Help the Shaping Portsmouth, Ambassador Campaign

Can you help?

Shaping Portsmouth are looking for community groups who would like to support their campaign by having a trained Ambassador come and talk about all the great things happening in Portsmouth.

Find out more about this exciting initiative and the regeneration projects around the City by having a Portsmouth Ambassador visit you!

Book Now 

If you are interested in having an Ambassador to come to you or want more information, email the Ambassadors' office at: jazz.cook@shapingportsmouth.co.uk

Difficulty communicating about your health and care? Sign up to Healthwatch Portsmouth!

Healthwatch Portsmouth will be the local watchdog for all health and care services in the city and will make it its business to put local people’s needs and views at the heart of all services – services that we use all the time. 

To sign up as a network member of healthwatch just fill in the form below – being a member of healthwatch is no big commitment, it just means we will keep you up to date with local services that are changing, and ask for your feedback on the services you use. 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/healthwatchportsmouth

For more information contact us on 023 9268 8508 or healthwatchportsmouth@gmail.com 

New equality & diversity blog and web pages

New equality & diversity in Portsmouth blog 

The equality & diversity team at Portsmouth City Council have produced a blog where you can find the latest equality and diversity news, developments in the law, upcoming events, links and articles of interest. 

You can visit their blog by going to:

http://pccequality.blogspot.co.uk/. 

Please let them know if you have any comments about the new blog so that they may make it useful and interesting to you. 

New equality & diversity web pages 

Season’s Greetings from the Student and Neighbour Liaison Service

The festive season is upon us and for students so is the end of their first term. As with many other people in Portsmouth students may be planning to celebrate the festive period.

 

This will largely not cause any problems with the Portsmouth City Council noise team reporting that only 3.5% of the City’s noise complaints are related to student properties! 

But where problems do arise the Student and Neighbour Liaison Service can assist.

Maintaining good relationships with the community is very important to the University and we will take the necessary steps required to deal with any complaints that we may receive, along with continuing to inform students about how to be a good neighbour. 

Many students go home for Christmas which can mean that student homes become a target for burglaries. We advise students to think about where they store presents or expensive equipment and to not leave things on display in windows. If you have a good relationship with your student neighbours please pass on these messages. If you haven’t spoken yet, this friendly advice can be a great way of opening the lines of communication for the future and why not also keep an eye on the empty house over the Christmas period?

If you are affected by student behaviour and would like to discuss this then please contact Student Housing:

Tel: 02392 843214 

Email: student-neighbourliaison@port.ac.uk

Kings Theatre Southsea Talk

A talk by Ron Hasker Chairman of the Kings Theatre Trust

Covering the early history of the Kings right through to the ongoing restoration and plans for the future

North End Library 3pm Monday 17th December 2012

Cosham Library 3pm Friday 11th January 2013

Free places available by booking at any city library

Assets of Community Value - Policy consultation

I am writing to ask your views on our draft policy for determining buildings or pieces of land which are ‘assets of community value’ under the newly introduced Community Right to Bid (CRTB) legislation. 

Under the CRTB legislation, local community groups can nominate properties to be listed as ‘assets of community value’. Upon receiving the nomination from an eligible group, Portsmouth City Council will determine the nomination against the policy listed below. 

A property which is successfully accepted by the city council as an ‘asset of community value’ will, if being sold with a potential change of use, be subject to a 6-week interim moratorium period where only an eligible community interest group can buy the asset. 

Assets of Community Value - Policy consultation

I am writing to ask your views on our draft policy for determining buildings or pieces of land which are ‘assets of community value’ under the newly introduced Community Right to Bid (CRTB) legislation. 

Under the CRTB legislation, local community groups can nominate properties to be listed as ‘assets of community value’. Upon receiving the nomination from an eligible group, Portsmouth City Council will determine the nomination against the policy listed below. 

A property which is successfully accepted by the city council as an ‘asset of community value’ will, if being sold with a potential change of use, be subject to a 6-week interim moratorium period where only an eligible community interest group can buy the asset. 

