Apologies: Anne Dixon, Cllr Nicola Harrison, Neill Wishart (Petersfield Youth Worker), Ken Haye, Sarah Gent (Police Community Contact Officer), Chris Down (Community Beat Manager), Stephen Conrad (Strategic Asset Development Manager, Cambs County Council), Frances Johnson
Committee members present: Richard Allen (Chair), Glenys Malyon, Dorothy Runnicles, Cyril Offley, Tony O'Regan, Anna Lindsay
Also present: see attendance listGuests: Cllr Kevin Blencowe, Rev. Philip Foster, Martin Clark (CityLife), Tim Jones (CityLife), Chris Robertson (Park and Recreation Dept, Cambridge City Council), Andy Tompkins (community website "We're all neighbours", Cllr Ben Bradnack (not here for Public Meeting, only for Other Business), Cllr Vikki Philips, Cllr Joye Rosenstiel (Executive Councillor for Community Development & Leisure), Tanya Prince (Petersfield Reccy Ranger)
Richard warmly welcomed all present and directed attention to the David Urwin Commendation award certificate with which PACT was presented this year.
Attention was also drawn to the papers on the seats (Agenda, PACT's highlights this year, last year's minutes).
Minutes were approved unanimously (proposed by Dorothy & seconded by Cyril) and accepted as an accurate record of last year's meeting.
Chair taken by Tony O'Regan while Richard delivered a concise account of PACT's activities [see below for full report]
There are many other things going on within your community where PACT has some interest and influence. But none has been so important to so many people as the fate of St Matthew's Piece, the reason why so many of you are here this evening.
It seems that the County Council has decided to sanction the demolition of the Howard Mallett Centre and allow Citylife to build a new building, twice the height of the existing one, to be a centre for enterprise and innovation for young people.
With so many changes and developments within Petersfield, I believe it is time to open our eyes and hearts and hang on to what little green space we have left. To allow further development on the Piece is to betray those that follow us, to deny them a precious gift.
I would encourage you all to use this meeting to express how you feel and what you want from PACT. It's your chance to make a difference - don't waste it!
Thank you.
Trish introduced the Report and explained that PACT is not rich but keeping its head above water. Of particular note is the fact that PACT continues to birth new groups which then take on independent life.
A formal record of thanks was made to Barbara Nacson, who has been this year's independent examiner of accounts.
Trish also made a specific thank you to Cambridge City Council for their ongoing financial support, and to ImPACT advertisers.
The accounts were unanimously ratified and approved.
The following people put their names forward to work on the management committee for the coming year:
All unanimously approved and elected (First Management Committee meeting on Wednesday 30th November at 7:30pm in the Community Room at the back of the Howard Mallett Centre)
Subcommittees: Planning and environmentSuggestion from the floor to advertise for a younger person to volunteer to help with Young People's Issues.
Community CentreCllr Ben Bradnack stood up to speak on issue of proposal to pull down garages to build apartments in their place. He and Cllr Kevin Blencowe have organised a public meeting, with Cllr Caroline Smart (the Executive Cllr who will be making the decision) to come and speak on the topic next week 23rd November at Alex Wood Hall.
***********Break for refreshments*********
Chair: Tony O'Regan.
Tony introduced the topic, and recapped on the issues and invited guest speakers. He also pointed out the attendance list circulating the room, and the envelope for donations.
Started by asking Glenys Malyon to give a brief presentation.
Glenys drew an outline of St.Matthew's Piece: the whole area extending from New Street to Abbey Street, which was land given to residents in perpetuity for sport and recreation and open-space related purposes. HMC was built as an asset to the area as a youth club. Fell into hands of Council, who let it lapse into disrepair and then leased it to Dawe Media as multimedia centre. The area was lost as open space. Despite the assurance that the building would continue to be used for open space related purposes, this was "forgotten". Children are still being intimidated, denied access to the surrounding area, and scared off: even from the southern strip of land between the HMC and the rest of the Piece, which plans say does not belong to the HMC site, and which should therefore never have been leased to Dawe Media.
