St Neots Area Neighbourhood Forum Agenda

ST NEOTS AREA NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM

A G E N D A

MONDAY, 11 APRIL 2011 - 7:00 PM

THE GUEST HALL, THE PRIORY CENTRE, ST NEOTS

Time Allocation

1. WELCOME BY CHAIRMAN 5 minutes

2. NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 25TH JANUARY 2011 5 minutes (Pages 1 - 10)

3. ST NEOTS AREA NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM PROGRESS 10 minutes REPORT (Pages 11 - 12)

4. NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING PROFILE

Presentation from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team on the 15 minutes policing profile for the neighbourhood (January – March 2011).

5. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

A short presentation from Darryl McMurray, Youth Service Locality 10 minutes Co-ordinator, regarding his work in the St Neots area.

6. BUDGET UPDATE CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

To receive an update on the budgetary savings being made by 10 minutes Cambridgeshire County Council – Councillor Ms C Hutton.

7. BUDGET UPDATE HUNTINGDONSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

To receive an update on the budgetary savings being made by 10 minutes Huntingdonshire District Council - Councillor T V Rogers, Executive Councillor for Finance and Customer Services.

8. NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT IN EYNESBURY

Presentation by Alan Haines, Community Services Manager, the 15 minutes Luminus Group.

9. OTHER NEIGHBOURHOOD ISSUES

Covering the Parishes of Abbotsley, Buckden, Covington, Diddington, Great Gransden, Great Paxton, Great Staughton, Hail Weston, Kimbolton and Stoneley, Little Paxton, Offord Cluny, Offord Darcy, Southoe & Midloe, St Neots, Tetworth, Tilbrook, Toseland, Waresley-cum-Tetworth and Yelling.

An opportunity for those present to raise any issues of local concern 15 minutes in the neighbourhood.

10. PANEL PRIORITISATION

The Panel to:- 5 minutes

• Prioritise issues emerging from the forum; and • Allocate responsibility where necessary to ensure that issues raised in the forum are dealt with by the appropriate organisation.

11. FUTURE ITEMS

An opportunity for those present to raise issues for inclusion on the 5 minutes Agenda for future meetings.

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

th 25 July 2011 – Great Gransden Reading Room

13. CURRENT CONSULTATIONS

th Make sure you can vote in the District Council Elections on 5 May 2011.

Anyone who has moved house in the past few months needs to

register their new address on the District’s Register of Electorsth in order to be able to vote in the District Council’s Elections on 5 May 2011. Registration forms are available on the Council’s website

www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/registerth , all applications must be received by Thursday 14 April 2011.

Postal votes and proxy requests

Postal vote applications for the elections in May must be received by 5pm on Thursday 14 April 2011, and proxy requests by 5pm on Thursday 21 April 2011, forms can be downloaded from www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/postal and www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/proxy

Bag a bargain at Wear it, Love it, Share it!

A festival of fashion bargains comes to Winhills School, St Neots from 12pm on Saturday 7 May.

The Wear It, Love It, Share It campaign gives you the chance to pick up second hand fashion bargains, enjoy fashion shows, and be pampered with a range of treatments. You can even learn some easy ways to spruce up your wardrobe just in time for the summer.

Your kids can also enjoy the day with fun workshops, a treasure hunt and face painting.

Organised by local councils and charities, entry is free. There are also great prizes up for grabs for coming along, and more if you bring your unwanted clothes with you to donate.

To check details go to www.recap.co.uk/wearit

If you love clothes, wear them then share them!

Please contact Ms Christine Deller, Democratic Services Manager, Tel No: (01480) 388007 / email: [email protected] if you have a general query on any Agenda Item, wish to tender your apologies for absence from the meeting, or would like information on any decision taken by the Forum.

Agenda and enclosures can be viewed on the District Council’s website – www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk (under Councils and Democracy).

If you would like a translation of Agenda/Minutes/Reports or would like a large text version or an audio version please contact the Democratic Services Manager and we will try to accommodate your needs.

