Solent NHS Trust is looking for members like you…

Are you interested in healthcare? Would you like a say in your local NHS Trust?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then membership is for you. 

Solent NHS Trust is your local provider of community and mental health services. Their services include health centres, children’s centres and care in people’s homes. By becoming a member you will be able to help shape local services in your area. 

You can decide how involved you would like to be. You might choose to receive updates, you might like to comment on our plans and take part in events. You may even consider standing for election as Governor on our Council of Governors.  

The choice is yours!  

To find out more and to become a member visit www.solent.nhs.uk/membership.  

Hilsea Community Drop-in

Last Friday (19th August) saw the hosting of a community drop-in event outside the Co-Operative store on London Road in Hilsea. The event was supported by city councillors and members of Portsmouth COPS (Council of Portsmouth Students), facilitated by the council's community engagement team.



The drop-in gave residents and shoppers the opportunity to discuss local issues, as well as tell us about problems on their doorstep. We also challenged those who dared to take the "Pompey pound challenge" which asks them to decide neighbourhood priorities and indicate where they think resources should be allocated.



We also used the event as an opportunity to promote our activities for local democracy week in October. This includes "Political hero"- asking people to name a figure from local, national or international politics (past & present) as well as the qualities they admire in our elected representatives.



There was also a chance to post a question for our question time radio debate which will include Cllr Mike Hancock CBE MP, Cllr Simon Bosher and George Brown from the British Red Cross. If you missed that chance, why not email us at takepart@portsmouthcc.gov.uk



If you are interested in future events of this kind in your area, please get in touch. We have also had some interest in restarting the Hilsea Neighbourhood Forum and would like to hear from you if you are keen to be involved with shaping this going forward.



Our thanks once again to Southern Co-Operative for their support in the running of this event.



We will shortly upload an actions sheet highlighting the issues raised and our progress in resolving them.



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Actions Sheet

Still struggling with the big society?

Where are we? and what is it now?

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Date: 21^st September

Location: The View café, 5^th Floor, Civic Offices, Portsmouth

This first event is designed to generate discussion, questions and debate around where we are with the big society and it’s progress in Portsmouth. 

• What potential obstacles are there in progressing this agenda at the local level?
• What do we still need to know about the big society?
• A broken society? How do recent events inform this agenda? 

Attendees will need to register for the event through Eventbrite

Eastney Pumping Station - Update

The following is an update letter from Southern Water about works at Eastney Pumping Station.

I am writing to update you on the ongoing work that Southern Water is carrying out to make improvements to Eastney Pumping Station. Representatives from Southern Water, including myself, met with local residents in June to listen to their concerns, in particular regarding odour and noise. Since then we have carried out a number of improvements and more work is scheduled to take place in the coming months.

Since the meeting we continued to review the performance of the existing odour treatment plant. We have reinforced a “closed door policy” at the pumping station to contain odours and have recently installed a new odour suppressant system at the site. Daily readings from the odour plant are logged and are made available to the City Council’s Environmental Health Officers.

We are carrying out an investigation to look at how we can reduce the amount of smoke emitted from the diesel pump exhausts. A successful trial has recently taken place and work is continuing. We have also fixed the weekly diesel pump testing to Thursday mornings to avoid unnecessary disruption to local residents at other times.

A survey has been completed that looked at noise from the site and we are now designing noise reduction measures. In addition to this we have started a programme to refurbish the three final effluent pumps, which pump the treated wastewater out to sea via the long sea outfall. This will help reduce noise and odour. This work has started but we can only work on one pump at a time, as the site must be able to operate effectively at all times.

In the coming months we will also be replacing the low level pumps to reduce noise and vibrations further and additional odour suppressant will be installed.

We are committed to making improvements at Eastney to ensure it works effectively and to ease the impact on residents living nearby. However it is a complex site and we cannot make these improvements overnight. It remains a priority for us and is an important part of our overall investment in Portsmouth over the next five years.

I hope that this has provided you with a useful update on the situation.  We will also be writing to local residents to keep them informed about our progress.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

Yours sincerely

Stewart Garrett

Wastewater Area Manager (West)

Southern Water

Stewart.garrett@southernwater.co.uk

Loan Shark Advice

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Please don't be tempted to use a loan shark!

• They can be expensive and dangerous;
• You could pay them back for years, with no dent in the original loan;
• They won't just harass you, they'll target your family and friends too.

Loan sharks may be operating in your area - illegal money lenders who don't have a Consumer Credit Licence.

From 2-4pm on Tuesday 16th August, advice will be available in ASDA (North End) car park with support and reassurance for residents.  Come and say hello!

Outreach Librarians

Portsmouth City Libraries has appointed Outreach Librarians to cover three areas of Portsmouth and their attendant libraries. www.portsmouth.gov.uk/learning

Their role is to increase the footfall and number of active users at the city’s nine libraries. 

