Full Council meeting 14 February 2012

The full Council meeting on 14 February 2012 will be discussing proposals for the 2012/13 budget. 

The agenda and papers are now available to read on the City Council website at http://www.portsmouthcc.gov.uk/yourcouncil/20927.html.

 

Radio Debate 20th February

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Portsmouth City Council and the University of Portsmouth have jointly organised a question time radio debate on the topic of the ‘Role of education in promoting transgender equality’, as part of the celebration of  LGBT history month.

The event will take place on 20^th February at 6pm in the central library and is free to attend.

Due to limited space you must book your place by completing the registration form on this link register here

Dickens 2012 - 200th birthday celebrations

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To mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens there will be a series of events around the city on February 7th, starting at 9:30am in Old Commercial Road, when it will have transformed into a Victorian Street Scene, including market traders and entertainers. 

Other events on the day include 

• a Penny Farthing ride by members of the Pickwick Bicycle Club, 
• a service of thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church, 
• performances of The Ballad of Charles Dickens, 
• the Big Screen in Guildhall Square showing the 1954 British family classic The Pickwick Papers from midday, 
• Brian Conley making a personal appearance as Fagin at Charles Dickens Birthplace,  
• David Copperfield beginning its run at The Kings Theatre and  
• Simon Callow reading excerpts from his book ‘Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World' to a sold out audience at The New Theatre Royal!

Scamnesty campaign begun

Scamnesty is an opportunity for local residents and organisations to get involved.

Trading standards want to make sure that Portsmouth residents are not being ripped off by scams, and to do this they are asking for your help!

They are asking for you to keep your eyes and ears open and let them know if you suspect someone may be a victim of a scam.

Trading standards have also deployed Scamnesty bins for you to leave scam mail, competitions, and leaflets or information about scam offers and phone calls, etc. at:

• Civic Offices Main Reception
• All Portsmouth Libraries
• Fratton Police Station
• Central Police Station
• Cosham Police Station
• Students Union University of Portsmouth
• University of Portsmouth Library
• Portsmouth Deaf Centre Arundel Street 

You can forward any email scams to scams@portsmouthcc.gov.uk i.e. fraudulent bank emails or 'tax rebates' asking for you to update your details

At the end of February they will collect the bins and all the scams will be entered into a database as intelligence in the battle to stop the scammers. 

Scamnesty events booked:

• Thursday 16 February 10:30-12:30 Commercial Road - Theme: Online Phishing and Dating Scams 
• Tuesday 28 February 10:30-12:30 Commercial Road - Theme: Scams

Scamnesty survey

Residents have the opportunity to participate in an online survey about how they have been affected by scams. The data collected will help us to target our service delivery and understand the impact scams have on the city. The survey can be found by following this link and will only take a few minutes to complete: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XXMXP2C .

Trading Standards Talks

Trading standards are interested in delivering scam talks to all Neighbourhood Forums within the city. If you would be interested please contact trading standards - 023 9283 4689.

Caen-Portsmouth Friendship Committee

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The City of Portsmouth has been twinned with the city of Caen in Normandy since 1987 and  recently the Caen-Portsmouth Friendship Committee has been resurrected.

They are a group of volunteers who aim to actively encourage organisations and individuals to link with those having similar interests in Caen and to promote a greater understanding of the customs and culture of the citizens of Caen.

If you are interested in joining the committee or finding out more please see the website at http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/yourcouncil/1397.html  and contact the secretary Councillor (Mrs) Terry Hall at cllr.terry.hall@gmail.com with details of your particular area of interest.

Volunteering fayre 2012

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For a map, click here Union building

Fancy becoming a school governor?

Portsmouth city council are currently seeking talented people to become governors for schools throughout the city.

If you are interested in becoming a school governor call today on 023 9284 1716 or email governoradmin@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to find out how you can get involved.

What’s in it for me?

You will get a great sense of satisfaction knowing that your efforts are improving children’s school environment. Being a school governor will give you the opportunity to improve your existing skills and learn new ones.

As a school governor, you will gain first-hand experience in HR, strategic planning, project management and budget control. Using these skills, you will work with people from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences to make decisions about a range of issues to improve and maintain the standard of education in a school.

 

What’s required?

Ideally governors will need to commit to the role for four years. You will attend three to six governing body meetings a year, and be a member of at least one committee that looks in more detail at different aspects of governors’ work such as finance, curriculum or staff matters.

You don’t need to be a parent or an educational expert. All you need is a can do attitude and a real drive to enhance children’s educational experience. They want governors who possess a strong desire to provide children the best possible standard of education to give them the chance to realise their dreams.

