Pete Levy

As a neighbouring ward we’re keeping a close watch on the proposed developments at the Memorial Stadium in order to provide residents with an up to date progress report. This is in relation to the announcement late last year regarding the proposed relocation of Bristol Rovers Football Club to a new stadium at the University of West of England’s Frenchay Campus and Sainsbury’s proposal to develop the Memorial Stadium. Sainsbury’s proposal includes a store, work and community space, new homes and parking. It is smaller in size and scale than the club’s proposed redevelopment of the Memorial Stadium and is subject to planning permission from Bristol City Council.

I’ve just been advised that ahead of Sainsbury’s main consultation programme relating to the Memorial Ground they have arranged a series of drop-in sessions for direct neighbours. In addition they have offered an invitation to a series of resident drop-in sessions to be held at the Executive Lounge at the Memorial Stadium. Apparently these sessions will be on an informal basis with members of the Sainsbury’s project team which include architects and planning and highways consultations.

Sainsbury’s tells us, “Sainsbury’s will be carrying out a full public consultation to let the local community express their views on the plans to ensure it delivers as many benefits as possible. As our most immediate neighbours, we want you to have the opportunity to be involved in the consultation at the earliest possible stage. Your feedback will be central to the way in which the development evolves.”

The sessions will take place on:
Thursday 2nd February 2012 and Thursday 9th February 2012 between 6pm and 7.30pm
If you’re unable to make these sessions then you can contact Sainsbury’s community relations team by phoning 0800 130 3270, emailing feedback@sainsburys-horfield.co.uk or writing to Sainsbury’s c/o The White House, 6 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 1PD

I have also been advised that there will be an exhibition on site with provisional dates of 24 and 25th February at the moment. I’ll post further details when I have them

In my role as one of Bristol City Councils two members of the Avon and Somerset Police Authority I’d like to share the following information with you. In a three minute video, Police Authority Treasurer Mark Simmonds tells residents about the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review cuts on the police budget and the consequences of a council tax freeze. Mark’s explanation can be found here. Police Authority Chair Dr Peter Heffer has already stated that resident’s need to balance the “short-term gain against the long-term pain,” if the Authority is to accept a council tax freeze. He says the Government’s freeze creates a £2.6million funding gap the under-funded force had not anticipated.

The Police Authority wants to gather resident’s views about an increase or freeze to the policing part of the council tax before their budget meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Treasurer Mark Simmonds said: “This is a difficult decision for the Police Authority and it’s essential to gather the views of our residents and to try and help them understand the decision the Police Authority has to make.

“While a freeze is very attractive in the short term, and that maybe something that the residents are very keen on, they do need to understand that potentially that means further cuts to policing services in the future or higher than average increases to the policing part of their council tax.”

To take part in the consultation visit www.consultation.avonandsomerset.police.uk or call 01275 816377 to receive a hard-copy of the resident’s survey. The deadline to have your say is January 15, 2012.

The other evening I joined a couple of ward councilor colleagues in a short meeting with representatives from Sainsbury’s, UWE and Bristol Rovers. The context of the meeting was for us to ask any initial questions on the press announcement being made the following morning. Details of which can be found here.

As a Horfield Councillor the Memorial Stadium does not fall within my remit although whatever happens at this location will have an impact on Horfield residents. I know that my two Bishopston Councillor colleagues are already raising issues relevant to their ward and as such I’m keen not to interfere. There are a number of general initial points that we raised at the meeting even though we appreciate this is at the earliest stage of development.

Firstly, that residents continue to be involved and advised of all consultations and meetings and we’ve been assured that the consultation process will be as thorough and inclusive as possible. We also asked that in line with residents comments that all efforts are made to address environmental issues with the new development. We’ve also had positive assurances that the Memorial gates will be addressed in a positive and sympathetic manner reflecting the historic and sentimental value they represent. This issue has already been discussed at early Neighbourhood Partnerships when two of the Directors from Bristol Rovers attended and answered residents concerns. They have offered this again as part of their ongoing consultation process and in order to avoid duplication and possible miscommunication we have suggested that all such meetings be organized under the banner of the Bishopston ward. Horfield and Lockleaze Councillors will also attend to represent our residents who will also be invited along. This application is at a very early stage but the feeling from the residents that I have spoken to are that there are major benefits to these plans. Both for the new development for Bristol Rovers and Bristol Rugby and also for the potential development of the current site. We’ll watch the progress with interest.

Recent weeks have been quite busy but last week proved busier than most with a number of key events taking place which it’ll be useful to share.