If you have any events where it would be appropriate for them to promote the library service please let them know

Their names and contact details are:

Linda Collins

Outreach Librarian North

North End Library

Gladys Avenue

Portsmouth

PO2 9AX

T: 07960960585

E: linda.collins@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Responsible for Paulsgrove, Cosham and North End Libraries

Patricia Garrett

Outreach Librarian South

Southsea Library and Customer Service Centre

19-21 Palmerston Road
Southsea
Hampshire
PO5 3QQ

T: 023 9268 8039

E: patricia.garrett@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Responsible for Southsea, Alderman Lacey and Beddow Libraries

Penny Bremer

Outreach Librarian Central

Central Library

Guildhall Square

Portsmouth

PO1 2DX

T: 023 9268 8065

E: penny.bremer@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Responsible for Central, Carnegie and John Pounds Centre Libraries

Tom Williams

Outreach Librarian Central

Central Library

Guildhall Square

Portsmouth

PO1 2DX

T: 023 9282 2581

E: tom.williams@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Responsible for Central, Carnegie and John Pounds Centre Libraries

Sherry-Ann Kelly Parsons

Outreach Librarian

Central Library

Guildhall Square

Portsmouth

PO1 2DX

T: 02392688066

E: kelly-parsons.sherry-ann@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Available for all areas

Free Community Toolkit

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Community Toolkit is a FREE information resource for people who want to get involved in organising smaller, straightforward community activities.

Developed by Zurich Insurance plc, in association with specialists from legal, health and safety, risk management and volunteering backgrounds, Community Toolkit aims to make volunteering more simple by providing some information and guidance for individuals and small groups who want to do more in the places where they live, for their own benefit and for those around them.

M275 Tipner interchange scheme

The city council needs your help!

Please complete the survey at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Tipner to help secure the funding from central government to regenerate Tipner.

The M275 Tipner interchange scheme (comprising the new junction, a southbound bus priority lane, and park and ride) is one of 45 major schemes currently being considered by the Department for Transport for funding.  

Portsmouth City Council is now required to submit a Best and Final Bid (BAFB) for funding by 9th September 2011. 

The Department does not expect that all 45 schemes will be funded.  All bids will be scrutinised very carefully and promoters will be challenged to demonstrate high value for money as well as significant savings on cost.  They will also look at a range of other criteria and will seek the views of interested parties including members of the public.  The process is competitive and those schemes that do not reach an acceptable standard will not be funded. 

If the council are to be successful in securing funding for the above transport improvements, it is vital that it is demonstrated to the Department for Transport that the scheme is supported by those living, working and visiting in Portsmouth - full details of the plans and the survey are on the city council website at http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/8781.html 

Or contact the planning team

• call 023 9268 8205
• email tipner.projects@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
• write to:
Tipner Interchange Scheme,
Portsmouth City Council,
Highways and Coastal Services,
Guildhall Square,
Portsmouth,
PO1 2NE. 

PORTSMOUTH PLAN (CORE STRATEGY)

PORTSMOUTH PLAN (CORE STRATEGY) - SUBMISSION OF THE PLAN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Portsmouth city council submitted the Portsmouth Plan (Core Strategy) to the Secretary of State on the 25th July 2011 for a public examination.  

The Secretary of State will appoint an independent Inspector to carry out a Public Examination of the plan, which is likely to occur during September / October 2011.

The Portsmouth Plan sets out the Council’s planning strategy for the city for the next 15 years.  

The Council also submitted the  
Sustainability Appraisal report and its 
non-technical summary, the  
proposals map and 
information map, the 
Habitats Regulations Assessment, the 
Statement of Community Involvement, the  
consultation statement, the representations made at the last consultation stage, a  
summary of the main issues raised, a  
schedule of changes and a series of supporting documents.  

All these documents can be viewed on the website at http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/21801.html.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact Vicky Piper, Planning Policy Team Leader at ldf@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. 

Communities Day - Cosham High Street - Feedback

The community Engagement team were at the Communities day held in Cosham High Street on Friday 22^nd between 10am and 3pm promoting the How to… guides, Portsmouth LINk and Neighbourhood forums. 

In order to identify neighbourhood priorities people were given 3 voting cards and asked to identify the priorities for improvement within their local area – the options and results of the 116 people who voted were as follows:-

Neighbourhood priorities	%	Actual
Traffic/ Parking/Public transport	25.86%	90
Youth Facilities/Activities	19.83%	69
Streets – Cleaning/Look/Repair	15.80%	55
Development/Planning/Housing	14.94%	52
Open spaces/Parks/Environment	14.66%	51
Meetings/Family events/Activities	8.91%	31
Total	100.00%	348

We also had a couple of requests for improvements to social services, a report of selling cars in the street and a report of a damaged bus stop sign which have been passed on.

