What is a Community Assembly?

Community Assemblies aim to give local people ‘voice and choice’. They work with the Council and other agencies like the Police and the NHS to make real changes to the daily lives of local people and extend local democracy making sure the community have their say.

There are 7 Community Assemblies in and each one is run by 12 local Councillors with support from officers from Sheffield City Council. Each Community Assembly has a small dedicated budget to spend on boosting the local services deemed important by local people and also has the power to influence the way the hundreds of millions of pounds that public agencies spend in each Community Assembly area. The intention of the Assembly is to improve the quality of life and lift the aspirations of local people. The Assembly has the power to scrutinise the quality of service being provided in the area and hold those responsible for services to account.

Each Community Assembly produces an annual Community Plan in consultation with local people. The Plan will make some promises to residents that local Councillors will be responsible for delivering.

This is the summary Community Assembly Plan for North East Community Assembly

What Does the North East Community Assembly Area Look Like?

North East CA includes the electoral wards of Southey, , Shiregreen/ Brightside and . The boundary of the area forms a heart shape stretching to the north west along the railway line from Arches to Carr, over Foxhill Edge to Parson Cross, and along Hartley Brook to the M1 and Meadowhall in the north east, returning south west along the railway line to the Wicker .

The area is made up of many distinct and diverse neighbourhoods. It takes in the large Northern General Hospital site and district centres at Firth Park, Chaucer and Spital Hill.

At 92,000 plus, the North East area has by far the largest population of all of the Community Assemblies. The proportion of children and young people is high, especially in Burngreave ward, with fewer older people over 80, particularly in Shiregreen & Brightside ward. The population is growing at a much faster rate than the city average. Household size is the largest in the CA areas.

The 2001 Census showed that the North East area has the highest proportion of black or minority ethnic (BME) people in the city, at almost 17%.

The North East Assembly faces very difficult challenges. All four wards have high levels of overall deprivation and in parts of Firth Park and Southey wards poverty has worsened, against the city trend.

Community Assembly Plan - Summary 2009 & 2010

Recent regeneration programmes have targeted communities within the area including Burngreave New Deal for Communities, Southey/ regeneration [SOAR], and East and North Housing Market Renewal schemes.

Key Issues for the Area

In 2006, the council asked over 10,000 people in Sheffield “what most needed improving in their area, including over 1400 in North East CA. The responses from people living in the North East CA area overwhelming showed the following issues were raised as a top priority in almost every neighbourhood: • level of crime, • road and pavement repairs • clean streets • facilities for children and teenagers

Other top neighbourhood priorities were traffic congestion (Brightside, Fir Vale and Firth Park), public transport (Brightside, Wincobank, Shiregreen, Parson Cross and Foxhill), affordable housing (Shiregreen), and better shopping facilities (Abbeyfield, Firshill and Woodside)

In 2008 over 1500 people across Sheffield were asked the same question by the Council. The responses from 178 people in the NE CA confirmed priorities in the earlier survey: level of crime, clean streets, road and pavement repairs, affordable decent housing, public transport and activities for teenagers.

North East Community Assembly Consultation

Over the past 6 months the North East Assembly has been involved in an extensive consultation exercise asking people from across the area for their suggestions and priorities for local issues affecting their community. Firstly the elected members were asked to volunteer 'hot issues' which have been raised by their electorate at meetings, surgeries, via the post, through telephone calls, e- mails etc within their respective wards. Then over the summer months our Communications Bus was used at festivals In , Firth Park, Fir Vale, Parson Cross Park and twice on Shiregreen, which together with a postcard survey carried out in Brightside/Shiregreen, resulted in nearly 1000 suggestions from residents giving their views and opinions on how they would like the area to develop. This was then followed up with separate public meetings in the 4 ward areas to present the findings of the consultation.

The result of this consultation reflected the same top 4 priorities as the city wide 2008 survey (level of crime, road and pavement repairs, clean streets and the activities for children and young people) but put more emphasis on the need for improved parks and green spaces, and to the importance of community organisations and people getting on together.

It also raised some useful suggestions about local issues, such as the lack of recycling facilities in Brightside/Grimesthorpe, the high incidence of anti social behaviour in parks in Southey ward and Parson Cross, spoiled grass verges in

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Shiregreen, problems with overgrown street trees in Firth Park and parts of Burngreave and air quality issues in Shirecliffe, Fir Vale and Wincobank.

Also by talking to our Partners within the City Council, NHS Sheffield and the Police and examining their statistics we agreed on other issues that we need to address:

• The number of people in the North East CA who are satisfied with their local area as a place to live, and with the way the Council runs things, is well below average.