PACT has written to the County Council asking for restitution. PACT has also asked the City Council for support on this issue. We've asked our ward councillors to fight our battle for us. The building is more or less now defunct. The green space is the ONLY green space in a HIGH-density populated area: vital to this area. Its loss is unacceptable. The County Council view this land/building as a Financially Valuable Asset - theirs not ours! They want to pursue their corporate objective. They are therefore proposing to demolish and rebuild double height and size, for 125 year lease to CityLife. CityLife's aims are laudable - BUT not appropriate for the Piece which is OUR land, not commercial! The site is indeed valuable - but as amenity value , not as financial: should be administered on our behalf, not as money spinner for County Council.
A representation was made by local resident to get East Side back as part of St.Matthew's Piece: ImPACT this year was full of articles relating to St.Matthew's Piece, as was Streetwise shortly after: there was an active letter barrage in CEN as a result. PACT has already put in & obtained a Tree Preservation Order to protect the mature plane trees. PACT has put in a planning application for the land which sets out our alternative agenda: for demolition of the building and restoration of the land to its original state and purpose. Implementation would be difficult as PACT does not own the build, and it would be expensive, but the application constitutes a material Planning Consideration as an alternative planning scenario.
The discussion was opened to the floor.
Valerie Neal asked what support have we had from our elected representatives at city and council level.
Glenys replied that Nicola Harrison had enquired about greater access, and that two of our Councillors were actually present this evening, along with representatives from CityLife...
Glenys Self asked about the fact that the proposed new edifice will be a 3-storey building - Glenys confirmed that this is what we've been told.
Representative from CityLife, Tim Jones, responded and said that Glenys has contact details. He argued that there has been lots of misplaced conjecture. Stated/Claimed that since CityLife don't yet have permission to build the building, there will be ample opportunity for public consultation. However, he appeared to see nothing wrong with the whole concept (they were apparently told by the Council that they should plan for 40,000 sq feet!) of putting a commercial (non-open space) building on the site. They're a charity not commercial developers. Are developing a variety of plans for consideration: aim to have something concrete by Christmas - which is universally acknowledged as being the worst time for consultations.
Question from the floor: Why this site?
County Council via Carter Jonas approached CityLife to say "THEY have some land which was available for development purposes, would CityLife be interested?"
Question from Anna Lindsay: Do you have evidence for this?
Answer: Yes.
Question from the floor: Do you have another site?
Answer: No. St.Matthew's Piece is the cheapest option.
Tanya Prince from City Council youth work stood up and requested representation for youth. There are lots of children in the area and they should be consulted (applause). Children say there is nowhere to go: everywhere is too expensive.
Glenys assured meeting that we are VERY aware of needs of young people and parents: that there is a clause in PACT's planning application that makes provision for HMC to be run according to original plan.
Martin Clarke: CityLife will be seeking feedback from young people in the area. The CityLife project has many aims.
Where do CityLife get their funding from? Tim Jones: From East of England Development Agency, but they will get funding from donations from the community in future... Dorothy Runnicles: This is confirmation that EEDA has been working behind the scenes to undermine the stated need of recreational space for young people. An OFSTED report slammed the County Council youth services provision. Now EEDA is supporting CityLife's project to remove a further youth facility! She pointed out that we don't hear about these closed-doors funding opportunities.
Andy Tompkins spoke about an empty building that we have in this area, which would welcome a use for premises to prevent the vandalism which is likely if the building remains empty. It became apparent that the empty building to which he was referring was the HMC. His radio station (Radio 209) is looking for space. Suggested that HMC be used by Radio 209 as a Radio Centre and cafe.