On Monday of last week, as a member of the Avon & Somerset Police Authority we held our last Police Authority Strategic ‘away day’ with the Constabulary before the Police and Crime Commissioner elections next November. As always we had a very full and interesting day discussing a number of key issues relevant to our ongoing work for the remainder of our tenure. It’s a testament to the Chief Constables attitude to Policing that he failed to mention a news story that broke later that week. Read it in full here.

The following day (22 November) I attended full council. Another robust round of presentations from the public gallery and a very confident report presentation by my ward colleague Cllr Cheryl Ann. The full debate can be watched again here.

There where no really specific key issue for us in Horfield although the key issue of the day was the presentation of the cross party working group that was set up to look into the Area Green Space Strategy. Horfield residents and a number of local groups worked very hard to ensure that Wellington Hill West was removed from the councils list of areas for disposal and so our green space issue had been decided. However, there where obviously a number of areas still at risk that residents elsewhere in the city felt equally strongly about. The entire strategy is interesting as we all enjoy our local green space but funds still need to be raised to maintain these spaces. We also need to provide affordable housing and at the same time develop those spaces that aren’t used by residents and have become a haven for ASB and fly tipping. Let’s hope we all learn lessons from this issue.

On Thursday I attended the opening of the National Composite Centre here in Bristol formally opened by Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for the Dept. of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Later that day I joined up with a number of former Royal Military Police colleagues for a superb networking event. It’s always interesting to go back and catch up with friends from previous employment. Although now we all come from a diverse range of professions the bonds built up when we worked together or our shared experiences remain as relevant today as they did then.

On Friday evening Avon & Somerset Constabulary alongside the Police Authority attended the annual Crimestoppers Christmas Charity event. My understanding is that they raised in access of £2,500 at this event alone.

This week is once again a busy one and I’m looking forward to attending the Prince’s Trust ‘Celebrate Success Awards’ later this afternoon.

Case work here in Horfield remains a constant and a continuing theme is the parking issues around the Southmead Hospital development. Cllr Cheryl Ann and myself continue to meet with the Police, council parking staff and the Developers but it does feel like a struggle. All nearby residence are suffering and we’ll continue to try and find ways to keep the disruption to a minimum.

On a final note I have to pay my respect to the team that have put the new Bristol City Council web site together. It was historically very difficult to get around and it was easy to get lost. However, considering the amount of information that it must hold this new one is so much better. Take a look here.

Lib Dem Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined a £1 billion pound Youth Contract to tackle youth unemployment. The aim is to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

• Over three years, the Youth Contract will provide at least 410,000 new work places for 18 to 24 year olds into work. Starting April 2012
• Including 160,000 wage subsidies and 250,000 new work experience placements.
• In addition, there will be at least 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices.
• A new programme to help the most disengaged 16 and 17 year olds – getting them back to school or college, onto an apprenticeship or into a job with training.

In the early hours of Saturday 5 November 2011 two masked offenders pushed their way into an address on Montreal Avenue, Horfield. They appeared to be armed with a machete and possibly an airgun. The occupants of the address managed to force both males out before any property was taken or any injury could be caused. The suspects were seen to run off towards Toronto Road. Police are appealing for anyone that may have seen three males at about 2:15am on Hazel Grove walking towards Montreal Avenue, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101. Alternatively, phone the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask your name or trace your call.

This is to let you know that the next Neighbourhood Forum meeting in Horfield will be held this evening at Upper Horfield Community Trust (at the rear of Eden Grove Methodist Church Hall), Eden Grove, BS7 OPQ, 7 pm to 9 pm.

Forum meetings are open to all local residents. Everyone is very welcome to come along to find out what’s happening in their neighbourhood and discuss local issues. Other people attending include Councillors, local Police Team, Council officers and other service providers. As well as updates on issues raised at previous Forum meetings, there’s also time to raise any other local issues, ideas or concerns.

If you have any queries or would like to raise an issue but can’t come to the meeting in your ward, contact our Neighbourhood Development Officer, Debbie Clough by email debbie.clough@bristol.gov.uk or just ring 0117 903 6412. Debbie will also be happy to send you details of the items we discussed at the last forum

During our Police Authority meeting yesterday we remembered everyone involved in the collision on the M5 on Friday, November 4. Members and chief officers paused for a minute’s silence to remember those who died in the incident. There was praise for the work of the emergency services as well as the efforts and bravery of members of the public, volunteer doctors and all agencies involved in this dreadful incident. Our Chair, Dr Heffer said: “We could not start today’s meeting without expressing our heartfelt condolences to everyone involved in last week’s tragedy. The shock of the incident is being felt not only by communities here in Somerset but by all those communities that lost a loved one. The Chief Constable is keeping members fully up-to-date with the investigation and he has heard our gratitude to his officers and staff who dealt with this traumatic incident. Everyone in Avon and Somerset is thankful to all the emergency services who worked bravely and tirelessly to deal with the collision.”

