You Said - We‟re Doing

Neighbourhood Governance programme progress report

This report gives an overview of progress with addressing the top community priorities for Area Central as agreed by local people, Councillors and partners through the „Your Say, Your Way‟ programme.

It also covers area updates on priorities under the keys themes of stronger & safer communities, health & wellbeing and environment & economy.

Central Area Board Meeting Title 14th October 2012 Date Councillor Tahir Khan Name of Chair Marek Lubelski Reporting

Officer Updates on Local Community Priorities

Blundell Rd Recreation Ground - A Hidden Gem Work to support a design review for the Recreation Ground began in May at Saints Community Festival where we gathered important feedback from local people. Many didn‟t know that the recreation ground was there due to the absence of signage. Others (particularly teenagers) said that the area was perceived as unsafe.

Improvements are difficult to achieve in the current financial climate, but LBC Parks Service have already responded by painting the entrance gates and fencing and filling potholes in the paths. We plan to introduce some allotment provision, and to encourage wider community use to promote fitness when funding becomes available.

New play facilities will be hardest to achieve, as this will require significant external funding. The support of local people can be crucial, Improving High and we are looking to work with anyone. interested in the neighbourhood to take Town Road this forward. Local businesses, community groups Countryside Access and ward councillors have come together LBC Planning are working with local charity to champion Groundwork to develop a plan for access and improvements and improvements to the open space in, and develop High Town countryside close to, Barnfield and parts of road as a shopping Icknield wards. venue. The group has been bidding for funding and is hopeful Research is underway with key stakeholders, that it will soon be in a position to offer up to £20K to and there is an opportunity for further community support a number of projects to enhance the consultation at an event where our initial environment and creativity already present on High suggestions will be on display for viewing and Town road. Anyone interested in getting involved can comment at the Bushmead Christmas Festival on find out more by attending the Decision Day in Saturday 1st December. November (see following page).

The target date for recommendations on taking They have also canvassed shop keeper opinion, and this forward is February 2013. are about to begin working with a representative of business in the community to draw in further support for our high street.

Better heath promotion and local NHS services The new NHS commissioning body for , Luton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), has begun a programme to improve the quality of general practice in Luton. A number of practices in the central area have been prioritised to receive additional support from CCG doctor leaders to improve the following: Add generic NHS image The ease in which patients can see their GP Screening and early intervention for conditions (such as diabetes, cancer and coronary heart disease) The ability of practices to support patients with long term conditions such as diabetes and lung disease

Stronger & Safer Communities

National Citizens Service (NCS) Add generic Beds Police Young people were involved in image highly successful 'Social Action' Projects in Barnfield and Saints, supported by the Community Development Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour in High Town Service (CDS) and Cultural Over the summer have recently been group is being formed AtTrust. Bushmead they helped run Police ran reorganized, and to address the issue community workshops to four “Operation Turtles” are now looking at from a number of design and paint 2 large to clamp down on kerb how to plan these angles, and PCSOs murals with an environmental crawlers. A total of eight operations into will be available in theme, which are now going to people were stopped business as normal High Town to speak be erected outside the and detained, and five and get assistance to residents at local community centre. admitted the offence from the wider drop in sessions. and agreed to be force. The Saints project saw young conditionally cautioned. A new partnership people running activities to Local Police Teams problem solving support a local group that gives support to disabled children, their families and Summer activities for Both Summer schools provided carers. educational and recreational young people activities, including anti-bullying Update on Burglary in LBC‟s Prevention and Early and community cohesion Intervention Team commissioned workshops. Saints two summer programmes for young people aged 13 to 19, one at Local residents in Saints can be Crescent Summer School and the reassured about issues raised other at Mitalee. about burglary. Year on year comparison shows that levels of 133 young people accessed the recorded burglary have decreased Crescent Summer School by 39.5% in Saints, and 23.1% in programme at the Centre for Youth South Saints since April 2011. and Community Development, and Levels are regularly monitored so 300 young people at Mitalee any rise will be quickly recognised Summer School. and addressed.

Food Drive Upcoming community activities & events Volunteers and Council officers, Saturday 17th November 2012 – High Town Decision Day – at working in partnership with High Town Methodist Church 11.a.m. – 2.00 p.m. for local people Discover Islam and Age UK, voting on which projects they want to see funded, and the best helped to run a food drive to ideas for improving the high street. help feed the 240 households Saturday 24th November 2012 – Decision Day – at below the poverty line in Luton. Denbigh High School 1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. for local people voting Over 5,500 items were donated on which projects they want to see funded by members of the public. The Council is currently Seasonal events – there will be many events and activities taking supporting the development of a place at our Community Centres in December (for all ages) Foodbank for Luton to address including fayres, parties for older and younger people and also the this major issue. chance to get children involved in the town‟s annual lantern parade.

Health & Wellbeing

Health and Well Being Community Events Community based health promotion has been proving successful in Central wards. A youth event was organised by the Bushmead Residents Association on Saturday 22nd September 2012, with funding from the „Your Say, Your Way‟ programme, attracting over 70 young people and encouraged healthy and active living as well as promoting community cohesion through a range of activities including badminton, basketball, table tennis, football coaching (by the 2 PCSOs), kwik-cricket, air hockey as well as a healthy buffet. At another event attended by around 50 people which took place at Saints Community Centre on 4th October celebrating Older People‟s day (1st October) and the full of life month of October, NHS Health

Trainers performed mini Health MOT‟s checking for Diabetes, weight management, support for stop

smoking, as well as advice and information stands, games and healthy refreshments.

