Chair's Report to the Annual General Meeting of the Petersfield Area Community Trust, 7 November 2001

Since the 2000 AGM, PACT has continued to campaign vigorously on behalf of local residents on issues they have raised with PACT. This is a summary of the major developments over the past year.

Approaches to PACT for support in dealing with local planning applications or in addressing problems are always top priority issues for us. PACT is widely acknowledged as a genuine voice for the Petersfield community, and continues to serve as a focus for public consultation. Our 'planning expert' Glenys Malyon has joined the City Council's Development Control User Panel on behalf of PACT. During the course of the year, the management committee has commented on the revision of the Cambridge Local Plan, the measurement of density in new housing developments, the proposed strategy for using money from developers, as well as the Conservation Strategy for Parkers Piece and the local Tourism and Public Art strategies. PACT has participated in a local 'Compact', seeking to improve the relationship between statutory and voluntary services. We continue to express only those views that are guided by genuine community input from public meetings or other consultations. This underlines the importance of your participation!

PACT's 3rd Year

Youth & Community Facilities

• PACT's published analysis of residents' views on community facilities continues to influence the development of public policy (our 1999 Survey of Need showed that 72% of respondents felt that Petersfield needs a Community Centre).
• PACT's Youth & Community Centre subcommittee, with Councilor Hannah Reed, presented a petition to the City Council Community Development and Leisure Committee on 25th January 2001, leading to significant responses from the City Council, including: (1) an April 2001 report synthesizing research to date on youth and community needs in Petersfield; workshops to explore emerging issues; (2) a July 2001 action plan; and (3) a report to the City Council Community Development and Leisure Committee on 8/11/01 (tomorrow!)
• Associated initiatives actively supported by PACT have included: (1) a City/County joint project surveying up to 100 13-17 year olds in Petersfield on local leisure provision; (2) a neighbourhood questionnaire, focusing on more disadvantaged pockets of the ward, seeking feedback on local facilities; (3) the Petersfield Children's Project, conducted by Cambridge Housing Society during Feb-April 2001, exploring the needs of 5-11 year olds in the Ward, including production of a video that expressed children's' views; (4) publication of a draft Directory of Community Facilities in Petersfield, detailing provision available for "social, recreational, educational, caring, cultural and worship purposes"; (5) publicizing and attending workshops to examine the draft Directory, to discuss gaps in provision, and possible ways forward.
• The Youth Group is not currently meeting, due to changes in Youth worker staffing, despite ongoing need.
• PACT has participated in initial consultations with the City Council's Manager of Parks & Recreation about improvements to St Matthew's Piece and has been actively pressuring for a Public Forum, for more widespread public involvement in this process.
• PACT will be attending tomorrow's meeting of the City Council Community Development and Leisure Committee to continue to press for community facilities not yet available in Petersfield.

Planning

• PACT continues to cooperate with Ward Councilors in supporting local residents in successfully challenging and amending inappropriate planning applications at the Carpet Mill (proposals now withdrawn - and funds have been secured for replacement of toilets & improvements to Bath House area); the Beehive site; the Philips' site; Ivy Villa, Stone Street (two appeals by the developer have been dismissed).
• PACT has continued to scrutinize ongoing developments such as the housing on the Foister & Jagg site, and the proposals for the Labgear and Newmarket Road sites, as well as the recent proposals to demolish St Columba's Mission Hall in York Street and replace it with a new doctors' surgery and pharmacy.
• PACT has succeeded in ensuring that residents are now informed about applications for or changes to public entertainments licences - although the magistrates have refused our request to inform residents of applications to sell alcohol.
• PACT has participated in the Red Studio User Group (RSUG), and continues to do its best to ensure that the RSUG fulfils its formal responsibilities by challenging the RSUG to improve the accessibility of facilities and activities in and around the former Howard Mallett building and to pursue established democratic processes.

Campaigning for, Creating & Celebrating Petersfield Facilities

• PACT's Mosaics for the Millennium project, has involved local groups in creating a beautiful mosaic on community themes and is resulting in the transformation of the corner at St Matthew�s and Norfolk St; thanks to generous funding from the City Council Environment Committee, Petersfield now has a new mini-park set to bloom next spring. This will be an attractive setting for the completed mosaic.
• Our latest success: PACT's new Over-50s Coffee Mornings are held on Fridays, 10.30-11.30 am, in the 'Community Room' of the former Howard Mallett Centre - pick up a leaflet from the table by the door to share with a friend or neighbour.
• PACT hosted well-attended community parties in 12/00 (in St Matthew�s Church Hall) and in 6/01 (on St Matthew�s Piece), building community spirit. The next such event will be 5 December, again at St Matthew�s Church Hall - please join us!
• The Mobile Library calls at St Barnabas Church on alternate Thursdays (11.15-11.45 am; next visit 15/11/01); as Petersfield has a mobile or central library within two miles (!) County Council policy means that PACT is unlikely to secure any more mobile library stops in our area.

Traffic

• PACT continues to support Petersfield Streets for People (now an independent group) which published a detailed report of residents� views on safety and other issues relating to the local streetscape.
• PACT has been involved in discussions on improving safety in Norfolk Street, focusing particularly on traffic issues outside St Matthew's School.
• PACT has been involved in consultations on proposed traffic measures affecting pedestrians and cyclists on Coldham�s Lane.

Vandalism, Safety & Homelessness

• PACT repeatedly contacted the City Council, Post Office, and the Cable company and succeeded in having graffiti removed from properties belonging to private residents, the Council and other bodies.
• PACT distributed to 2,000 Petersfield homes copies of a City Council card that explained how to report and request the free removal by the City Council of graffiti.
• PACT has continued to exert pressure on the City Council to take positive steps to address issues arising from the �drinking clubs� occupying the dwindling number of local benches.

Communication

• PACT produced a 3rd issue of IMPACT in 8 stunning pages, and distributed 3,000 free copies to Petersfield homes.
• PACT produced a free advice leaflet with information on sources of help in addressing a wide range of problems, thanks to a grant from the Community Development fund; this was distributed to 3,000 Petersfield homes.
• PACT has been interviewed by Dave Aarons of Radio Cambridgeshire, exploring PACT's key issues and activities.
• PACT members design, create and distribute PACT leaflets, posters & newsletters.
• PACT members display our posters in their windows, to promote PACT events.
• PACT�s website (www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/forum/pact) has developed and flourished.

And Last But Not Least...

• PACT has held dozens of 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 its key activities, and would like to explore possibilities offered by the Community Champions Fund which is intended to support local initiatives.

We look forward to another year of vigorous and constructive local community action. Fresh faces are always welcome in PACT, on its working parties and on its management committee.

Valerie Neal (PACT Chair, November 2001)