements to Open Spaces are being spent. For example, on St Matthew's Piece, new graffiti-resistant benches and play equipment have been installed; resurfacing of paths and better fencing on the York Street boundary will follow. Following PACT input, new benches have been placed, for example, on Petworth Street. Similarly, footpaths in Mill Road Cemetery and the Skateboard Park on Donkey's Common have received support. Funds have been set aside for improvements to the Stourbridge Common play area.
  • PACT hosted another successful Summer Event on 28 June. Dancing, displays and stalls were enjoyed by over 100 local residents on the grassed area behind the Howard Mallett Centre.

The Howard Mallett

  • PACT made a formal complaint in December 2001 about the management of the former Howard Mallett Centre.
  • The County Council's Chief Executive said this was Parkside's responsibility; Parkside Governors rejected PACT's complaints; PACT appealed in 23 July 2002, but were again rejected.
  • Parkside Governors refused even PACT's efforts to establish accurate and agreed Minutes of the appeal hearing.
  • Parkside staff have nevertheless over the past year made clear efforts to address and rectify most of the complaints PACT had raised!
  • Additional significant improvements to compliance with planning conditions and with terms of the lease have arisen thanks to PACT's ongoing discussions with officers at both the City and County Councils.

Our Forum

  • The Petersfield Community Forum meets at 2-monthly intervals to discuss: youth and older peoples' services, action on drugs, improvements to open spaces, planning and policing issues, and raising items for Area Committee meetings.
  • Petersfield residents are welcome to attend Forum meetings and lunch gatherings ('Mingle Munches'), all publicized on the PACT noticeboard.

Traffic & Transport

  • PACT has requested that vehicles for the Proposed Rapid Transit System stop in Petersfield - and don't just pass through.
  • Despite sustained effort from PACT, there is very little progress on bus service: Stagecoach uses its monopoly to cut back services while raising prices.
  • We encourage all local residents to contact our MP, so make her aware of the full extent of the problem only public pressure will bring change.

Communication

  • PACT produced a 5th annual issue of ImPACT and distributed 3,000 free copies to Petersfield homes, groups and businesses.
  • Our hardworking distribution team enables information from PACT to be regularly circulated and displayed throughout the community
  • PACT maintains its community noticeboard on Norfolk Street, with up-to-date news
  • We hope soon to be responsible for a new noticeboard on St Matthewıs Piece in addition to the one Parkside will be maintaining on the Howard Mallett building itself.
  • PACT's website www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/forum/pact/ continues to develop.

And Last But Not Least...

  • PACT has held many Management Committee and Subcommittee meetings to maintain progress on key issues.
  • Regular scrutiny is made of PACT's account and finances, including at this AGM.
  • PACT has been active in fundraising to support key PACT activities

Fresh faces continue to be welcome in PACT, on its working parties and on its management committee - there are many ways in which you can become involved. We'd love to see how you would like to shape and contribute to a new year of constructive local community action.

4. Treasurer's Report - see attached report

Richard introduced this report: accounts unanimously accepted and approved.

Dennis Peck was approved for a further year as PACT's independent examiner of accounts.

5. Election of PACT Management Committee members.

The following people put their names forward to work on the management committee for the coming year.

  • Richard Allen
  • Dorothy Runnicles
  • Daniel Gordon
  • Anna Lindsay
  • Glenys Malyon
  • Valerie Neal
  • Jane Shoesmith
  • David Harris

All unanimously approved & elected.

1 Planning & Environment sub-committee

  • Lesley Tubb
  • Richard Carrington
  • Glenys Malyon
  • Harmke Kamminge

2 Community Centre Steering Group

  • Glenys Malyon
  • Richard Allen

3 Supporters Group - people who've offered to help

  • Nicky Glegg (help with writing letters / Council matters)
  • Dale Tomlinson (design skills)
  • Trish Wright (Treasurer)

Dorothy appealed for more help

6. Constitutional Amendments

6a. It is proposed to change part 4(a)(i) of the PACT constitution in order to maintain the correct description of where PACT operates even after the city ward boundaries are changed in April 2004:

Membership of PACT shall be open to

All those living in the Petersfield Area, who support the aims and objects of the organisation,...

To become:

Membership of PACT shall be open to:

All those living in the St.Matthews and Riverside areas of Petersfield and Abbey, who support the aims and objects of the organisation,...

Change approved.

6b. It is proposed to change paragraph 5 (ii) of the constitution.

ii) The Committee shall be comprised of 7 to 10 members who shall elect a Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary at the Committee's first meeting following the Annual General Meeting.

To become:

ii) The Committee shall be comprised of 6 to 12 members who shall elect a Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary at the Committee's first meeting following the Annual General Meeting.

Change approved.

