Action for the Community

What we've done so far

Working through the Community Safety Partnership with the police, probation services and other agencies we have taken action against crime and the fear of crime, developing new ways to divert and deter potential offenders, and to deliver appropriate punishment.

We have provided community services such as City and Reccy Rangers, introduced the 'nightbus' to get young people home safely at night, improved CCTV at car parks and installed new CCTV at Arbury Court and Kingsway.

We have introduced initiatives on anti-social behaviour such as aggressive begging, criminal damage, racism and graffiti. We have taken action on bicycle theft and burglary.

In addition we have:

• provided free swimming lessons for all Cambridge schools, and free after school swimming for all holders of The Card
• restored the successful and popular Children's Festival
• committed £1.45 million for developing a Community Centre in East Chesterton in partnership with local people
• funded new Adventure Play equipment at Nuns Way, and made plans for the replacement of Arbury Adventure Play Ground
• funded a Reccy Ranger to work on Jesus Green and the central green areas
• funded improvements of the Cherry Hinton sports pavilion
• funded additional sessions of The Dec youth bus.
• held an on-line consultation on the Youth Budget involving all 11-16 year olds in the city, and allocated £15,000 to the most favoured projects.
• protected grants budgets for economic development, leisure and the voluntary sector from annual savings targets instituted by Labour
• allocated money for new skateboard facilities at Jesus Green and Parkside pools after consultation with young people, with construction to start in June
• contributed capital funding towards school sports facilities at Chesterton, Coleridge and St. Bede's community colleges
• championed the public by holding an inquiry into telecommunications masts, developing a policy for Cambridge and employing a liaison officer
• moved the Employment Foundation Scheme into decent premises, so that it continues to grow community training in a wide range of basic skills for people with employment difficulties
• promoted new use of open spaces, including new events, and improvements in events such as Party on the Piece
• continued the programme of play area refurbishment and provision of new play facilities in liaison with local people
• developed the work of the Youth Participation Service through secure money for the Youth Development Officer and extension of the programme to include 10-11 year olds

We are working with police to target prevention work with teenagers, especially to reduce criminal damage to vehicles and property and improve support for parents. We have improved security at car parks and for cyclists, tackled violence by working with licensees of pubs through the Barwatch scheme, supported police initiatives on domestic violence, helped reduce the vulnerability of victims of violent crime, particularly frequent victims such as young people, ethnic minorities, foreign language students and gay people.

We improved services and facilities for disabled people. We increased consultation, supporting the Disability Consultative Panel as advisors to the Council. We increased grant funding for disabled access, improved specialist equipment at Parkside and Abbey Pools, and supported community transport schemes and the Sport Equality programme. We increased money for dropped kerbs and for the Disabled Access grant fund.

We have improved shop forecourts at Trumpington, and plan to at Arbury Court, and have given support to community shops and Post Offices to ensure convenient access for all residents. We have improved facilities at the Corn Exchange and continued to work in partnership with a wide range of arts organisations across the city, including through the provision of grant aid.

We have conducted the first public survey to discover what local residents think of their local shops, and last summer we held a brainstorming session for shopkeepers. Local shops play a vital role in the community and as a landlord, the Council has a responsibility to do what it can to ensure that these shops thrive.

Building on success

In the coming year we will

• consult with local residents and users on the provision of further skateboard facilities in Coleridge and Kings Hedges
• develop a strategy for parks and open spaces in consultation with local citizens
• improve the inspection and maintenance of our open spaces through the creation of a new post
• provide services for older people and to reduce health inequalities as determined by the Health Improvement Programme
• create a unified swimming service for the city through a the new swimming contract, with a high priority on maintaining cleanliness, a continued commitment to priority groups and the increased participation of users in decisions.
• continue to work with the residents of East Chesterton on the development of the Community Centre and appoint a centre manager from April 2004
• review ways of developing the income potential of the Meadows Community Centre.
• review Joint Use Agreements in schools in consultation with schools and local residents as outlined in the Best Value Review.
• continue to fund the council as a major provider of community facilities. However, to achieve best value, the City Council will seek to develop new partnerships and models for the running of community facilities in order to ensure their sustainability.
• provide vital 'community development' support to ensure the new area committees fulfil their crucial role as enablers for local people with their local councillors in the development of their neighbourhood services and facilities.