Many other people stopped to ask questions and take literature without taking part in the voting process meaning over 150 people were seen on the day.  Also 37 people left their email addresses in order to receive additional information about the Portsmouth LINk.

Public open days planned for St Mary’s health campus

NHS Portsmouth is to open its doors to the public to show off the new £18.6 million community health campus at St Mary’s – weeks before it opens.

Staff are hosting six ‘open days’ from 28 November to 2 December when they will give a series of 45-minute long guided tours during two to three-hour windows.

Catherine Webster, project manager for NHS Portsmouth, the city’s primary care trust, said: “We’ve chosen different start times across five different days of the week to try to encourage as many people to attend.

“This community health campus is being built for the public – so we want them to know how their money has been spent, and to explain the thinking behind our planning.

“Not every room or facility on show will be fully kitted out with all its equipment, but this is a one-off chance – or six one-off chances – to get a good look around to find out the facilities and services that will be on offer.

“This is obviously going to be an exciting new local health development, which will complement existing services at Queen Alexandra Hospital and provide community facilities on the doorstep for people on Portsea Island.

“These open days are free for anyone to turn up at any time in the individual sessions. We will have plenty of staff to show our visitors around. There is no need to book in advance, but parking will be limited – so we would ask people to only travel by car if they really need to.”

The campus, which has attracted £17.1m of Department of Health funding, will open next year on part of the former St Mary’s Hospital site.

The rest of the land is being sold by Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust (PHT), which moved many of its services from the site to the redeveloped Queen Alexandra Hospital two years ago.

A new Out-Patients’ Department (OPD) has already opened on the campus to replace its demolished predecessor and other major facilities will include a new midwife-led maternity centre and a 12 to 16-bed GP-led intermediate care wards for patients.

Contractors BAM have been on site since 2009, converting and refurbishing the former maternity and paediatric blocks. Other services to be run from the site will include sexual health services, podiatry, phlebotomy, speech and language therapy and chronic disease management.

Visitors wanting to attend the Open Days should report to the main reception at St Mary’s at least 30-minutes before the session closes on the following dates/times:

• Monday 28th November, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
• Tuesday 29th November, 10.00am to 12.00 noon
• Wednesday 30th November, 12.00 noon to 3.00pm
• Thursday 1st December, 10.00am to 12.00 noon
• Thursday 1st December 4.00pm to 6.30pm
• Friday 2nd December, 10.00am to 12.00 noon. 

For more details about the  Campus, visit www.portsmouth.nhs.uk and then click on the Your Health tab.

All Forum Meeting July 2011

This is the Agenda for the next all forum meeting on Wednesday 27^th July 2011 at 6pm in Conference Room A, Second Floor, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square

• 6.00pm     Welcome, introductions
• 6.10pm     Review Update and Future Planning
• 6.20pm     Renewed Guidance for Neighbourhood Forums
• 6.45pm     Support Arrangements
• 7.00pm     Publicity & notification
• 7.15pm     Updates and issues from Forum Chairs
• 7.30pm     Future of this group
• 7.45pm     AOB
• 8.00pm     Close

Consultation on the draft charging schedule

In 2010 a new way of collecting contributions from developers to help fund infrastructure projects was introduced:  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a tariff at a locally set rate, which many types of development will have to pay.

Portsmouth City Council wants to begin to use this system locally. To do this, we have undertaken background work and done preliminary consultation.  Now we have prepared a ‘draft charging schedule’ which proposes what the local levy rates will be. 

You can comment on the draft CIL Charging Schedule. Comments must reach us by 8th August 2011.

You will find a summary leaflet, the full consultation document, the evidence base used to inform the charging schedule, and a note explaining how to comment (the statement of representations procedure) at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/20443.html.

Once consultation on the draft charging schedule has ended, the charging schedule will have to be submitted for examination before it can be adopted. As part of your representation you may request the right to be heard by the examiner appointed to examine the draft CIL Charging Schedule.  You may also request to be notified at a specified address of any of the following:

i.           that the draft charging schedule has been submitted to the examiner in accordance with section 212 of PA 2008,

ii.          the publication of the recommendations of the examiner and the reasons for those recommendations, and

iii.         the approval of the charging schedule by the charging authority.

This examination is planned for October 2011.  The city council hopes to approve and to start using the CIL charging schedule in the spring of 2012.

If you have any further questions regarding CIL, please contact Jacqueline Boulter on (023) 9284 1276, or email ldf@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Community Days

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Two, one day, one stop shops for information and advice on local community centres, facilities, support agencies, advice and community service providers will be taking place-

Friday July 8th from 10am till 4pm at Commercial Road and Arundel Street.
Friday July 22nd from 10am till 4pm at Cosham High Street

Over forty different services and organisations will be providing free information and advice on how to improve the health of your body, mind and community.