7. John was thanked on behalf of the committee for all his wonderful work these past years, and wished well in his new home.

8. Emergency Resolution:

The PACT Annual General Meeting held on 12th November 2003 and attended by 32 Petersfield residents utterly condemns the recent action of Anglia Polytechnic University in felling 8 healthy and well-established London Plane trees on its East Road frontage.

London plane trees are ideally suited to East Road, where this type of tree is able to thrive despite the polluted atmosphere and contribute significantly to our shared urban landscape.

Petersfield Area Community Trust does not regard the proposed planting of the smaller fastigate hornbeam as an adequate replacement for these trees and call on APU to re-instate the line of plane trees once their new canopy is complete.

Approved: 27

Abstentions: 2

Nays: 0

Motion carried.

AGM finished at 8:15

9. Speakers: Older People: who cares?

Dorothy warmly welcomed and introduced Eric Robinson (Cambridgeshire Social Services)

Spoke of the vision they have of the services they wish to introduce to serve the needs of older people. The agenda is emerging and continuously evolving as older people get more involved.

5 principal areas:

  • need to listen to older people: must see all the issues in their wider context rather than getting bogged down in minutiae - and this can only happen with continuing dialogue.
  • challenge ageism - both in the council / public services, and in the health services
  • promote more positive image of older people - instead of dismissing them as universally frail, realise the incredible resources of their richness of experience
  • promote independence
  • build public services around older people rather than try and fit older people into existing pigeonholes.

Liz Sargeant (Primary Care Trust):

Huge challenge ahead - a major programme of modernising services - merely transferring staff to do things the way they've always been done will achieve nothing - will only perpetuate existing system and problems.

Therefore older people are needed to give input about HOW and WHAT to change. It's a real opportunity to change the way things are done.

Currently it's a long list of repeating the same information to various officials - Liz wants to try to reduce the number of people to whom you need to speak in order to access the services people need, and to have a single contact person who will be able to direct communication.

Dorothy thanked both speakers for their excellent presentations and invited questions from the floor.

  • How complaints of abuse are dealt with? How are issues identified and dealt with.

    A few years ago, a Government paper was prepared "No Secrets". An adult abuse coordination mechanism was introduced, involving members of police and social services etc

    But still need to improve ways of recognising and reporting abuse.

  • Waiting times. Liz was asked to inspect situation up at Addenbrookes, which sees the older people practically herded past bewildering array of staff, long waiting periods (elderly in wheelchairs left to wait 3/4 hours at a time before anyone sees them). No continuity. And enormous waiting lists to see consultants (over a year in many cases). One elderly lady (82 years old!) present at the AGM was told to come back in 10 years!.

  • Parents in Thanet - had a visit from a man from the PCT who took their blood pressure etc and encouraged them to apply for benefits for they qualify : v.encouraging - this is a model to emulate. Is money being invested in similar schemes here? - Yes. At the moment only around Nuffield Road practice - but this will expand particularly as streamline resources so that no longer wasted on repeating interviews etc 20 times (ie cutting bureaucracy).

  • PACT Exercise class - (sprang out of PACT's Over 50s club) for people with mobility challenges & age concerns. Is this the sort of thing that could be supported financially by the PCT? - YES. Funding both for the training and for hire costs of the hall.

    How can PACT access such financial support - Liz pledged help and was delighted to hear of its existence. There is no existing automatic mechanism for getting the money - but this is being developed - meanwhile, Liz will look into liaising with Trish and this local community group. Trish invited Liz to come and personally see the class, in order not only to support, but to use it as a model for the wider community.

  • Shifting the budget around.

    Where does the cut-off begin? Is the shifting of the budget at the expense of money spent on younger patients? - No. It's more a case of more "inexpensive" care instead of little-but-expensive, to reach a greater number of people. A large proportion of Cambridgeshire residents are over 50. BUT we need to beware of labels: there is also a large proportion of over-50s who are healthy and active and who resent the classification of Over-50s as "elderly" (and hence by implication frail and needy)

  • NHS is free: council / Social Services is charged. How can the two be dovetailed? In Scotland, these services are free at the point of need. The current "legal requirement" to charge here in the UK can be changed - there is a major lobby in parliament today to scrap these charges.

    Residents can add their support to this pressure, both against the postcode lottery, and against the charges system altogether, through national and local politicians.

  • Pathway - currently only pathway is through GP or via charities who lobby on behalf: how will PCT communicate with people, and consult? How can people contact the PCT ?

    Liz brought consultation papers with her. Seeks to broaden access, so that no longer just funnelled through GP.

  • Reporting abuse - is v.difficult for most people for fear of consequences, especially when charges are against the social services in whose care the vulnerable people are.

Meeting closed at 9:05