Emergency Procedure

In the event of the fire alarm being sounded and on the instruction of the Meeting Administrator, all attendees are requested to vacate the building via the closest emergency exit.

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ST NEOTS NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

EATONS MAIN HALL, EATONS COMMUNITY CENTRE, ST NEOTS

PRESENT: Councillor G S E Thorpe - Vice-Chairman (St. Neots Town Council) in the Chair

Panel

Mr P Chatterton - Luminus

Mr R Dykes - Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Inspector M Greenhalgh - Cambridgeshire Constabulary Councillor I Wilkie - Hail Weston Parish Council

Forum 52 members of other authorities, organisations and the public

ACTION 1. WELCOME BY CHAIRMAN

Councillor G S E Thorpe, Vice-Chairman of the Forum welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 25TH OCTOBER 2010

The Notes of the meeting held on 25th October 2010 were agreed as a correct record.

3. ST NEOTS NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM PROGRESS REPORT

Further to concerns expressed at the previous meeting Cambs County by the local district and parish councillors, it was noted

1 that County Council had offered to meet local representatives on site to look at the options available to improve the safety of small children on Meadow Road, Great Gransden. On behalf of local Members, the Vice-Chairman thanked Inspector Greenhalgh for his assistance in arranging a safety inspection of the Cambs Constab site. Having observed that other outstanding issues – to note would be discussed later in the evening, the remainder of the progress report was noted.

4. CAMBRIDGESHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY - "YOUR POLICE FORCE"

With the assistance of a power point presentation, Mr J Pye, a Member of Cambridgeshire Police Authority, invited the Forum to help identify policing priorities for 2011/2012 which would allow the authority to agree a budget sufficient to enable delivery of services within the resources available.

As background, Mr Pye advised the Forum that £131.4m would be spent on policing in 2011/12, a sum of £171 per person and that there would be no increase in the policing element of the council tax in that year. He added that the authority had critically examined their operations and would be reducing unnecessary bureaucracy to work more closely with partners. This would include a trial appointments system in local police stations to respond to routine matters.

Following questions about the perceived lack of policing of rural and cross-border crime and on the areas of the Constabulary where staff reductions would be targeted, Mr Pye replied that all sectors of the Cambridgeshire Police Force had been asked to achieve savings but that the Authority hoped to ensure that areas of priority policing would be protected.

Those present were encouraged to complete a short questionnaire which would assist in setting priorities for2011/12.

5. NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING PROFILE

Inspector M Greenhalgh introduced himself to the Forum as the Senior Inspector for the area and gave a presentation on the work of the Neighbourhood Policing Team and the October – December 2010 profile for the St. Neots and Eynesbury sectors.

(Copies of the presentation were circulated at the meeting).

In terms of the priority to reduce shoplifting in St Neots town centre, Inspector Greenhalgh reported that his team had achieved a detection rate of 52% as a result

2 of high visibility and plain clothed patrols and by working in partnership with shops and businesses to identify key targets. The Team also had developed a pro-forma statement to enable incidents of shoplifting to be recorded consistently.

To seek to combat under-aged drinking and anti-social behaviour in the Riverside Park, St. Neots, the Team had worked with young people and parents to assist them in making lifestyle choices. Evidence had suggested that both parents and other adults were purchasing alcohol on behalf of young people, the latter in return for cash. Use had been made of guardian awareness programme letters and key offenders had been escorted home, with both measures appearing to have made an impact. Lastly, the Inspector reported that consideration was being given to designating the Riverside Park as an area where alcohol could be confiscated, given that the main offenders appeared to be over 18 years old.

Regarding the crime statistics for the quarter, the Inspector was disappointed to report that there had been a 3.3% increase in total crime over the corresponding period in 2009. Vehicle crime also had increased by 35.7% due, in the Inspector’s view, to the tendency of car owners to leave lap tops, sat navs and handbags on display period. A reduction in burglary offences was attributed to the imprisonment of key offenders.

