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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.