The meeting in Williton, West Somerset was the second meeting designed to increase engagement with residents. The first hour of the meeting focused on policing issues in West Somerset and included a presentation by Chief Superintendent Daimon Tilley and questions from the public. The focus of Daimon’s presentation was the current statistics of policing in his region as well as some of the initiatives that his team have undertaken. The general message was that ‘we’re doing well but we are by no means complacent’. Daimon went into some detail regarding the current and potential future developments around Hinckley Point and the implications for the community, residents and policing. There was reassurance regarding the financial implication for the additional policing requirement for this and the fact that this wouldn’t detract from general resources for the region. The meeting was then opened for questions from both the members of the public present and those asking questions on line which were all answered by senior and local police officers. A transcript of the public’s questions and the live webstream of the meeting are all available on the Police Authority’s website at www.aspola.org.uk.

We also discussed the paper on the decision for the 2012/13 policing part of the Council Tax. It’s worth saying at this point that there is a survey open and you can have your say on this here, http://www.consultation.avonandsomerset.police.uk/

There was a good presentation from D/Supt Nigel Rock head of ‘Zephyr’. This is principally an Avon and Somerset led regional crime group consisting of five police forces launched to destroy, dismantle and disrupt serious and organized crime across the South West. The presentation highlighted the first 12 months success including over £800k assets seized, 51 charged and hundreds of arrests. For more information on Zephyr check here.

Yesterdays meeting was another example of effective communication with the residents whom we represent and with that thought in mind I enjoyed it immensely. However, there where two items arising that caused me some concern. The first was the reminder by the Chair that this Government is effectively ‘swindling’ the people of Avon and Somerset of nearly £20m per year through an unacceptable and unfair process called ‘Damping’. My previous page refers to this here. The comments where as a reminder that the Chair and the Chief Constable are again meeting with MP’s as part of their ongoing commitment to get them to address this dreadfully unfair situation. The second issue that arose was around Freedom of Information requests. The Police Authority is an independent body whose function is to work to ensure that the community has an effective and efficient police force. I am now Joint Chair of the Citizen Focused Policing Programme board and one of our principle objectives is to ensure a transparent and effective two way method of communication with the community we serve. There are numerous points of contact to obtain information and there is a great deal of information readily available on line. The freedom of Information Act and the mechanism for obtaining specific information under this act is extremely vital. However, I was amazed to discover that such requests into the Force have a huge cost implication. In 2010 FOI requests cost your local police service £421,740 and this year to date these have cost £447,120. As the Chief Constable reminded us that equates to nearly 17 Police Officers. I would suggest that a simple internet search could provide the relevant information failing that a call/email to either the Police Authority or the Constabulary will provide most information. Only using the FOI request for the appropriate reasons could help reduce vital finances that are crucial

The next Police Authority meeting will set the police budget for 2012/13 and will be held on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at police headquarters, Portishead.

Design Bristol is an online forum for anyone involved or interested in achieving quality place-making in Bristol. It is best described as an on-line noticeboard. Members can use it to upload photos of good or bad design in the city, blog about interesting ideas seen elsewhere, or promote design related events. The website also provides links to a range of resources that can help people start thinking about the design of their neighbourhood.”

To make it even more relevant, if you know of local people doing work around place-making within your neighbourhood it would be great to get them to join and share their information via blogging, adding photos. For example, there is currently a blog entry on Design Bristol about how local people have produced ideas for the future of the shopping area Filwood Broadway.

Start here: www.designbristol.ning.com

This is to let you know that the next Neighbourhood Forum meeting in Horfield will be held this evening at Upper Horfield Community Trust (at the rear of Eden Grove Methodist Church Hall), Eden Grove, BS7 OPQ, 7 pm to 9 pm.

Forum meetings are open to all local residents. Everyone is very welcome to come along to find out what’s happening in their neighbourhood and discuss local issues. Other people attending include Councillors, local Police Team, Council officers and other service providers. As well as updates on issues raised at previous Forum meetings, there’s also time to raise any other local issues, ideas or concerns.

If you have any queries or would like to raise an issue but can’t come to the meeting in your ward, contact our Neighbourhood Development Officer, Debbie Clough by email debbie.clough@bristol.gov.uk or just ring 0117 903 6412. Debbie will also be happy to send you details of the items we discussed at the last forum