What if I don’t have much free time?

Employers will allow you to take time off work for certain public duties including the role of a school governor.

So, if you think you’ve got what it takes to become a school governor call today on 023 9284 1716 or email governoradmin@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

End of Life Care Patient and Public Reference Group

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Have you had experience of hospital and community services through the care and support of family or friends?
 

Do you belong to a support or care group associated with long term or terminal illness?

If the answer is "yes", to either or both these questions, this is an invitation to join a Patient and Public Reference Group to support the development of an End of Life Care Strategy for Portsmouth and South East Hampshire. 

 

Fancy becoming a school governor?

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Portsmouth city council are currently seeking talented people to become governors for schools throughout the city.

If you are interested in becoming a school governor call today on 023 9284 1716 or email governoradmin@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to find out how you can get involved.

What’s in it for me?

You will get a great sense of satisfaction knowing that your efforts are improving children’s school environment. Being a school governor will give you the opportunity to improve your existing skills and learn new ones.

As a school governor, you will gain first-hand experience in HR, strategic planning, project management and budget control. Using these skills, you will work with people from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences to make decisions about a range of issues to improve and maintain the standard of education in a school.

All Fora meeting February 2012

This is a call for agenda items for the next All Fora meeting, to be held on February 13th 2012 from 6pm in conference room A on the 2nd floor of the Civic Offices.

The meeting is open to all committee members (please liaise with your chairman so we are not inundated, thank you.

Could you confirm your attendance and/or any items for the agenda to neighbourhood.forums@portsmouthcc.gov.uk by February 3rd.

Guidelines for Diamond Jubilee Street Parties 2012

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Portsmouth City Council's cultural services have produced guidelines for residents planning street parties in the city to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, they include advice on:-

1. Insurance
2. Closing your road
3. Publicity
4. In the event of an emergency
5. Use of barbecues
6. Fireworks and bonfires
7. Wet weather
8. Street decorations
9. Intoxicating liquor
10. Fund raising for your street party
11. Noise
12. Litter

The Events Team, (Seafront Services Office, Avenue de Caen, Southsea, PO5 3NS) must receive your application by 9 March at the latest.

Scamnesty is coming...

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Have you ever been targeted by a scam?

Around half the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam and around 3.2 million people fall victim to scams, losing a collective total of £3.5 billion every year.

Scams can come via the post, telephone calls, text messages, emails, fake websites, pamphlets and many more; all of which may promise you large sums of money, or a luxury holiday. Some may just promise you health and happiness – but of course this does not come free. In order to maintain good health you must send off a sum of say £25 for an ointment that helps to minimise those wrinkles, or tablets that can cure any illness at no risk. These types of promises are fraudulent. As are those fake lottery or prize draw winnings and those bogus psychic predictions.

Keep Warm and Carry On! Voluntary Sector Summit

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Information about Portsmouth’s “Keep Warm and Carry On!” programme, which is being supported by the Department of Health’s Warm Homes Healthy People fund.  

The Aim of this fund is:-

To support local authorities in partnership with their local community and voluntary sector and statutory organisations to reduce the levels of deaths and morbidity in their local authority that are due to vulnerable people living in cold housing in the coming winter.

Keeping warm in winter is a major issue; as many as 200 people die every day in the UK in the winter months as a result of cold weather.  The problem is at its worst in cold homes and in Portsmouth 26.5% of the housing stock does not meet the decent homes standard due to 'insufficient thermal comfort'.  Help is out there and it's important to support people to access that help.

A summit is planned for voluntary and community sector organisations who work very closely with individuals in communities most at risk from the effects of the cold weather and its implications for their health.

Join the library for free and save money!

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Portsmouth Library members can enjoy loads of special offers around the city when they show their library card:

• NEW! 50% off entry to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Plus 25% off at the Boathouse No.7 restaurant. Terms and conditions apply. Offer ends 12/2/12
• NEW! 50% off entry to the D-Day Museum. Offer ends 10/2/12
• £2 off standard admission to the Blue Reef Aquarium (valid for Adult, Child and Senior tickets)
• 20% discount at Adventure Golf at Clarence Pier
• 20% discount at Mozzarella Joes pizza restaurant
• Children under 16 and adults over 60 swim for free at the Mountbatten Centre, Eastney Swimming Pool and Charter Community Sports Centre

PortsmouthLocal’s Twitter feed reaches 1,000 followers

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What started out as a six week pilot program in November 2009 and almost came to an end in January 2010 has just gained it’s 1,000^th follower.