If a community interest group ‘expresses interest’ in buying the asset during this time, a 6 month full moratorium period is activated, within which only an eligible community interest group can buy the asset. This will give the community the time they need to put a business plan together and gather the necessary finances to bid. 

The owner of the asset does not have to accept an offer from a community interest group, and after the full moratorium period has finished, can sell the asset on the open market to whoever they wish and at whatever price they wish. 

For more information on the Community Right to Bid process, please see the Department for Communities and Local Government non-statutory guidance

 

Portsmouth City Council’s draft policy is written below:- 

Suggested policy for defining social interests / well-being

 
When assessing nominations for inclusion on the Register of Assets of Community Value the City
Council will have regard to the following criteria:-

1. The extent to which the approval of the nominated site would enhance the social interests and social wellbeing of the local community because in its absence the local community would be deprived of land or a building that is essential to the special character of the local area, and provides:

i. a place to meet and socialise, or
ii. a place to shop, or
iii. a recreational, sporting or cultural facility.

2. The definition of the extent of the local community will depend on the nature of the use and each case will be considered on its merits, with particular reference to the character and heritage of the local area, its community cohesion and its sense of belonging.

3. The City Council will have regard to the realistic prospect of the continued or future use of the asset, and in particular the commercial viability of the proposal (including the ability to raise funds) and the sustainability of that use.

The draft policy is also viewable on our Community Right to Bid webpage. 

You can email your comments to us at 

planningpolicy@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. 

Alternatively, you can post your comments to us at: 
Community Right to Bid 
Planning Services 
Portsmouth City Council 
Guildhall Square 
Portsmouth 
PO1 2AU. 

Please make sure you get any comments to us by the 24^th December 2012.

Immobilise

Immobilise is a free property register enabling users to create a secure record of personal possessions such as laptops, mobile phones, cameras and various other items. 

Protecting personal property is extremely important and registering it on Immobilise can assist in reuniting you with your possessions if stolen or in deterring an offender from stealing them in the first place.

Further information can be found on their website at http://www.immobilise.com

or see what Hampshire Police have to say about the scheme at www.hampshire.police.uk/immobilise.

Community Development Work - SEMINAR

FRIDAY

30^th NOVEMBER 2012

Landport Community Centre

Landport

Portsmouth

9.30 Registrations

10 – 1pm Presentations and group discussions

Including Lunch

An opportunity for volunteers, unpaid workers and paid workers, who are involved in their communities; this could be helping out at the local community centre, youth club, working with children, young people and adults, helping to organise events and activities or being part of a group.

The Seminar will offer you the chance to:-

·        Network with like minded people

·        Explore the real meaning of Community Development and ‘community’.

·        Discuss the current developments within Community Development

The Seminar is FREE

We will try to do our best to meet any special support needs.

 Please inform us of any support or dietary needs you may require.

Places are limited

For more information and to book a place contact:-

Mary Vallely, Create Training, First Wessex, Wharf Road,

Portsmouth PO2 8HB

023 9289 6784 / 0777 541 0474

Tel No. 023 9289 6784     E mail create@firstwessex.org

 

Electric Blanket testing 2012

3 sessions of Electric Blanket testing have been arranged and are being run by Portsmouth City Council Trading Standards

5th December Cosham Fire Station                                

6th December Salvation Army 84 Albert Road Southsea

7th December Age UK, 18 Kingston Road Fratton

All sessions are from 9:30am - 3:30pm

Bookings can be made by calling 023 9284 1298 or people can simply turn up on the day. (NB Bookings will take preference)

Community Development Work - SEMINAR

FRIDAY

30^th NOVEMBER 2012

Landport Community Centre

Landport

Portsmouth

9.30 Registrations

10 – 1pm Presentations and group discussions

Including Lunch

An opportunity for volunteers, unpaid workers and paid workers, who are involved in their communities; this could be helping out at the local community centre, youth club, working with children, young people and adults, helping to organise events and activities or being part of a group.