Although recording an overall decrease in the incidents of anti-social behaviour, it was reported that there had been a slight rise in the Eynesbury and Eaton Socon areas and further research had revealed that 25 of the 28 occurences of anti social behaviour in Eynesbury related to a neighbour dispute at one particular address.

In terms of the successes recorded by the Team over the quarter, the Inspector announced that a serial offender for burglary and thefts had been imprisoned for 18 months and he summarised the sentences administered in other cases which had been solved in the area.

As a result of issues raised at the previous meeting, the Inspector reported that speed surveys had been undertaken in Great Staughton, Stonely and Kimbolton and that in two sessions in December of two and a half hours duration, a total of 75 offences had been committed.

In response to a question, Inspector Greenhalgh confirmed that shortwave radios were used by shops and businesses in St. Neots under the shop watch scheme.

6. RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY

Mr P. Bland, Planning Service Manager (Policy) at the District Council updated the Forum on the current national, regional and local policies on renewable energy and the approach which would be taken by the District Council in the assessment of future windfarm applications.

In response to a question from Mr B Gray, Chairman of the Cotton Farm Action Group, Mr Bland expressed the view that the Council’s SPD on windpower, published in 2006, was sufficiently sound basis to help determine future applications and that it would not be in need of review until 2012.

Having welcomed the recent decision by the District Council to refuse an application for four wind turbines on Bicton Industrial Park, Kimbolton, Mr M Pattison expressed his concern that a local planning decision could be overturned by the Planning Inspectorate which, in his view, contrary to his understanding of the Government’s ‘Big Society’ initiative which suggested that planning decisions should be made locally. He added that subsidies received by energy companies should be used to mitigate the impact of wind farms on local communities and that a 2km exclusion zone should be introduced to protect domestic properties from wind farm developments.

In answer to a question, Mr Bland informed the meeting that the report by the Head of Planning Services submitted to the last meeting of the District Council’s Development Management Panel had addressed the overall benefits of windfarm development but that every application received would continue to be assessed on its own merits against national, regional and local policy. In response to further questions, Mr Bland replied that it was the Government’s view that windfarms generated an acceptable form of energy, that it was the duty of a local planning authority to deal with applications submitted, that the Council had been proactive in producing a Windpower SPD which was not the case in other areas and that the District Council had officers with sufficient expertise to consider the applications submitted.

7. ST NEOTS EASTERN EXPANSION

Mr P. Bland, Planning Service Manager (Policy) informed the Forum that the District Council had published an Urban Design Framework (UDF) for the eastern expansion of St. Neots. He explained that a UDF described the main planning and design issues that developers would be required to address to deliver

4 a sustainable urban extension to the town. A power point presentation illustrated that the urban extension would provide, over a period of 10 – 15 years, 5,000 new dwellings plus associated community facilities and services such as schools, shops, recreation areas and open space as well as 25 hectares of employment land. The development also would secure improvements to the town’s secondary schools and links to the town itself. Mention was made of the potential to link parts of the new development to combined heat and power from excess capacity at Little Barford Power Station. Having also described proposals for Cambridge Street, Mr Bland concluded by anticipating that the first planning applications for the site would be received in late 2011.

In terms of the impact on the town centre, Mr Bland suggested that the views of the Forum would be invited at a future meeting on proposals for the centre of town.

In response to questions, Mr Bland confirmed that development would be controlled by conditions, that discussions on the removal of an electricity pylon on the site were ongoing, that the location of the new schools/community centres would be subject to further discussion, that cycle and footpath links to Eynesbury would be secured by condition, that the Core Strategy and UDF would form the basis for the determination of the development applications and would preclude use of the employment land for other purposes.

Councillor Seabrook of Kimbolton Parish Council was of the view that the District Council should be developing market towns and not greenfield sites and that no account appeared to be given to the adequacy of the A428 and the effect of the eastern expansion on the east/west road network.