• People die younger and have poorer health in the North East CA area than in the rest of the city

• Despite some significant improvements in Burngreave and Shiregreen/Brightside wards, all wards in the North East assembly are below the Sheffield average for GCSE attainment (with Firth Park ward the lowest)

• Nearly a third of the young people aged 16 – 19 who are not in employment, education or training [NEETs] live in the NECA area

• Rates of fly-tipping in the NECA area are the worst in the city

• The area has most of the worst grass verges in the city

• Fir Vale has one of the lowest environmental quality scores in the country

• Burngreave Ward experienced more than twice the Sheffield average for serious road accidents

• The area has higher incidents of antisocial behaviour than the Sheffield average. Incidents peak in the season July-September.

• The number of people claiming job seekers allowance has risen sharply, even in better off neighbourhoods.

The North East CA has logged and considered all these issues. This year’s action plan sets out where the Assembly councillors and partner agencies think it is possible for them to bring about some real change in the next 18 months. Every issue you raise with us matters – please continue to let us know what you think needs improving in your area.

Priorities for 2009 and 2010

The Community Assembly will work with public agencies on all of the issues discussed above and new issues will no doubt come up during the year ahead. However, the Community Assembly has identified some particular priorities for change for the next 18 months. Local Councillors have agreed that focusing on these priorities will make the most difference to the daily lives of people in the 3 Community Assembly Plan - Summary 2009 & 2010 assembly area. Some of the real things which the Assembly can do will target more than one priority e.g. providing positive activities for children should improve their health and reduce the incidence of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Clean, tidy, greener ‘streets to be proud of’

Improved parks and open spaces

Community support and people getting on together

More things for children and young people to do

Neighbourhoods where people feel safe

Improved roads and transport

Improve local housing

Reducing health inequalities: adding years to life and life to years

Getting people into work and out of poverty

Build on improvements in educational attainment, improve aspiration, and reduce school exclusions

These priorities will inform where the Assembly spends its money and time in the next 18 months. There are some immediate changes which the Assembly can make. Others will require more negotiation and investigation with partner agencies, existing local networks and organisations. Some will require the Assembly to use its influence to lobby for change in Council policy or service delivery.

Real Changes we will deliver in 2009 and 2010

Priority 1: Clean, tidy, greener ‘streets to be proud of’

Cleaner Streets Across all wards we will  fund our own Street Force Neighbourhood Environment Action Team to tackle grot spots  fund extra Bring Out Your Rubbish days  set aside funding for action on fly-tipping hot spots  look at changing street cleaning schedules, in the light of problem areas you have told us about  extend and publicise the annual gully cleaning programme  repaint railings at key shopping centre sites

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In specific wards we will

Negotiate with Rail Track to clear fly-tipping along the Shiregreen/Brightside railway embankments on the Meadowhall line find a new site for a Bring It recycling facility in Shiregreen/Brightside Brightside and Grimesthorpe continue to fund extra street cleaners Shiregreen/Brightside

Firth Park continue to fund the Street Champions project Burngreave extend the Garden Pledge scheme to cover additional Burngreave householders

Build on the good practice developed by the Liveability Southey project

Greener Streets Across all wards we will  fund a range of floral features on roads and roundabouts  ask for your suggestions on sites for community bulb planting  ensure the area gains the benefit of increased tree cover but manages some of the problems of overgrown trees

In specific wards we will work with the Shiregreen Streetscene project to tackle Shiregreen/Brightside problems of grass verges and highways trees talk to Sanctuary Housing about tackling the problem of Shiregreen/Brightside overgrown hedges and untidy gardens on Shiregreen estate develop a plan to resolve problem grass verges on two Firth Park of the worst sites build on the success of the Firth Park In Bloom project Firth Park extend the Communities In Bloom project to Shirecliffe/ Burngreave Carwood/ Wensley/ Norwood & Bishopholme fund extra street floral features on Shirecliffe Rd Burngreave develop a project to deal with overgrown street trees on Firth Park some of the worst affected roads Burngreave test out support for planting more appropriate street Southey trees on local estates

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Priority 2: Improved parks and green spaces

Across all wards we will  use our own Street Force Neighbourhood Environment Action Team to tackle neglected green spaces  negotiate for all Council owned parks and green spaces in the area to be covered by maintenance contracts  support Friends Groups to work for the improvement and refurbishment of parks, woodlands, open spaces and cemeteries  review action plans for all local parks to check out the specific suggestions you made during the Assembly summer consultation

In specific wards we will support plans to extend facilities at and Shiregreen/ Brightside Grimesthorpe Community Park use the Assembly’s influence to support community Shiregreen/ Brightside campaigns to improve public footpaths in Brightside and Wincobank survey the spread of Japanese knotweed on Council Shiregreen/ Brightside and privately owned land and develop an action plan to tackle the problem sort out proper parking arrangements on Shiregreen/ Brightside Road green space develop a plan to improve two small neighbourhood Shiregreen/ Brightside green space improvement Firth Park use the Assembly’s influence to press for the Firth Park improvement of the old boating lake site at Firth Park support Friends groups in their campaign to refurbish Burngreave small play areas develop a community project to set up new allotments Southey on disused land