In November 2009 when the team was asked to pilot Twitter for the council we jumped at the chance to get into the social media field hoping to find new and better ways to communicate with the public.  Up until the snow fall of January 2010 the project had experienced limited success and it looked likely to end.

However during the period of bad weather in the city, the numbers of twitter followers doubled over night, and it proved an effective way to release up to date information across the city and wider.

Although Twitter is not the complete answer to our social media needs, or the only way in which we communicate with residents, it has proved to be a valuable platform through which to share information and news. 

We now have an established Twitter feed, Facebook presence and several community blogs for sharing documents, slideshows, video clips, pictures, podcasts and event reports in easily accessible formats. We are also keen to explore new applications and platforms as they develop.

In the future we will be looking at setting up online forum facilities and making it easier for the public to ask questions and locate relevant information more quickly in a way of their choosing.

If you have any suggestions or ideas to help improve our on-line activity, please contact us.

Follow @portsmouthlocal

Because Christmas isn’t always a happy time for many young people …..

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Off The Record 

Counselling, support and information 
for young people aged 11-25 

Charity No 1064275

Off The Record will be open over the Christmas period for drop-in’s and telephone calls at:

Off The Record 

138 Purbrook Way 

Leigh Park

www.off-the-record.org.uk

Client lines:

023 9247 4724

0808 801 0724

Open:

2-4pm  Monday 26th December (boxing day)

2-4pm  Tuesday 27th December

2-4pm  Wednesday 28th December

2-4pm  Thursday 29th December

2-4pm  Friday 30th December

Closed Bank holiday Monday

 

Normal opening times resume at Havant and Fratton from Tues 3rd Jan 2012

New Year, New You, No Cost

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Portsmouth Health Trainers provide free Weight Management Groups to any Portsmouth resident and this year there is an additional Men only Weight Management Group. 

The Weight Management Groups are designed to give you tips that will help you keep the pounds off year after year rather than a quick fix. This will be the second year of the Weight Management Groups. 

Over each week the groups aims to support you by looking at food and drink diaries, healthy eating, physical activity, behaviour change, goal setting/targets and maintaining weight or weight loss. On the third session you will receive a portion size plate. 

Crime Reports

Another website has been brought to my attention https://www.crimereports.co.uk/

 

“CrimeReports is a brand new UK application for residents across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It is the only place where you can see up to date crime, anti-social behaviour and incident information.

Want to know what's going on in your parents street? Set up an e-mail update to receive regular information on crime, incidents, anti-social behaviour straight to your inbox. We want you know exactly what is happening in your community and we encourage all members of the community to take hold of this chance to make a difference and improve neighbourhoods across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Also, opt-in to receive official alerts from your local agency.

In the near future we will be enabling additional functionality which will allow you to join the online neighbourhood watch, set up your neighbourhood online, use the application to chat with your local police officers and fellow watch members, watch over your neighbourhood and discuss the important things which affect your quality of life.

Using CrimeReports you will be able to see where and when your local beat surgeries are taking place for you to attend and meet with your Safer Neighbourhoods team to discuss your community issues.”

Talented students set to showcase their creative interpretation of territories at historic fort.

 

As part of the University of Portsmouth’s BA (Hons) Degree in Photography, this group of 10 students, calling themselves “10 Degrees South”, has come together from around Europe to show their wide-ranging interpretations of this exciting concept – from local landscapes to military campaigns, from nature reserves to wine bars to football supporters.

This small group of students, some of whom have already won awards and had work exhibited both in the UK and abroad, will be exhibiting their work at the Round Tower, Old Portsmouth.

Donate a Coat Campaign

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Some of you may already have seen some of the early advertisements regarding ITV Daybreak's Donate a Coat with the Salvation Army Campaign (21 - 25 November 2011).  

Portsmouth Citadel's Haven Community Centre in Lake Road will taking part in this campaign as a drop of centre for donated coats.  

Additionally the Haven will feature live on ITV's Daybreak on Mon 21 Nov as part of the launch for the campaign. 

Click here to view the poster

What do you think of Parliament?

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No Cold Calling Zones- Information

A number of neighbourhood forum chairs have asked recently for more information regarding "No Cold Calling Zones" in the City. “Cold calling” or doorstep calling is when someone calls at your home without a prior invitation. It is normally carried out by traders or sales people trying to sell a product or service and is a legal method of doing business. Other organisations which cold call on the doorstep include charities, religious groups and political parties at election time. You can find a toolkit, sample letter and a number of resources to help you set up a zone at the following link: No Cold Calling Zones

National Consumer Week 21-25 November 2011

This year the theme for National Consumer Week is: 

“Good sports don’t fake it”. 