Whilst the A428 was part of the Government’s proposed highway improvements, Mr Bland acknowledged that there was no indication when this scheme might come forward and the impact of the development on local highways would be a material planning consideration. In response to a further question, Mr Bland stated that there was a demand for housing for younger families in the St. Neots area and that the quality of life, employment opportunities and economic conditions prevalent locally attracted people to move into the District.

In response to the suggestion that existing drainage problems in the town centre would be exacerbated by run as part of the run-off from the new extension, Mr Bland confirmed that the Environment Agency would seek to resolve any issues in this respect as part of the development application process. Lastly, attention was drawn to the need to address air quality both in

5 the town centre and as part of the new development.

8. CONNECT2 PROJECT

Mr R Wilson, Area Manager for Cambridgeshire SUSTRANS described aspects of the “Connect 2” project for a new foot and cycle bridge connecting Eaton Socon with Eynesbury and the associated network of footpath and cycle links. He anticipated that the bridge would be ready for use by the commencement of the Autumn term 2011. In terms of engagement with the community, Mr Wilson explained that local residents would be invited to make suggestions both for the naming of the bridge and for the selection of three local personalities who would be replicated as life size features around a “portrait bench”.

In commending the project and the benefit it would bring to St. Neots, Councillor J A Gray asked SUSTRANS to consider also the cycleway links in the Kimbolton area and surrounding villages.

9. COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH SERVICES AND THE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Dr D. Vickers delivered a presentation to the Forum on proposals by the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust to become an NHS Foundation Trust. A consultation exercise on the proposals was currently being undertaken and would conclude on 30th March 2011. Dr Vickers encouraged those present to consider becoming Members and Governors of the proposed Trust and a summary of the proposals was distributed at the meeting inviting comments from the public.

As part of the presentation, the Forum was advised of the role and services provided by the existing NHS Trust and the reasons why it was seeking foundation trust status at the present time. Details of the proposed vision and priorities were provided together with proposals for the future operation of the trust. It was anticipated that the NHS foundation trust would commence in May 2012 subject to approval from the Secretary of State which was anticipated in October 2011.

Following the presentation, Dr Vickers responded to questions and confirmed that the proposals had arisen following a review by the Government into the organisation of the NHS, that the services provided by the Trust to GPs would include District Nurses and Health Visitors, that approximately £8,000 was being spent on the consultation exercise and that the community would benefit from the changes by having a greater say in the future of service delivery and the

6 setting of priorities locally.

10. CAMBRIDGESHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

Mr R. Dykes, Station Manager at St. Neots Fire Station introduced himself to the Forum and gave an update on the number of accidental fires which had occurred in his operational area in the past year (43). He added that it was the objective of the service to reduce fire risk by promoting safer practices by visits to schools and community groups. In addition, Mr Dykes indicated that the service targeted those homes where fire checks were most needed which had resulted in 124 visits in Eynesbury alone. He added that fires usually occurred when cooking taking place, from faulty equipment and through negligence in managing heat sources. Those present were invited to contact the service if they were aware of any group or organisation that would benefit from fire awareness sessions.

Mr Dykes reported that there had been 11 incidents of suspected arson in the Forum area and that sessions were held at schools to seek to di scourage hoax calls. As part of the Government’s austerity measures, consideration also was being given to the level of service to be provided in the future and the Forum was requested to engage with the service to ensure that essential areas were protected.

On behalf of residents in his ward, Councillor J A Gray thanked Mr Dykes for the support of the fire service but expressed concern at the effect on the villages of Bythorn, Keyston and Tilbrook if the retained fire station at Kimbolton were to close. Similarly, and given the proposed expansion to the east of St. Neots and its location between two major trunk roads, concern was expressed about a growing demand for fire appliances rather than less. Comment also was made on the vulnerability of property in rural areas and in particular those close to the County boundary with Gamlingay. Mr Dykes assured the Forum that it would remain the objective of the fire service to respond to emergency calls within 20 minutes and that all calls were treated as emergency wherever their location.