Service Updates More Health Checks through local GPs

Health Trainers are promoting health messages specifically for An NHS Health Check helps to

the African Caribbean community identify your risk of developing

during Black History Month, e.g. heart disease, stroke, diabetes sickle cell, blood pressure, and kidney disease at an early stage so that you can take However, LBC Public Health are diabetes and prostate cancer. action to prevent these working with Luton Clinical Call 01582 557 266. conditions. Commissioning Group (LCCG) A new free Healthy Asian Everyone aged between 40-74 to encourage GP practices in Cooking Club is running at Beech who has not already been Biscot to invite more of their hill Children Centre Tuesday 1- diagnosed with one of these patients to have a check. Public Health are also looking into 3pm and Hatters Children Centre conditions can have a Health Check through their GP. using community venues to offer Wednesday 9.30-11.30am. As of the end of August, GP NHS Health Checks to residents Classes are free to attend. Call Practices in Biscot had who do not access them through 01582 707 400. between them only delivered their GP, while Health Trainers just over 20% of their target have actively been promoting Health Checks across the ward Heath Checks.

Stop Smoking Improving access to sports facilities Stop Smoking Services are now available at Community Following on from 4 introductory Centre 10 – 1pm every Monday. sessions for young people held in the The Advisor can speak Urdu and summer through the community Bengali to access this service call centre, community access to the 01582 548433. The service can Multi Use Games Area at Bushmead provide Nicotine Replacement Primary School will be improved by:

Therapy (e.g. patches) for free for those that don‟t pay for organised sports sessions planned for Tuesday and Thursday mornings during October half term prescription or prescription cost for weekly Saturday morning sessions from 3rd those that do pay for prescriptions. November to 15th December (all 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.)

Environment & Economy

New Local Plan Moves Ahead The Borough Council Local Plan process is underway, and initial research on Neighbourhood and District Centres has collated site development opportunities including potential opportunities in High Town to encourage a mixed use approach (employment, housing and green space).

The Local Plan will include a chapter on Neighbourhood & District

Centres. This will set out the strategic approach to development which will

in turn shape and be shaped by any proposed Neighbourhood Plan

process. We anticipate that more detailed with local residents and

stakeholders on Neighbourhood Centres will begin in (TBC).

New courses for residents NEET Support The level of young people not in education, employment or The Council‟s Luton Adult Learning service has unveiled a new look training (NEET) is below the to coincide with an increase in the range of courses and learning town‟s target in the 4 wards opportunities on offer, falling into distinct learning strands - „business in the central neighbourhood. and skills‟, „community learning‟ and „leisure learning. Just 5.5% of young people aged 13 to 19 are NEET The „business and skills‟ strand includes apprenticeships, while the whereas the target for the „community learning‟ strand includes ESOL for living in the UK and town is 6.5%. confidence building with English and Maths and also a range of Young people in Central community information workshops including preparing for retirement, Neighbourhood are able to affordable warmth, money management, democracy and volunteering. access intensive information, advice and guidance on an „Leisure Learning‟ courses are aimed at people looking for a bit of fun ongoing, one to one basis and relaxation, or as a new hobby including floristry/flower arranging, either at the town centre drop various arts and crafts, health and beauty, hair care, fashion, in centre or in the community dressmaking, stitched textiles, food studies, computing, foreign through their Personal languages, recreation and exercise. Adviser. The Drop In Centre also offers interview practice For more information visit www.lutonacl.ac.uk or call 01582 49 00 33. sessions.

Improving Traffic in Biscot The Council‟s Civil Enforcement Officers are deployed to Bury Park and the Dunstable Road area on a daily basis. The level of enforcement is comparatively high, with 349 visits and 119 notices issues in Sept 2012 on Dunstable Rd.

New Traffic Signals installed at Birch Link will be more efficient with better vehicle detection and computer control, and on Dunstable Road/ Lincoln Road we have extended the no waiting at anytime restriction further into Lincoln Road and away from the junction and the school, thereby helping to ease congestion, subject to successful enforcement.

Construction of the Busway should be complete by late Jan/early Feb 2013, with services due to start running from May 2013. New routes have been agreed with both Arriva and Centrebus with Real Time Passenger Information, and they have purchased vehicles together with smartcard enabled ticket machines. It is envisaged that the new Busway should help to relieve through traffic on Dunstable Rd.

'Your Say, Your Way' ..in Central Luton

Your Local Councillors

Barnfield

Cllr Rachel Hopkins [email protected] Cllr Martin Pantling [email protected] Councillor Surgeries – Second Saturday of every month 10:30am – 12pm - Bushmead Community Centre, Hancock Drive

Biscot

Cllr Mohammed Ayub [email protected] Cllr Naseem Ayub [email protected] Cllr Tahir Khan [email protected] Councillor Surgeries – First and last Saturday of every month 10am - 12pm – Bury Park Community Resource Centre, 161 Dunstable Road

High Town

Cllr Andrew Malcolm [email protected] Cllr Roxanna Whittaker [email protected] Councillor Surgeries - Every Thursday 10am – 11am – High Town Community Centre, Concorde Street

Saints

Cllr Asma Rathore [email protected] Cllr Mohammed Riaz [email protected] Cllr Raja Mohammed Saleem [email protected] Councillor Surgeries - Last Saturday of every month 10am – 12pm – Saints Community Centre, Solway Road North

For further information on this report Central Luton Policing Team or the ‘Your Say, Your Way’

Luton Police Station, Buxton Road, programme please call Community Luton, LU1 1SD Development Service on 01582 54 87 79 or email: email: LPT.Luton- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.bedfordshire.police.uk Or visit www.luton.gov.uk/neighbourhood