Remember Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington's parents? They nearly missed her Beijing Olympic success because they had been misled into purchasing tickets from a fake website - tickets that never arrived. 

Sporting events are heavily profiled at the moment in the media due to the London Olympics and Team GB successes in various disciplines including cricket, badminton, cycling, swimming, triathlon, rowing and sailing. 

Other popular sports, like football and rugby, are also high profile and every area of the country has a sports club or association, race or play off - all vulnerable to fraudulent products and services. 

TSI and trading standards are using this universal interest to raise awareness during National Consumer Week of fakes and scams that include: 

• Fake branded sports clothes and equipment 
• Fake ticket websites and tickets 
• Fake travel/accommodation packages 

There is a strong link between fakes and crime, drugs and benefit fraud in the community – stay away from fakes and help break the chain!

There are some simple checks you can carry out to protect yourself: 

• Choose your shopping outlets and websites carefully 
• Help yourself. If the deal is too good to be true it probably is 
• Ensure you look for authentic branding and holograms 
• Contact the authorities if you are concerned 
• Keep a copy of your order and receipts 

Contact Consumer Direct for advice on 084 5404 0506 or www.direct.gov.uk or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk 

Contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously with information about crime on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org 

Other useful websites: 

www.brand-i.org – helping you find the genuine product 

www.imrg.org/isis – internet shopping is safe 

www.star.org.uk – secure tickets from authorised retailers 

www.ukeccc.net – UK European Consumer Centre

Should someone do something about speeding cars in residential areas?

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By giving as little as 3 hours per month, you could be that someone!
Community Speedwatch is looking for local volunteers

How does it work? 
SpeedWatch can only operate on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph and under. The best locations would be 20 mph zones and community and residential areas that have a 30 mph limit. Community volunteers work alongside Hampshire Constabulary officers to identify vehicles which exceed the speed limit. 

Details of the vehicles will be collected at the time of the alleged offence and then entered onto a database. The registered owner of the vehicle will then be sent a letter telling them that their vehicle was seen exceeding the speed limit, how it affects the local community and asking them not to do so in the future. If the same registration number is logged again within 12 months the owner will receive a warning that if the vehicle is seen speeding a third time the details will be passed to an officer who may take further action.

St Mary's Community Health Campus

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St Mary's Community Health Campus

See slide 13 for details of FREE open day tours from November 28th to December 2nd

Bring on the Big Society

Next Viewpoint:
Bring on the Big Society!
The Community Right to Challenge,Bid, Buy and Build
16th November @ 5pm
View Cafe, Civic Offices

As promised we will be looking in detail at the upcoming changes to the rights of communities to buy, bid and build community assets and services.

Follow this link to register to attend.

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'Say It Once' - Save your time

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Forms designed and developed with the help of local people and voluntary organisations are available on the Say It Once website, which aims to encourage local residents to record and keep their own personal information – and share this easily with health, social care and emergency services when needed.

Have a look at the new website at www.sayitonce.info

Have your say on support for the voluntary and community sector in Portsmouth

Community First for Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council are working together to consult with the local voluntary and community sector to find out what support your organisation needs. We are particularly keen to meet with small community based organisations and medium sized voluntary organisations.
Data has already been collected to support Portsmouth’s bid for The Big Lottery Fund Transforming Local infrastructure and we plan to build on this with a programme of face to face events.
We would like to hear from organisations directly about their support needs, what matters to you? How would you like support to be delivered?
The feedback received during this consultation will be used to help design the service for the future in the city. This second phase of the consultation will close on the 18th November and feedback will be provided through mailings and websites from both organisations

So come along and have a chat with us. Dates, times & venues

If you are unable to attend in person please feel free to email your comments to us at voluntary.sector@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Or complete the quick survey here

You can also listen to our podcast:




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Vulnerable Open Spaces in Portsmouth: Have Your Say!

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We all enjoy going for a walk in our local park.  But how can you help to show how much you value your parks? How can you highlight what you like and dislike about these places? And how much you would be willing to do to protect these spaces from real risks, such as flooding? Have a look at http://www.openspaces-portsmouth.org.uk and read further!

I am a PhD student from London Metropolitan University, doing a research project about how users value green spaces in Portsmouth.  Using a variety of surveying techniques, I am investigating the best way that people can make their opinions heard on issues that affect them and their favourite parks and open spaces.  Also, the North Solent Shoreline Management Plan highlighted the long-term risk to areas of Portsmouth from flooding.  How much would you be willing to protect your local open spaces from such risks?