Electric Blanket testing 2012

3 sessions of Electric Blanket testing have been arranged and are being run by Portsmouth City Council Trading Standards

5th December Cosham Fire Station                                

6th December Salvation Army 84 Albert Road Southsea

7th December Age UK, 18 Kingston Road Fratton

All sessions are from 9:30am - 3:30pm

Bookings can be made by calling 023 9284 1298 or people can simply turn up on the day. (NB Bookings will take preference)

Tracing Your Family Tree

 A talk by 

John Stedman 

Archivist at Portsmouth City Museums

Wednesday 5th December 2012 3pm 

Paulsgrove Library 

Free places available by booking at any city library 

For more details please contact John Stedman 

Tel. 023 9268 4699 

Email: john.stedman@portsmouthcc.gov.uk 

Healthwatch Coffee Morning

Come along for the first membership coffee morning on the 7th November at 10am in the Guildhall cafe.  We will buy you your first drink. Meet other members and share your views on what you think about Healthwatch.  We will be asking members what they think being a ‘member’ of Healthwatch should mean and how they want to get involved in the future. 

any concerns call 02392 688508

Healthwatch Coffee Morning

Come along for the first membership coffee morning on the 7th November at 10am in the Guildhall cafe.  We will buy you your first drink. Meet other members and share your views on what you think about Healthwatch.  We will be asking members what they think being a ‘member’ of Healthwatch should mean and how they want to get involved in the future. 

any concerns call 02392 688508

Bus information roadshows

On 18 November the bus network in Portsmouth, Southsea, Waterlooville, Gosport & Fareham will be changing.

To find out how these changes may affect you, pick up new timetable guides and maps at the following sites:
� Asda car park, Waterlooville Monday 29th October, 0900-1600
� Lawrence Square, Gosport Wednesday 31st October, 0900-1600
� Podium Bandstand, Fareham Friday 2nd November, 0900-1700
� Commercial Road South, Portsmouth Thursday 1st & Saturday 3rd November, 0900-1600

You can also pick up timetables and maps from the following locations from Saturday 27 October:
� Portsmouth City Library
� Southsea Library
� Gosport Ferry Terminal
� First Travel Shop, The Hard, Portsmouth
� First Travel Shop, Gosport
� First Travel Shop, Fareham

Details and timetables of the new routes can be found at
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/hampshire/journey_planning/future/times.php 

Christmas Patchwork

Come along for free a taster session of this traditional craft 

All sessions 1.30 – 4.30pm

Paulsgrove Library -

Monday 26 November 

North End Library -

Friday 30 November 

Cosham Library -

Friday 7 December

Free places may be booked at any of the Portsmouth City Libraries in person, by telephone or email.

Did you miss Local Democracy Week this year?

There has been a lot going on in Portsmouth this week as part of European Local Democracy Week.  If you've missed any of it, take a look at our brief summary and catch up on presentations on the UK and European parliaments; listen to the radio debate from HMP Kingston and see what young people have been up to in the Council Chamber.

School students with the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth

MEPs Catherine Bearder & Keith Taylor visit Portsmouth

A public information event for families

Focus on Health: Living with Asthma and Allergy

Wednesday 28 November 2012,

6pm,

University of Portsmouth,

Portland Building,

Portsmouth

PO1 3AH

This event gives sufferers and their families the opportunity to hear from various professionals who will showcase the latest research, treatment and thinking around asthma and allergies. A scientist, a GP, a hospital clinician and representative from a patient support group will each give short talks and take questions. One in four people in the UK live with asthma and allergies, which means that almost every family has someone or knows someone who suffers, and the number is rising. All are welcome to attend.

Admission is free, but please register on 
http://asthmaandallergy.eventbrite.com/
call 023 9284 3757
or email events@port.ac.uk

FREE TRAINING COURSES IN COMMUNITY RESEARCH

• Want to get free training in doing your own community research project?  
• Want to get involved in improving local health and social care services in Portsmouth? 
• Want to add some skills to your CV and develop your own example research project?

Healthwatch is running a completely free training course for its members, the first of which will be on the 25th October.  

The course is designed to help local people get involved in improving local health and social care services is part of the work to develop Healthwatch in Portsmouth..