11. OTHER NEIGHBOURHOOD ISSUES

Attention was drawn to the impact of displacement County & parking on residential streets due to the decision of the District Councils District Council to charge for car parking at St. Neots Riverside Park. It was alleged that access to and from the car park was now impeded by parked cars and the volume of parked cars in The Paddock prevented access for refuse and emergency vehicles. Inspector Greenhalgh undertook to investigate with highways officers from the County Council.

On a similar subject, questions were asked about the reduced use of the Riverside Car Park since the introduction of charging and the impact this might have on the economic vitality of St. Neots and on the income levels anticipated from the car park itself.

Having regard to the potential budget cuts at Huntingdonshire District and Cambridgeshire County Councils, a question arose as to the impact of service reductions in the St. Neots area. Although it was premature to anticipate the final outcome of budgetary decisions at either authority, the Forum asked that a report on the effect of any reduction in services in the area be submitted to the next meeting.

A representative from Southoe and Midloe Parish Council asked for police support in discouraging car drivers from attempting to undertake u-turns on the section of the A1 close to the villages. Accidents at this location sometimes resulted in residents experiencing difficulty in leaving the village as roads became gridlocked in the area. Inspector Greenhalgh undertook to advise the traffic police and to report on Cambs Constab their response to the next meeting.

Inspector Greenhalgh also agreed to contact the site manager over the question of nuisance parking by Cambs Constab contractor traffic in Chamberlain Way, St. Neots, close to Tesco Extra.

In response to a question, the District Council’s Head of Democratic & Central Services explained the circumstances in which the District Council as opposed to a local parish council was required to meet the cost of closed church yards.

12. PANEL PRIORITISATION

The Panel agreed the following policing priorities for Cambs Constab the three months to April 2011 –

1. St. Neots Priory Park, Market Square/High Street - night time economy;

2. Speeding in rural villages - Great Staughton, Stonely and Kimbolton; and

3. Anti-social use of vehicles - A428.

13. FUTURE ITEMS

• The impact of budgetary decisions by Cambs Huntingdonshire District and Cambridgeshire County/District County Councils on St. Neots Area; Councils • Neighbourhood management in Eynesbury; Luminus • Update on the Localism Bill; District Council

8 • Proposed Local GP consortia - July meeting; NHS • Community Alcohol Project CAP - July meeting; District Council Licensing Team

14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

11th April 2011 at 7pm in the Priory Centre, St. Neots.

15. CURRENT CONSULTATIONS

The Forum noted that the Census 2011 would take place on Sunday 27th March 2011.

The meeting ended at 9.35pm.

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10 ST NEOTS NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM ISSUES RAISED AT FORUM MEETINGS – PROGRESS REPORT

FORUM DATE TASK RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY/ AGENCY RESPONSE & ACTION th 25 January Impact of displacement parking on Inspector Greenhalgh to investigate with Officers at the County Council are having an 2011 residential streets due to the highways officers from the County ongoing dialogue with officers at the District decision of the District Council to Council. Council regarding possible solutions. The charge for car parking at St Neots County Council does not, however, possess Riverside Park. Access to and from any financial resources to undertake any the car park impeded by parked measures. cars and the volume of parked cars in the Paddock prevented access for refuse and emergency vehicles. Car drivers attempting to undertake Inspector Greenhalgh to advise the Update via policing profile report u-turns on the section of the A1 traffic police. close to villages of Southoe and Midloe – resulting in a number of

11 accidents. Nuisance parking by Contractor Those affected advised to contact the Update via policing profile report traffic in Chamberlain Way, St site. Neots, close to Tesco Extra. St Neots Priory Park, Market NPT – identified as policing priority for Update via policing profile report Square/High Street – night time the quarter to March 2011. economy. Speeding in rural villages – Great NPT – identified as policing priority for Update via policing profile report Staughton, Stonely and Kimbolton the quarter to March 2011.

Anti-social use of vehicles – A428 NPT – identified as policing priority for Update via policing profile report Agenda Item3 the quarter to March 2011.

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