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Priority 3: Community support and people getting on together

Across all wards we will  fund community chest projects to make small grants to community groups  help fund 10 summer festivals  provide some short term funding support to 9 community forums, who provide a local community voice or support other local projects  ensure local people have on-going access to existing community buildings  set up a local New Years Honours event to celebrate the work of volunteers in the community

In specific wards we will support local residents’ campaigns for a replacement Shiregreen/ Brightside community building in Wincobank and the reopening of Carwood Meeting rooms Burngreave fund festive lights, Christmas illuminations and Shiregreen/ Brightside celebrations Firth Park Burngreave continue to fund the experimental Saturday afternoon Burngreave opening hours at Burngreave Library fund an expansion of the area covered by Burngreave Burngreave Messenger community newspaper provide financial support to allow Foxhill Parson Cross Southey Advice Centre to extend the free debt and benefits legal advice service

Priority 4: More things for children and young people to do

Across all wards we will  fund additional Activity Sheffield workers to organise holiday and after school activity sessions in all neighbourhoods  review the pilot project to provide 2000 free swimming vouchers for under 16s  work with local youth network organisations to find opportunities to develop extra resources for 5 -19 year olds

In specific wards we will develop a project to increase the use of Parson Cross Firth Park Library by young people Southey work with existing youth networks to find one new site Burngreave for a youth shelter negotiate with the Guide, Scout and Woodcraft Folk Firth Park organisations to explore the possibility of setting up an Southey innovative project for local children and young people

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Priority 5: Neighbourhoods where people feel safe

Across all wards we will  find ways for the Assembly to add extra support to the local priorities drawn up by existing NAG [Neighbourhood Action Groups] and PACT groups  invest in positive activities for local young people

In specific wards we will gate off the service roads behind Hartley Brook Road Shiregreen/ Brightside shops negotiate lighting for footpaths which you have told us Shiregreen/ Brightside are unsafe Firth Park continue to support extra neighbourhood wardens to Firth Park patrol parks in Shirecliffe, and Parson Cross Burngreave Southey buy a mobile speed warning sign for use on roads Burngreave where residents have complained that vehicles are driving too fast

Priority 6: Improved roads and transport

Across all wards we will • use your suggestions to allocate the Assembly small highways budget • negotiate for the inclusion of the worst road and footways repairs in the area to be included in the first years of the PFI scheme

In specific wards we will

Set up a project to reduce danger to children at primary Shiregreen/ Brightside school opening and closing times in Shiregreen

Priority 7: Improve local housing

Across all wards we will  monitor and influence council policy where appropriate, especially in dealing with private housing and housing regeneration  work with Sheffield Homes and other Housing providers to get answers to your specific concerns  press for more social housing to be built in our area

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Priority 8: Reducing health inequalities: adding health to life and life to years

Across all wards we will  contribute to improving the overall health in the area by promoting the take- up of sport and physical activity across all age ranges  explore the barriers which prevent local people accessing primary health care services [e.g. doctors, dentists, health visitors]  in partnership with NHS Sheffield, commission services which will lead to less use of emergency services, better use of primary care and preventative screening services and provide more health trainer support.

Priority 9: Getting people into work and out of poverty

Across all wards we will  develop an action plan to set out how the Assembly can best add value to the work which local organisations and partnerships are already doing to get local people into education, employment and training in specific wards we will fund an employment pathway scheme to train more Shiregreen/ Brightside local childcare workers Firth Park

Priority 10: Build on the improvement in educational attainment, improve aspiration, and reduce school exclusions

Across all wards we will  receive regular reports from our primary and secondary school head teachers on their plans to improve aspiration in all our local communities  develop a plan with partner agencies to set out where the Assembly can make the biggest difference to improving aspiration  monitor exclusion rates in all our schools

Where we are spending our money in 2009 and 2010

Public agencies spend hundreds of millions of pounds delivering mainstream services to this community assembly area. The Community Assembly team are committed to making sure that this money is spent on the things that matter most to local people, by using what you have told us to influence how and what local services are provided.

The Community Assembly also has a discretionary budget of £438,965 to spend on local priorities, plus £100,000 to spend on Highways schemes, and a £50,000 ‘Green Pot’ for schemes to reduce the local carbon footprint.

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How will you know how we’re doing?

This Plan was agreed and launched at the Community Assembly Meeting on 21 st October 2009. Updates on progress are provided via a quarterly newsletter available at local libraries and community centres, on the website and at local community meetings. The plan will next be reviewed by local Councillors and the public at the 21 st April 2009 Assembly meeting [venue and date to be confirmed: check with website below].

How to Get in Touch With Us

For more information on what we do, or how you can get involved in making local choices, contact the North East Community Assembly Team by: • phoning on 0114 203 7562 • picking up a more detailed version of this plan, which includes budget information from local libraries or • visiting our website at http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/council- meetings/community-assemblies/north-east

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