Pledges from the Cabinet
We will deliver the following pledges for each of our priority areas:
Reduce crime and the fear of crime
- Increase the visibility and co-ordination of uniformed council staff in the community.
- Distribute free hi-viz cycle vests and lights to cyclists by May 2008.
- Enhance the effectiveness of the CCTV provision in the city.
- Campaign to reduce alcohol sales to underage young people.
Better quality and availability of housing
- Increase the number of rented affordable homes for local families by at least 500 by May 2010.
- Report by May 2008 on the viability of PCC building new council houses.
- Improve PCC Housing Repairs Service and customer satisfaction levels.
- Campaign against Government "tax" on Council rents.
Protect and support our most vulnerable residents
- Increase the take-up of benefits and money advice through increased awareness and targeted support.
- All schools providing healthy school meals by September 2008.
- Ensure all major city council contracts include a local labour clause and deliver local labour in the construction scheme for the Northern Quarter by March 2009.
- PCC to ensure that all staff have access to basic skill qualification by May 2009.
- Make access to council services easier.
Raise standards in English and Maths
- Increase by 3% by October 2008 and a further 5% by October 2009 the percentage of young people leaving school at 16 years with 5 or more GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or higher including English and Maths.
- Support schools to increase the number of teaching assistants with qualifications to the nationally recognised level 2 in literacy and numeracy.
- Implement the Double Club programme with Portsmouth Football Club to use football to motivate secondary aged pupils and raise standards in literacy and numeracy.
- Increase the percentage of adults achieving nationally-recognised qualifications at level 1 or 2 in literacy and/or numeracy through family literacy, language and numeracy programmes so that 70% achieve their qualifications by September
- 2008 and 80% by September 2009.
Regenerate the city – city with a buzz
- Commence City Centre Improvement works on site by end of 2008.
- Develop an area action plan for Somerstown.
- Broaden events and activities in the Guildhall Square.
- Plan to get real benefit to the city from the 2012 Olympics.
- Dickens 2012 - Promote Portsmouth as "The Great Literary City" including the Charles Dickens celebrations in 2012.
- Start up 3 additional Community Gardening Schemes by October 2008.
Cleaner and greener city
- Design and campaign for funding for enhanced flood prevention by November 2010.
- Develop a Flood Emergency Plan and have sand-bags available.
- Use hidden cameras to trace and prosecute fly tippers by May 2008.
- Produce a carbon footprint for PCC and work with key partners to produce a 'whole City' Carbon Footprint by June 2009.
- To improve energy efficiency across the Council.
- Develop a more sustainable planting strategy.
Public transport
- Establish a permanent Park and Ride site with at least 500 spaces by 2012.
- Enhance cycle routes in the city. Add more cycle racks and nominate a City Cycling Champion to promote safe "off"-main-road routes through the city.
Efficiency and involvement
- Introduce public and employee suggestion schemes to encourage innovative ideas to save money and improve services by March 2008.
- Reduce accommodation costs by £100,000 by vacating underused properties by June 2008.
- Increase the accuracy of the electoral register and thereby the number of persons eligible to participate in elections.
- Reduce the amount of Debt owed to the Council.
- Reduce staff absences.