Question from floor. 2 issues: one is development, other is ownership of the land. Is legal investigation possible? Answer: PACT has joined the Open Spaces Society and conducted a Commons Search on their advice but hasn't found much (yet?) Problem is that PACT doesn't have the resources to conduct long legal battle. Does question of ownership put into abeyance development plans? Answer: No: planning is independent of ownership. But planning establishes opinion about where councillors stand.
What are the details of the original covenant? Answer: Newspaper article published in June 1898, and reproduced in ImPACT this year, in which the Mayor declared that St.Matthew's Piece was open, for purposes of rest and recreation, to the inhabitants of this area in perpetuity.
If Council approached Carter Jonas to approach CityLife, doesn't this indicate that they are utterly determined to develop it, irrespective of moral/legal implications/local objections? Answer: Yes
Financing of CityLife. Founded in Jubilee House in 1999 for community benefit. Dealing with social exclusion (but social exclusion is NOT the purpose of St.Matthew's Piece) Is a secular organisation: an industrial provenance society for community benefit. Funded by donations. Tim Jones referred those present to CityLife's website.
Is it possible via petitioning to get ownership of land onto agenda of County/City Council as an issue to be raised?
Kevin Blencowe took the floor re., ownership of land - ownership is an issue, but infighting between City & County Council would be waste of public money. Kevin cannot take a stand on the issue because although he represents local community, also represents Planning Cttee and therefore cannot be seen to lean towards one side or another.
The land at the side of the building WILL become a significant issue with special consideration as open space. Whether any planning can be approved if it encroaches on this space remains to be seen.
Question to CityLife - is this first time that have developed anything? Answer: Yes.
Vikki Phillips asked CityLife: what sort of resources & facilities would they offer to the local community and what will the consultation be? Martin Clark: Facilities: attractive accommodation for people with Prince's Trust. People who want to get into trading and use enterprise techniques. Facilities: cafe, exhibition space, arts activities centre with things the "public can enjoy". Tim Jones: consultation will be at schools, a design workshop, a street questionnaire, and an exhibition.
Tanya asked what sort of opportunities would be offered to under-16s? Tim Jones replied that would be surprised if CityLife centre would cater to that age-range. County Council will be changing the use of the site from a youth centre.
Eva Spiegelhalter: What does Trading & Enterprise mean? Tim Jones replied that some of the people would be disabled who would otherwise have difficulty finding premises. They will also work with the County Council education department and engage with schools.
Very laudable but NOT the purpose of St.Matthew's Piece.
Floor proposed that meeting go on til 9:15. Carried.
Martin Lucas-Smith from floor pointed out that under discussion were 2 separate issues: what CityLife want to do: and what the use of the land is.
Requested statement from Councillors about whether they support the use of the land for open space.
Vikki Phillips: as councillor represents people's views to take those into account. But she said that CityLife proposals sound exciting and of potential benefit to the Community. Happy to help PACT clarify issues of ownership. But she was not at this stage willing to make a commitment.
Kevin Blencowe: in 1973, County Council took on as managers the site. This transfer from City to Council is the root of the problem. If the City Council wish to challenge that will have to tackle it in legal way. Willing to ask the question but suggests that the answer is already clear.
Is willing to question why footprint of HMC should be extended. Local Plan enshrines it as open space of special consideration.
Glenys Malyon: The present proposed footprint fouls trees, and so is untenable anyhow as the trees are highly valued (and protected by Tree Preservation Order).
Valerie Neal said would be interesting to know what the basis of their (Council) proposals is. Would it be helpful for the meeting to consider a motion expressing its preferences to retain St.Matthew's Piece for Recreational Space (whether for youth centre or open space).
Proposal from the floor:
This meeting wishes to retain the whole of St.Matthew's Piece for Recreational/Open Space purposes.
Resolution approved.
After some of the best chairing we've had the privilege of seeing, Tony thanked the assembly and closed the public meeting.
From floor, a motion proposed to formally thank PACT management committee for all the hard work. Motion met with applause from all.
Meeting declared closed at 9:15. Refreshments were served.